The public got a taste of the search for extraterrestrial intelligence from the movie Contact, in which actress Jodie Foster's "research" suggested the work of scientist Jill Tarter. Medical staff members have an opportunity to hear about the real search for extraterrestrial intelligence (and its relationship to evolution science) from Tarter herself.

Tarter, the director of the Center for SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) research at the SETI Institute in Mountain View, is the guest speaker at the next Semiannual Medical Staff Meeting, Tuesday, Sept. 27, at the LinX Restaurant at 5:30 p.m.

Tarter, who has studied engineering physics and holds a Ph.D. in astronomy from UC Berkeley, has served as a project scientist for NASA's High Resolution Microwave Survey and has conducted numerous observational programs at radio observatories worldwide.

She was elected an AAAS Fellow in 2002 and a California Academy of Sciences Fellow in 2003 and is heavily involved in developing curricula for school children and teens on evolution.

The meeting will also feature the more Stanfordcentric, earthbound handover of the gavel from outgoing Medical Staff president Bruce T. Adornato to cardiovascular anesthesiologist J. Kent Garman, who has just completed two years as vice president/president elect.

Also scheduled are food and drink from the buffet and bar that will remain open through the meeting, as well as provocative and informative updates and a question and answer session with medical staff and SHC leadership. The details:

• LinX Restaurant, located in the Clark Center,
  318 Campus Drive West, near Fairchild Auditorium
• 5:30 to 6 p.m. - Drinks and buffet
• 6 to 7:30 p.m. - Meeting and Speaker -
  Continue to enjoy drinks and food while you listen
  and ask questions of hospital and staff leadership
  - and Jill Tarter discussing
  SETI: Pulling Signals Out of Cosmic Noise.