The National Space Society invites you to the next Space Forum
Thursday, September 17, 2026, 8:00 pm to 9:15 pm EST
Are We Alone?
The Search for Life in the Universe
With special guest
Bill Diamond
President and CEO, SETI Institute
Are we alone in the universe? It is one of humanity’s oldest and most profound questions and scientists are developing increasingly sophisticated ways to search for the answer.
Join us for a fascinating Space Forum with Bill Diamond, President and CEO of the SETI Institute, one of the world’s leading organizations dedicated to exploring the origins and prevalence of life and intelligence in the universe.
Diamond will introduce us to the work of the SETI Institute and the science behind the search for life beyond Earth. He will discuss what scientists are looking for as they study potentially habitable worlds, including the chemical and environmental signatures that could indicate the presence of life. He will also explore the search for evidence of technologically advanced civilizations and how new telescopes, instruments, and observing techniques are expanding our ability to investigate the universe.
From studying extreme environments on Earth to examining planets and moons in our own solar system and searching distant star systems for signs of life and technology, the SETI Institute brings together researchers from across the sciences to address a fundamental question: Is life elsewhere in the universe possible and how will we recognize it if we find it?
Diamond brings a unique perspective to this discussion, combining a background in physics and advanced technology with more than a decade leading the SETI Institute. His presentation at the 2026 International Space Development Conference was a highlight of the conference, and we are pleased to bring this fascinating discussion to the NSS Space Forum audience. Register for the space forum today.
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Bill Diamond is a Silicon Valley technology veteran and current President and CEO of the SETI Institute in Mountain View, California. The SETI Institute is a nonprofit astrophysics and astrobiology research and education organization focused on the study of life in the Universe. Prior to joining the Institute, Mr. Diamond held various executive management positions in applied technologies, most recently at the optical networking company, Oclaro, Inc.
Mr. Diamond has over 30 years’ experience in laser photonics and optical communications networks, X-ray imaging, and semiconductor processing technologies. His corporate background ranges from venture-backed start-ups to Fortune 100 multinationals, including CEO positions at WaveSplitter Technologies, Denselight Semiconductor (Singapore) and Xradia, Inc, (now part of Zeiss). He was also President of COMET Technologies USA, leading US operations for the Swiss COMET, AG corporation.
Mr. Diamond holds a B.A. in physics from Holy Cross College and a master’s in business administration from Georgetown University. He is a past member of the Advisory Board for the McDonough School of Business Administration at Georgetown and is a current member of the Optical Society of America, the International Astronomical Congress and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Bay Area Science and Innovation Council, BASIC, in San Francisco.
Register today to reserve your seat and ask your questions. Use the link below.
Register no later than September 17 at 7 pm EST
