“Finding life elsewhere is critical”

BIO

Dr Thomas Zurbuchen

Zurbuchen grew up in Switzerland, where he studied physics at the University of Bern. After moving to the US he became professor of space science and aerospace engineering at the University of Michigan, where he also founded the Center for Entrepreneurship at the College of Engineering. From 2016 until 2022, he led NASA’s Science Mission Directorate.

What do you make of your time at NASA’s Science Mission Directorate?

I would talk about it in two ways. The first one is the personal side, and the second is the community side. It turns out that the second one matters more, but I’m less clear about that because I think it tends to be that history proves what is the right answer. There are other opinions, so mine kind of matters less.

I’m in awe of having the front-window view of all of science. I get to see the first picture ever taken on a mission – in the hallway, somebody’s handing it to me. I’ve just been in awe of the amazing power of space and the amazing power of science to really inspire and to excite. That’s kind of my personal view.

I think