An institute at Cornell University in New York, devoted to the search of alien life and extraterrestrial life in the universe, has been renamed to honor the late Carl Sagan - an astrophysicist, science communicator and the host of award-winning TV show "Cosmos."

Ann Druyan, the wife and long-time collaborator of Sagan, revealed the new name of the Institute for Pale Blue Dots of Cornell University as the Carl Sagan Institute: Pale Blue Dots and Beyond, according to Space.com. The inauguration held in May 9 and speakers on the field of science participated in the inauguration. Carl Sagan Institute remains to be an institute devoted to search for alien life in the cosmos.

Like Us on Facebook

Druyan said in a statement that Carl Sagan Insitute remains to honor the late astrophysicist by gathering interdisciplinary scientists to answer to scientific questions. "Honoring Carl by empowering interdisciplinary scientists to search for the answers to his most passionate scientific questioning, seeking to share that understanding with the public and finding in that knowledge applications to life-threatening dangers here on Earth--that's a multileveled and highly accurate reflection of who Carl was," Druyan said.

Lisa Kaltenegger, astrophysicist and the founding director of Carl Sagan Institute, said that the institute is pulling scientists and researchers to answer the overarching questions like how can they detect life on other planets, in our own solar system and other systems outside.

According to Kaltenegger, the goal of the institute continues as it gathers interdisciplinary approach to the search of life in the cosmos. It is said that researchers and scientists are from the field of Astrophysics, Biology, Geology, Earth Science and Engineering.

Speakers from different universities and institutions took part of the inauguration including astronomer David Latham of Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, director Aleksander Wolszczan of Pennsylvania State University's Center for Exoplanets and Habitable Worlds, Kepler mission investiigator Bill Borucki of NASA's Ames Research Center, and director Dimitar Sasselov of Harvard Origins of Life Initiative, Yahoo News reported.

TagsCornell institute, carl sagan, Carl Sagan Institute, institute renamed, honor of Carl Sagan, Alien life, alien life search