Professor Dr. Woodruff Sullivan

Biography

Professor Sullivan’s research interests include astrobiology, with a specific focus on the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI), as well as the history of astronomy. His recent SETI activities involved collaboration with the Serendip group, utilizing the Arecibo Observatory's 1000-foot dish for an all-sky search encompassing a variety of signal modulations at 21 cm, as part of the seti@home project. Furthermore, his historical research in astronomy has centered on the twentieth century, particularly the development of early radio astronomy, which is a subject he explored in his publication, "Cosmic Noise: The History of Early Radio Astronomy" (2009). He is also engaged in a long-term project aimed at producing a biography of William Herschel. In collaboration with John Baross, an expert in Biological Oceanography, he authored a graduate textbook titled "Planets and Life: The Emerging Science of Astrobiology" (2007). This work underscores his commitment to advancing the understanding of life in the universe and the historical context of its scientific exploration.

Research Interests