There is a strong likelihood that life will be discovered on other planets within the next ten to twenty years, speakers told a National Science Briefing in Canberra today.

Professor Malcolm Walter from Macquarie University spoke about the prospects of finding life on Mars. He said that they were quite good based on the existence of water on the red planet, which is physically very similar to the early Earth at the time life evolved.

Professor Walter urged Australia to take part in the scientific exploration of Mars and make a contribution in the same way that Sir Douglas Mawson did for the Antarctic.

CSIRO scientist Dr Ray Norris of the Australia Telescope National Facility told of how 200 stars had recently been monitored for signs of intelligent life, in the form of radio transmissions, so far without success.

However he said he was optimistic that within the next ten to twenty years another civilisation would be detected as our technology advanced and we were able to scan more stars.

"Until last year we had no evidence that planets existed outside of our own solar system. Since October 1995 we have found eight, including one that appears to have liquid water, which we believe is a prerequisite of life," he said.

More information:

Dr Ray Norris (CSIRO) 018 406 429 (mobile) or (02) 639 9591 (home) or Helen Sim on 0419 963 5905

Professor Malcolm Walter (Macquarie University) (02) 9850 8354 or 018 111 251