Project Voyager And The Planetary Society form Strategic Alliance

The 21st century integrated media network, code-named Project Voyager, announced today the formation of a strategic alliance with The Planetary Society. Within the terms of the agreement, Project Voyager and The Planetary Society will collaborate on science education and media projects focused on the exploration of the solar system and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) over the next two years, including University of California, Berkeley's ground-breaking SETI@home project.

"As we enter a new millennium, humanity has just begun the epic quest to explore our solar system and search for life elsewhere in the Universe. Our team is privileged to collaborate with the Planetary Society in this quest. Together we will advance shared ideas and ideals of science through research, education, and entertainment, fulfilling the high standards we have established within our plan," said Joe Firmage, chairman and CEO of Project Voyager.

"Project Voyager is conceived to engage the widest possible audience in the adventure of scientific discovery," said Ann Druyan, CEO of Cosmos Studios, the television and motion picture division of Project Voyager. "SETI@home is an ingenious technical way of transforming each and every one of us into an active researcher investigating the most enthralling scientific question of all. It embodies our dream of democratizing the scientific experience; of opening it up to the many."

"The Planetary Society's mission is to inspire the people of Earth to explore other worlds and seek other life through research, education and public participation. This alliance gives us a new opportunity to carry out this mission on the Internet and in other media; it is very important and very exciting for us," said Dr. Bruce Murray, president, The Planetary Society.

A primary component of the alliance will result in investment of resources into the next phase of the SETI@home project at the University of California at Berkeley.

"We are thrilled to be part of this alliance with Project Voyager and The Planetary Society," said Dr. David P. Anderson, director of the SETI@home project. "The three organizations have tremendous synergy because we share the same basic philosophy: to involve the world in science and discovery."

The Planetary Society announced their new commitment to SETI@home in a simultaneous release today, available on their website. Additional details concerning the alliance will be announced in coming months.