An Irish artist is working with the European Space Agency, UK Astronomy Technology Centre, University of Edinburgh and others to create a transmission that will be beamed into outer space towards the Pole Star.
Paul Quast is asking members of the public to contribute to the virtual “message in a bottle” which will travel out into deep space for centuries.
The transmission called 'A Simple Response to an Elemental Message' will be made up of public responses to the question, 'How will our present environmental interactions shape the future?'
Anyone interested in contributing to the message, can do so at www.asimpleresponse.org before 16 September.
Once the message is compiled, it will be sent from the European Space Agency’s 35m Cebreros Deep-Space Tracking Station in Spain on 10 October.
The transmission will travel 434 light years towards the Pole Star
The hope is that the project will contribute to an ongoing dialogue around how our society collectively perceives its role in reshaping the future of the environment.
So far more than 3,100 people have contributed to the message.
Phrases and quotes which have historically shaped the way in which humans have learned and reflected upon their role in shaping the Earth’s biosphere, described as 'Honorary Mentions', will also be included.
Mr Quast, the project's coordinator, is an Irish contemporary artist and graduate of the Limerick School of Art and Design who lives and works in Edinburgh, Scotland.
