Updated posts 2026
The third salon held by the Carnegie Science Foundation in a series on “Origins” — this time on the Origins of Life: The Formation of Earth And Our Solar System — happened inside Dr. William A Haseltine and, his wife, Maria Eugenia Maury’s art-filled residence in Manhattan. Welcoming his guests Bill explained, “We’ve traveled to Chile where Carnegie has built, and continues to build, more and more powerful telescopes that are helping us understand the origins of the universe. They’re doing really interesting work there. Tonight, we have a very special conversation, what is the origin of this particular matter that we circle the sun on? The origins of our planet earth.”
While thanking Bill and Maria Eugenia, Dr. Eric D. Isaacs, President of Carnegie Science, provided context for the salon discussions with this points:
- Previous salons explored the origins of the universe, the formation of elements, and the relationship between the geophysical part of the earth and life.
- Carl Sagan’s concept of humans being made of “star stuff” is substantial.
- In the second salon, the focus was on the origins of life and the interconnection of the earth’s geophysical aspects and life.
- The existence of life and earth is dependent on the other, creating a fascinating marriage.
- Tonight’s salon explores the origins and evolution of Earth and the solar system.
- The proximity of Earth and the solar system compared to distant stars makes them more familiar.
- The exploration of how Earth formed and the potential evolution of life informs the search for life signatures on other planets.
- Introduction of two distinguished scientists from Carnegie Science for guiding the conversation: Dr. Anat Shahar, a staff scientist in the Earth and Planets Lab, and Dr. Scott Sheppard, a member of the Earth and Planets Lab focusing on research beyond Pluto.
The salon format itself has a long history in the sciences. Before research universities and conference circuits existed, much of what we now call scientific discourse happened in private drawing rooms where investigators explained their work to an audience of patrons and interested laypeople. Reviving that arrangement puts researchers in front of listeners who ask different questions than colleagues would, and it reminds the people funding the work what their money actually buys.
At the finish, all left was complex inquiry to which Steve Martin posed the order, “and we need an answer right away” (which got a big laugh), and Father Timothy Healy (former president of Georgetown University) who, reassuringly said, “I don’t really see any discrepancies between theology and science.”
Guests included Veronique Bich, Joan Hardy Clark, Ed Epstein, Robert Hormats, Jeanne Lawrence, Encarnita and Robert Quinlan, Yolanda Santos, Anne Stringfield and two dozen top scientists and researchers. The Haseltine’s will host another Carnegie Science Foundation salon in February.
