Albert ('"Al") Harrison (1940–2015), was a professor emeritus of psychology at the University of California, Davis whose research focused on how the discovery of extraterrestrial life would impact human society.[1][2]

Harrison argued that it would be “foolish and negligent” to fail to anticipate nativist and extremist reactions by humanity against extraterrestrial life in the formulation of post-detection policies and plans.[3]

Harrison also thought and wrote on the potential cultural impact of extraterrestrial contact, arguing that a highly advanced civilization might teach humanity such things as a physical theory of everything, how to use zero-point energy, or how to travel faster than light.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "Albert Harrison, 1940 - 2015". SETI. 2015. Archived from the original on 21 June 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  2. ↑ "UC Davis Psychology, Albert Harrison". Archived from the original on 2012-12-07. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  3. ↑ Albert A. Harrison, “Rethinking our Place in the Universe: Exploring the Societal Implications of NASA’s Astrobiology Program,” Space Times, January–February 2002, 4–9, 6.
  4. ↑ Harrison, Albert & Steven Dick (July 2000). "Contact: Long-Term Implications for Humanity". In Tough, Allen (ed.). When SETI Succeeds: The Impact of High-Information Contact. pp. 7–29. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 December 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
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