Instructions and Consent
Project Title: Earth Speaks
Principal Investigator: Douglas A. Vakoch, Ph.D.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this project is to address a critical question in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI): “If we discover intelligent life beyond Earth, should we reply, and if so, what should we say?” This project invites people to submit online the text messages, pictures, and sounds that convey the message they would want to communicate to an extraterrestrial civilization. Participants for the study are being recruited globally, from all walks of life.
Though there are currently no plans to transmit these messages into space, the project will also encourage discussion and survey attitudes about whether we should send intentional messages even before detecting extraterrestrial intelligence, and if so, what these messages should say.

PROCEDURES: In the first phase of this project, you will be asked to submit online one or more of the following: a text message, picture, or sound. You will be asked to give a label or “tag” to each text message, picture, or sound that you submit, to help the researchers understand the content of your message and to compare it with messages submitted by other participants.
In a later stage of the project, you will also be invited to label the messages submitted by other participants, and you will be invited to respond to surveys about your views about extraterrestrial life and interstellar communication.

RISKS: This study poses no risk to you.

BENEFITS: While this study will not benefit you directly, the resulting research should help the international community of SETI scientists better understand people’s views about interstellar communication.

COMPENSATION: There is no financial compensation for participating.

CONFIDENTIALITY: Every attempt will be made by the investigators to maintain all information collected in this study strictly confidential, except as may be required by law. If any publication results from this research, you will not be identified by name. Although your message(s) may be posted online, in print, or in electronic or other media, your name will not be associated with your message(s). Your identity will be known to others only if you choose to link your message with your name, for example, on a social networking website.

You acknowledge that no security measures are perfect or impenetrable. Therefore, the SETI Institute cannot and does not guarantee that information you submit will not be viewed by unauthorized persons. The SETI Institute is not responsible for circumvention of any privacy settings or security measures contained on the site.

DISCLAIMER/WITHDRAWAL: Your participation in this study is completely voluntary and you may withdraw at any time, whether or not you have completed any part of the project.

COPYRIGHT: To the best of your knowledge, all text messages, images, and sounds you submit must be your own. You hereby grant to the SETI Institute a perpetual, royalty free license to use your submitted materials in ways that may include, but are not necessarily be limited to, the following: print, radio, Internet, webcast, or other electronic distribution.  
Your submission will not infringe any copyrights or other rights of others, and will contain nothing defamatory or obscene. Your submission is not subject to any prior agreements that would limit the scope of the permission you are granting here. If you breach the representations you are making here, and if SETI Institute should suffer damages as a result, you agree to indemnify the SETI Institute for those damages.

You further acknowledge that you will not be compensated for any uses made of the submissions, and that the SETI Institute exclusively owns all rights to these submissions.

SUBJECT RIGHTS: If you wish further information regarding your rights as a research subject, you may contact the principal investigator, Dr. Douglas A. Vakoch e-mail at messages@seti.org or traditional mail at the Center for SETI Research, SETI Institute, 515 N Whisman Road, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA.

CONCLUSION: I have read and understand the consent form. I agree to participate in this research study. (Participants may print this screen for their records.)

A. I agree to participate
B. I decline to participate; Close Browser to leave.