In April 2025, the ExoLife Finder (ELF) mission and its prototype, SELF (Small ExoLife Finder), were presented at the STARMUS Festival in La Palma — a global gathering of scientists, astronauts, and innovators.
Canary Global Foundation (CGF) participated in the event alongside collaborators and members of the ELF scientific community, contributing to discussions on the future of exoplanet science and the search for life beyond Earth.
The presentation brought together leading voices in the field, including Jill Tarter, Rafael Rebolo, and Jeff Kuhn, who shared perspectives on the scientific potential and long-term vision of the ELF project. As Jill Tarter noted, projects like ELF represent an important step forward in the long-term effort to detect life beyond Earth.
ELF is a next-generation telescope concept designed to directly image nearby exoplanets and investigate potential biosignatures. SELF, currently under development in Tenerife, serves as a pathfinder for key technologies and observational approaches.
CGF’s participation at STARMUS reflects its role in supporting global collaboration, visibility, and coalition-building around next-generation observatories and life-detection science.
Why this matters
Events such as STARMUS provide a unique platform to align scientific vision, public engagement, and international collaboration. Presenting ELF and SELF in this context helps build the partnerships and visibility required to advance long horizon scientific initiatives.
What’s next
CGF continues to work with partners across the U.S., Europe, and beyond to support the development of SELF and the broader ELF mission.
