SETI Message Project
You are to create a message, which hopefully, will be decoded by another member of your class. Here is a message from a prior student. Here is a page that you can print that has a blank grid on it. You should make a drawing of your message on this grid, and then encode the message with ones and zeroes.
If your message is the first to be successfully decoded and you successfully decode the other message given to you, the score of your lowest test grade will be changed to 100% of the possible points. What a great opportunity! But there are rules.
The message must have certain information in it. Specifically:
Message Requirements
- A description of your system of planets
- A description of your race's physical appearance
- A demonstration of your race's scientific knowledge
- Some basic Mathematics content
- A reference to biological concepts
There are also some rules for the creation of the message.
Message Rules
- No alphanumeric characters of any Earthly language are allowed.
- No more than 2000 discreet bits to the signal
- The message must be in a form that could be sent as a modulated radio signal.
The completed message must be turned in no later than 19:20 U.T. on Friday, May 28.
At that time, you must also turn in a two page printed document that describes the proper interpretation of the message. This will be a guide to judge the correctness of a solution. The message and document will be worth twenty test points, ten points each.
N.B.: The person who is decode your message will be randomly chosen.
Here are the rules for decoding the message.
If you wish to submit your interpretation of the message you received, you must e-mail me with your ideas on each of the five parts of the message. The deadline for decoded messages submission is 19:20 U.T. on Tuesday, May 25. Then you must submit, within twenty-four hours of the e-mail, a written summary at least one page in length. This will be the official record and will determine whether or not you qualify for one of the prizes.
Award categories You can replace the score on one of the six tests
- First - - - 100% on any one test
- Second - - 95% on any one test
- Third - - - 90% on any one test
- Fourth - - - 85% on any one test
10 quiz points will also be given to any individual whose message has been successfully decoded.
A short paper on your SETI project is due to be handed in by the starting time of you scheduled final exam.
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Updated May 21, 2010