Astronomers are looking for children to help make contact with alien lifeforms

To boldly go where no child has gone before.

Astronomers in Puerto Rico are searching for a child to help them create and record a message that they will send out into space. The aim of the project entitled New Arecibo Message is to have the message reach extra-terrestrial life.

Interested in using the world most powerful radio-radar telescope? We invite proposals for the use of the Arecibo Telescope for the Thursday, March 7, 2019 (17:00 AST, 21:00 UTC), deadline. For more information: https://t.co/txtMGRe9Pc pic.twitter.com/GAbqyCpQs0

— Arecibo Observatory (@NAICobservatory) February 13, 2019

Scientists are inviting children aged from approximately four years to sixteen to apply for a chance to have their message recorded and sent into outer space. Those involved in the project said that they wanted a child to create the message rather than a scientist as they felt children would create something more genuine and less research focused.

“Sometimes the scientists are so focused on their topics and they can see stuff very deep but they cannot see very broad. Students know a little bit about everything, so they can see the big picture better. For sure they can design a message that is actually much more important.”

Those interested in entering the competition can do so through the Arecibo Observatory's website and who knows maybe someone that you know will have their message sent to infinity and beyond.