A top star gazing academic's lecture promises to be out of this world.

Professor Sir Arnold Wolfendale says he wants to engage his audience in the debate 'Are we alone? The search for intelligent life.'

The 14th Astronomer Royal and present Emeritus Professor of Physics of the University of Durham, the astrophysicist is presenting a free lecture at the University of Teesside, next week (Nov.27), marking ten years of university status for the former Middlesbrough polytechnic.

Sir Arnold who is an Honorary Doctor of Science at the University of Teesside, said yesterday: "Are we alone in the universe? Is one of the great questions of the age and one which everyone has a view. I will look at the history of this question and the science involved in the present day searches for intelligent life.

"My aim is to interact with the audience and provide a situation to debate the issues raised and to find out the answer to the question, are we alone?''

The professor's lecture will be followed next month by one delivered by the former controversial Bishop of Durham Dr David Jenkins.