PLANETARY ATMOSPHERE EVOLUTION - DO OTHER HABITABLE PLANETS EXIST ANDCAN WE DETECT THEM

The goal of this conference is to consider whether it is possible with in the next few decades to detect Earth-like planets around other star s using telescopes or interferometers on the ground or in space. Impli cit in the term ''Earth-like'' is the idea that such planets might be habitable by Earth-like organisms, or that they might actually be inha bited. Here, I shall address two questions from the standpoint of plan etary atmosphere evolution. First, what are the chances that habitable planets exist around other stars? And, second, if inhabited planets e xist, what would be the best way to detect them?