Toward a new cosmic consciousness: Psychoeducational aspects of contact with extraterrestrial civilizations

• Study identifies the relevance of consciousness in Space awareness.
• New model for consciousness in relation to Space is proposed.
• An empirical approach is used to assess level of Space awareness in college students.
• Subjects showed low levels on Space awareness and high levels on religious beliefs.
• The relationship between results and impact of SETI is also discussed.

This study presents a new approach to the concept of cosmic consciousness integrated in current neuroscience knowledge and discusses implications for the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. It also examines different aspects related to consciousness and how it may play a key role in the understanding of the search for extraterrestrial intelligence and life in the Universe and its implications. Subjects (n=116) were college students from Spain, the United States, and Italy. Subjects responded to a questionnaire comprising five different sections: (A) religious beliefs, (B) environment and general opinion, (C) astronomy, (D) contact, and (E) attention and perception. The results showed the importance of several modular aspects that affect Space awareness in humans. Preliminary results are discussed with regard to current neuroscience, factor analysis, and possible implications for the understanding of contact with extraterrestrial intelligence. The roles of education, new search strategies, and possible contact scenarios are also discussed.