The central day of the 17th World Humanist Congress is drawing to a close after a wide range of parallel sessions and workshops. The chairs of these sessions and workshops will report their findings to the resumed plenary session tomorrow.

The IHEU awards dinner is under way and the AHA Isaac Asimov award is being presented to Dr Carolyn Porco, for her work on the Cassini probe to Saturn. Her particular contribution to producing inspirational images was especially valuable.

Acknowledging the award, Dr Porco stressed the spiritual quest of humanity to comprehend the natural world and the purpose of life.

The Cassini probe took seven years to reach Saturn and has been exploring for four years. Among the many discoveries from Man's furthest outpost in the solar system is a small moon with surprisingly few craters, suggesting an unusually young object. The same moon seems to have strange heat distribution and organic compounds on its surface with jets of fine, icy particles streaming out of the moon including water vapour.

Dr Porco speculated that the jets might originate from pockets of liquid water - an environment that would be potentially suitable for living organisms. If life emerged twice in one solar system, it would be a truly striking discovery.

The IHEU Distinguished Service Award went to Roy Brown and the Lifetime Achievement Award went to Levi Fragell.