It's a question that has plagued mankind for thousands of years, is this it or is there life beyond Earth?

Dr Evan Keane from NUI Galway's Centre for Astronomy is one of the people searching for answers, and he's just had a massive boost.

Evan has been awarded seed funding to examine how the next generation of 'Very Large Array' radio telescopes can be designed to find extra-terrestrial intelligence.

Caption: Image of the next generation Very Large Array radio telescopes. Credit: Bill Saxton, NRAO/AUI/NSF.

Speaking to Dermot and Dave, Evan explained the importance of getting the funding to the continuing search for life beyond this planet.