image: Dr. Jill Tarter
Credit: SETI Institute
Jill Tarter to Receive Inaugural Tarter Award for Innovation in the Search for Life Beyond Earth
November 4, 2024, Mountain View, CA – Renowned astronomer, Dr. Jill Tarter, SETI Institute co-founder and pioneering SETI researcher, will be honored with the inaugural Tarter Award for Innovation in the Search for Life Beyond Earth at the SETI Institute’s 40th Anniversary celebration on November 20, 2024, in Menlo Park, CA. This new award recognizes individuals whose projects or ideas significantly advance humanity’s search for extraterrestrial life and intelligence. The Tarter Award honors contributions across science, technology, education, art, philosophy, law and ethics that support SETI’s mission to search for life and intelligence beyond Earth.
“Anyone who has had the privilege of knowing Jill, knows one thing about her—she never, never gives up the fight for what she believes in,” said Jim Bildner who serves on the Tarter Award Selection Committee. “And the quest to search for life beyond our planet exists in no small part due to her tireless efforts over decades. And yes, as the inspiration to Carl Sagan for his character Ellie Arroway played by Jody Foster in Contact, she has inspired thousands of women to pursue their dreams in science and astronomy. In a world full of challenges, Jill shows us the power of one human life to make a difference in the lives of others. Thank you, Jill, for all you have done and all you do.”
A trailblazer in the field, Tarter was the only woman in her engineering program at Cornell University and went on to lead transformative SETI research at UC Berkeley and NASA. In 1984, she co-founded the SETI Institute and directed numerous groundbreaking projects, including Project Phoenix, and oversaw the design and development of the SETI Institute’s Allen Telescope Array. Tarter’s work inspired countless scientists, especially women, and even inspired Carl Sagan’s character Ellie Arroway in the book and movie, ‘Contact.’ She continues to drive new initiatives and technologies in the search for life and intelligence beyond Earth.
“Few individuals have been as important and impactful in astronomy and astrophysics as Jill Tarter,” said Bill Diamond, SETI Institute CEO. “She inspired a whole new generation of scientists and paved the way for women to pursue careers in astronomy and space exploration. Perhaps most importantly, she pursued a science question that was considered fringe in the 1980’s but is now regarded as the central question in space science – Are we alone in the Universe?”
The Tarter Award will be presented no more than once annually, with the next nomination period opening on February 1, 2025.
Members of the Tarter Award selection committee include:
- Jim Bildner – CEO, Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation, adjunct lecturer, Harvard Kennedy School
- Andrew Fraknoi – SETI Institute Board Member, former Executive Director, Astronomical Society of the Pacific
- Frank Levinson – General Partner, Small World Group; co-founder of Finisar Corporation
- Gregory Papadopoulos – Partner, New Enterprise Associates, and former Chair of the SETI Institute Board
Anyone interested in attending the SETI Institute’s 40th Anniversary celebration on November 20 can find more information and purchase tickets here. Activities will include:
- Special recognition of Jill Tarter
- Lightning Talks featuring bold predictions from our scientists
- Interactive “Show and Tell” booths
- Custom-crafted 40th-anniversary space-themed cocktail
- AI alien photo booth – choose your avatar!
- Live music from "Wasabi The Band" Space Funk Future
Tarter is a member of the SETI Institute's Board of Directors and Science Advisory Board.
About the SETI Institute
Founded in 1984, the SETI Institute is a non-profit, multi-disciplinary research and education organization whose mission is to lead humanity’s quest to understand the origins and prevalence of life and intelligence in the Universe and to share that knowledge with the world. Our research encompasses the physical and biological sciences and leverages expertise in data analytics, machine learning and advanced signal detection technologies. The SETI Institute is a distinguished research partner for industry, academia and government agencies, including NASA and NSF.
Contact information
Rebecca McDonald
Director of Communications
SETI Institute
rmcdonald@seti.org