Seth Shostak

Early life and education

Seth Shostak was born in a Jewish family in Arlington County, Virginia, the son of Arthur and Bertha Shostak (née Gortenburg); his father was an electrical engineer. He earned his BS in physics from Princeton University and a PhD in astrophysics from the California Institute of Technology.

Professional work

Shostak used radio telescopes in the US and the Netherlands, searching for clues to the ultimate fate of the universe by analyzing galaxy motion. In 1999, he produced twelve 30-minute lectures on audio-tape and video titled "The Search for Intelligent Life in Space" for The Teaching Company. An updated overview about the search for extraterrestrial life was presented in 2019.

SETI Institute

Since 2001, he has been the senior astronomer at the SETI Institute, a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to "explore, understand and explain the origin, nature and prevalence of life in the universe". SETI Institute, located in Mountain View, California, employs over 50 researchers that study all aspects of the search for life, its origins, the environment in which life develops, and its ultimate fate.

He was the chair of the International Academy of Astronautics SETI Permanent Committee from 2003-2012.

Public outreach

Shostak is an active participant in the Institute's observation programs and, along with Molly Bentley, co-hosts the weekly radio show Big Picture Science, which was produced by the SETI Institute from 2002 until January 2025 when it went independent. Each week, Shostak interviews guests about the latest scientific research on a variety of topics: cosmology, physics, genetics, paleontology, evolutionary biology and astrobiology. Big Picture Science is distributed on the Public Radio Satellite System and the Public Radio Exchange and is available for download at the show's website and through podcasts.

Shostak also co-hosts the "Skeptic Check" episodes of Big Picture Science, focused on debunking pseudoscience, UFOs and practices such as astrology and dowsing.

He has published four books, nearly 300 popular articles on astronomy, technology, film and television and gives frequent talks to both young and adult audiences.

Filmography

Television / web series

Recognition

Shostak was the 2004 winner of the Klumpke-Roberts Award of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the public understanding and appreciation of astronomy.

In January 2010 he was elected as a fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI), and in October 2019 was a featured speaker at the organization's annual conference, CSICon.

He has been an observer for Project Phoenix (SETI) as well as an active participant in various international forums for SETI research. He served as chair of the International Academy of Astronautics SETI Permanent Study Group from 2002 to 2012.

Shostak has been nominated by the SETI Institute to be one of the USA Science and Engineering Festival's Nifty Fifty Speakers, who will speak about his work and career to middle and high school students in October 2010.

Personal life

Seth became interested in electronics and amateur radio as a young student.

Shostak's hobbies include film making, railroading, and computer animation. While working at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, he founded DIGIMA, a computer animation company. He is a brother of Robert Shostak, developer of the Paradox relational database.

In the spring of 1988 Seth left Groningen to help his brother, who was then working on image database software in Silicon Valley.

According to his C.V., Shostak has a considerable body of creative writing, mostly for corporate clients. He was also "idea man" behind a plan to build a large space and technology theme park in The Netherlands and also the Air and Space Exhibit at the California Science Center, where he also serves on the board.

Bibliography

• Life in the Universe, Jeffrey O. Bennett, Bruce Jakosky and Seth Shostak, 2003, .
• Sharing the Universe: Perspectives on Extraterrestrial Life, Seth Shostak, foreword by Frank Drake 1998, .
• Cosmic Company: The Search for Life in the Universe, Seth Shostak, Alex Barnett, 2003, .
• Confessions of an Alien Hunter: A Scientist's Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, Seth Shostak, foreword by Frank Drake 2009, .

References

References

1. Shostak, Seth. (21 May 2014). "Using Radio in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence". [[US Congress]].
2. Kleineidam, Alina. (21 May 2014). "Astronomers tell Congress they're almost certain ET exists". [[ABC News (United States).
3. "Skeptics Guide to the Universe podcast 582 2016-09-03".
4. "1950 United States Federal Census".
5. "Nifty Fifty".
6. "Shostak, Seth". SETI Institute.
7. Shostak, Seth. (4 October 2019). "We may be closing in on the discovery of alien life. Are we prepared? - New robotic craft bound for Mars should give us our best shot at finding life on the Red Planet.". [[NBC News]].
8. "IAA SETI Permanent Committee: Minutes".
9. Seth, Shostak. "Big Picture Science". SETI Institute.
10. "Big Picture Science". About...Big Picture Science.
11. Shostak, Seth. "Seth Shostak: ET is (probably) out there -- get ready". Ted.com.
12. {{IMDb title. 1791025. Ideas That Changed the World
13. {{IMDb title. 0209101. Life Beyond Earth
14. (2010). "Seth Shostak". GALE Literature Resource Center.
15. (12 January 2010). "Sixteen Notable Figures in Science and Skepticism Elected CSI Fellows".
16. "CSICon 2019: Speakers". CFI.
17. "IAA SETI Permanent Committee". The SETI League.
18. (2 June 2012). "ET is (Probably) Out There — Get Ready". TED.
19. (March 25, 1988). "Nieuwsblad van het Noorden".
20. Shostak, Seth. "Curriculum Vitae".
21. Kaufman, Marc. (15 March 2009). "Book Review: ''Confessions of an Alien Hunter'' by Seth Shostak". Washington Post.