Jill Tarter

Astronomer

Co-Founder of the SETI Institute

Jill Tarter is a pioneer in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) field and the co-founder of the SETI Institute. An astronomer by training, she has been recognized as one of Time 100’s most influential people in the world, received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Women in Aerospace, and was awarded two Public Service Medals from NASA, among other accolades. Tarter served as a scientist for NASA’s SETI program in addition to other roles. She is a frequent speaker on SETI issues, and elements of her work inspired Jodi Foster’s character in the movie “Contact.”

Debates Featuring Jill Tarter

Should We Search for Extraterrestrial Life?

With Paul Sutter, Jill Tarter
September 9, 2022

For decades, scientists around the world have dedicated their lives — and research dollars — to one question: Is there anyone else out there? In the early 1970s, NASA joined the hunt with its own program to search for extraterrestrial life, or SETI for short. When that was defunded by Congress, private efforts took hold. But just what have decades of SETI brought us? And how should we approach the search in those to come? For SETI’s supporters, finding other…

Should We Search for Extraterrestrial Life?

With Paul Sutter, Jill Tarter
September 9, 2022

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Jill Tarter

Debates Featuring Jill Tarter

Should We Search for Extraterrestrial Life?

Should We Search for Extraterrestrial Life?

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