G. Seth Shostak (born July 20, 1943) is an American astronomer and author, and is currently the senior astronomer for the SETI Institute.
Shostak co-hosts the weekly radio show/podcast Big Picture Science, has played himself numerous times in TV and internet film dramas, and has acted in several science fiction films.
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 Year Title Role Notes 2008 The Day the Earth Stood Still advisor: astrobiology (crew) A remake of the 1951 classic sci-fi film about an alien visitor and his giant robot counterpart who visit Earth. 2007 Star Trek: Of Gods and Men Enterprise Communications Officer (actor) Video
Television / web series Year Title As Notes 2017 How the Universe Works Himself as Astronomer Episode: "Strangest Alien Worlds" 2013 Alien Encounters (TV Mini-Series) Himself as Senior Astronomer Episode:"The Offspring"Episode:"The Invasion" 2012-2013 Ancient Aliens (TV Series Documentary) Himself as Senior AstronomerEpisode: "Destination Orion"Episode:"Aliens and Cover-Ups"Episode:"The Time Travelers"Episode:"The NASA Connection" 2012 Science Club (TV Series) Himself - SETI Institute Episode:"Space" 2008-2012 Horizon (TV Series Documentary) Himself - SETI Institute Episode:"The Transit of Venus: A Horizon Special"Episode:"Are We Alone in the Universe?" 2012 Prophets of Science Fiction (TV Series Documentary) Himself Episode:"George Lucas" 2011 Curiosity (TV series documentaries) Himself Episode: Alien Invasion Are We Ready" 2010 Ideas That Changed the World (TV Series Documentary) Himself Episode:"Communication" 2010 Lost Tapes (TV Series) Himself - Senior Astronomer, SETI Institute Episode:"Reptilian" 2010 Bad Universe (TV Series Documentary) Himself Episode:"Alien Attack!" 2010 Naked Science (TV Series Documentary) Himself as Senior AstronomerEpisode: "Hunt for Aliens"Episode:"Alien Contact(2004)" 2009 The Colbert Report (TV Series) Himself (Guest) - SETI Institute Episode:"Episode #5.70" 2007 UFO Files (TV Series Documentary) Himself - SETI Institute Episode:"Alien Hunters"Episode (2005):"UFO Hunters"Episode (2005):"The Day After Roswell"2007 The Universe (TV Series Documentary) Himself as Senior Astronomer Episode:"Search for E.T."2007 Is It Real? (TV Series Documentary) Himself as AstronomerEpisode: "Life on Mars" 2005 Extraterrestrial (TV Movie Documentary) Himself - SETI Institute "SETI Institute" 2005 How William Shatner Changed the World (TV Movie Documentary) Himself - SETI Institute "SETI Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence" 1998 Life Beyond Earth (TV Movie Documentary) Science Advisor (crew)Written by Timothy Ferris for Public Broadcasting Service
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
External links
Seth Shostak biography at the SETI Institute SETI Institute Homepage "Big Picture Science" Radio Show Should We Keep a Low Profile in Space? "Boldly Going Nowhere" by Seth Shostak, The New York Times (April 13, 2009) Shostak interview (40:47) - RadioLIVE New Zealand (May 10, 2010)
Shostak testimony - U.S.Congress: "Using Radio in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence" (May 21, 2014)