# Seth Shostak

Seth Shostak (born July 20, 1943) is an American astronomer and author, and is currently the senior astronomer for the SETI Institute.
Shostak hosts SETI's 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 has been hosting SETI's weekly radio show Big Picture Science since 2002. 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 SETI Institute's website and through podcasts.
Shostak also hosts the monthly "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 Astronomer | Episode: "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 Astronomer | Episode: "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 Astronomer | Episode: "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.