SETI Pioneer Dr. Jill Tarter Receives Prestigious Fellows Medal

Dr. Jill Tarter, co-founder of the SETI Institute, has been awarded the prestigious Fellows Medal by the California Academy of Sciences. This honor recognizes her groundbreaking contributions to the scientific search for extraterrestrial life. The medal is the Academy’s highest accolade and is awarded to individuals nominated by Academy Fellows and confirmed by the Board of Trustees.

In her acceptance, Tarter expressed her gratitude, stating, “The Cal Academy Fellows Medal is a great honor that I am now fortunate to share with a group of extraordinary previous Medalists.” She highlighted the rewarding collaborations between the SETI Institute and the Academy in enhancing public understanding of science.

The CEO and President of the SETI Institute, Bill Diamond, praised Tarter’s achievements, emphasizing her significant impact on the fields of SETI and radio astronomy. He remarked, “Few people have had such a singular impact on the field of SETI… Jill has also inspired an entire generation of women scientists across multiple research disciplines.”

Pioneering Contributions to SETI

The California Academy of Sciences acknowledged Tarter’s leadership in establishing SETI as an academic discipline. Her work includes co-founding the SETI Institute in 1984 and spearheading the development of the Allen Telescope Array (ATA), a state-of-the-art 42-dish radio telescope array at the Hat Creek Radio Observatory in Northern California. The ATA remains the first observatory specifically designed for SETI research, made possible through Tarter’s visionary leadership.

Tarter’s impact extends to educational initiatives as well. She developed the “Voyages Through Time” high school curriculum and inspired the character Ellie Arroway in Carl Sagan’s novel and film, *Contact*. Additionally, she collaborated with the Academy of Natural Sciences’ planetarium to create engaging scientific content for diverse audiences.

Dr. Shannon Bennett, Dean of Science and Research Collections at the Academy, noted the importance of the Academy Fellows in achieving their mission: “This year we are excited to appoint twelve new Academy Fellows, all incredibly accomplished as scientists, educators, and change makers.” She emphasized the necessity of collaboration in addressing the pressing challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss.

A Legacy of Leadership and Exploration

Tarter’s contributions to the field include leading Project Phoenix, which conducted the most comprehensive search for extraterrestrial intelligence until around 2015. This initiative involved observing approximately 200 stars from locations including the Parkes Observatory in Australia, the Green Bank Observatory in West Virginia, and the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico.

After earning her PhD in Astronomy at UC Berkeley, Tarter led SETI efforts at both UC Berkeley and NASA before co-founding the SETI Institute. Her numerous accolades include the Lifetime Achievement Award from Women in Aerospace, two NASA Public Service Medals, and recognition in *Time* magazine’s list of the 100 Most Influential People.

In 2024, Tarter received the inaugural Tarter Award for Innovation in the Search for Life Beyond Earth, which honors individuals whose work significantly advances the search for extraterrestrial life and intelligence across various fields.

Dr. Tarter continues to serve on the Board of Directors and the Science Advisory Board of the SETI Institute, where she remains a key figure in the ongoing quest to understand the universe and humanity’s place within it.

Founded in 1984, the SETI Institute is a non-profit organization dedicated to leading humanity’s exploration of the origins and prevalence of life in the universe. The Institute collaborates with industry, academia, and government agencies, including NASA and the National Science Foundation, to advance research in both the physical and biological sciences while leveraging cutting-edge technologies.