Tarter, Jill

Jill is Director, Center for SETI Research, SETI Institute (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence). A Ph.D. in theoretical astrophysics, she is widely recognized and honored for her pioneering work in searching for extraterrestrial intelligence. She received her Bachelor of Engineering Physics Degree with Distinction from Cornell University and her Master’s Degree and a Ph.D. in Astronomy from the University of California, Berkeley. She served as Project Scientist for NASA’s SETI program, the High Resolution Microwave Survey, and has conducted numerous observational programs at radio observatories worldwide. Since the termination of funding for NASA’s SETI program in 1993, she has served in a leadership role to secure private funding to continue the exploratory science. Jill is a frequent speaker for science teacher meetings and at museums and science centers, bringing her commitment to science and education to both teachers and the public. In 2004 Time Magazine named her one of the Time 100 most influential people in the world. Many people are now familiar with her work as portrayed by Jodie Foster in the movie Contact.