Los Angeles Times Book Prize
1 appearances
-
Edition 41 (2020) Winner
Sara Seager
サラ・シーガー
Sara Seager
Profile
- Gender
- Female
- Born
- 1971-07-21 （Toronto, Ontario, Canada）
- Nationality
- Canada, United States
- Languages
- English
- Religion
- Judaism
- Residence History
- Toronto (birthplace) → Cambridge, Massachusetts (MIT faculty) → Concord, Massachusetts
Career
- Occupations
- Astronomer, Planetary scientist, Professor, Author, Researcher
- Active Years
- 1999-
- Affiliations
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Carnegie Institution for Science, Institute for Advanced Study, Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics (joining as North Star Distinguished Professor, from Sep 1, 2026)
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Toronto | Faculty of Science | Mathematics and Physics | BSc | 1990–1994 | Canada |
| Harvard University | Graduate School | Astronomy | PhD | 1994–1999 | United States |
University of Toronto
Faculty of Science
/ Mathematics and Physics
Degree:
BSc
Period:
1990–1994
Year of Graduation:
1994
Country:
Canada
Received NSERC undergraduate research support
Harvard University
Graduate School
/ Astronomy
Degree:
PhD
Period:
1994–1999
Year of Graduation:
1999
Country:
United States
PhD thesis on atmospheres of extrasolar giant planets under strong stellar irradiation
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Order of Canada (Officer) | — | — | Governor General of Canada | 受賞 |
| 2013 | MacArthur Fellowship | — | — | MacArthur Foundation | 受賞 |
| 2007 | Helen B. Warner Prize for Astronomy | — | — | American Astronomical Society | 受賞 |
| 2012 | Sackler Prize | — | — | Sackler Prize awarding body | 受賞 |
| 2020 | Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Science and Technology | The Smallest Lights in the Universe: A Memoir | — | Los Angeles Times | 受賞 |
| 2024 | Kavli Prize in Astrophysics | — | — | Kavli Foundation | 受賞 |
| 1990 | NSERC Science and Technology Fellowship | — | 学部研究支援 | Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) | フェローシップ |
Order of Canada (Officer)
2020
Organization:
Governor General of Canada
Result:
受賞
MacArthur Fellowship
2013
Organization:
MacArthur Foundation
Result:
受賞
Helen B. Warner Prize for Astronomy
2007
Organization:
American Astronomical Society
Result:
受賞
Sackler Prize
2012
Organization:
Sackler Prize awarding body
Result:
受賞
Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Science and Technology
2020
Work:
The Smallest Lights in the Universe: A Memoir
Organization:
Los Angeles Times
Result:
受賞
Kavli Prize in Astrophysics
2024
Organization:
Kavli Foundation
Result:
受賞
NSERC Science and Technology Fellowship
1990
Category:
学部研究支援
Organization:
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
Result:
フェローシップ
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Exoplanet Atmospheres: Physical Processes
2010 Academic textbook / AstrophysicsA textbook presenting the physical processes in exoplanetary atmospheres, linking observation and theory with models and methods.
Exoplanet atmospheresRadiative transferSpectroscopy
Exoplanets
2010 Textbook / OverviewAn overview of exoplanet detection history, classification, detection methods, and underlying theory.
Exoplanet detectionPlanetary scienceObservation techniques
The Smallest Lights in the Universe: A Memoir
2020 Memoir / Popular scienceA memoir blending personal experiences with scientific pursuit, discussing exoplanet research, small-satellite projects, and life as a scientist.
Life as a scientistExoplanet researchSmall satellites (CubeSats)
Scientific Frontiers in Research on Extrasolar Planets (editor)
2003 Conference proceedings / Edited volumeProceedings covering frontiers in extrasolar planet research, collecting reviews and research reports by multiple authors.
Exoplanet theoryObservational techniques
Bibliography
- Deming, Drake; Seager, Sara (eds.). Scientific Frontiers in Research on Extrasolar Planets. ASP Conference Proceedings, 2003.
- Seager, Sara. Exoplanet Atmospheres: Physical Processes. Princeton University Press, 2010.
- Seager, Sara. Exoplanets. University of Arizona Press, 2010.
- Seager, Sara. The Smallest Lights in the Universe: A Memoir. Crown, 2020.
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Clear, explanatory prose that makes technical material accessibleStyle linking theory and observationNarrative elements mixing personal experience with scientific exposition
- Recurring Motifs
- Search for Earth analogsDecoding atmospheric composition via spectraUse of small, low-cost space observatories
Legacy
Recognized as a theoretical leader in exoplanet research and atmospheric detection methods; has advanced practical approaches via small-satellite projects and mission proposals. Contributed to science communication and has been honored with both academic and popular awards.
Academic Societies
- American Astronomical Society (Fellow)
- American Association for the Advancement of Science (Fellow)
- Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (Honorary Member)
- American Philosophical Society (Member)
Archives
- MIT-related archives (professional materials)
- University of Toronto archival materials
In Popular Culture
- TED2015 talk "The search for planets beyond our solar system"
- Appearance on the Lex Fridman Podcast (#116)
Quotes
-
"My satellite would fit in a small suitcase. But it could help us find other worlds."
Source: MIT News (excerpt from The Smallest Lights in the Universe) (2021)
Trivia
- Her father was a pioneer in hair transplantation and founded the Seager Hair Transplant Center in Toronto.
- She was principal investigator of the 6U CubeSat ASTERIA, launched in 2017.
- Proposed the 'Seager equation', a variant of the Drake equation focused on detectable biosignature gases.
- Her first husband, Michael Wevrick, died of cancer in 2011.