Reinventing SETI: New Directions In The Search For Extraterrestrial Intelligence- John Gertz

Ethereal Encounters Unveiled welcomes John Gertz
August 21st, 2025
Topic: Reinventing SETI: New Directions In The Search For Extraterrestrial Intelligence

About John:
John Gertz has been a driving force in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) for more than 25 years. A recognized leader in the field, he served three terms as chairman of the board of the SETI Institute. Gertz has also contributed to the academic foundation of SETI through multiple peer-reviewed theoretical papers.
Gertz founded a pioneering organization dedicated to raising $100 million for global SETI efforts, where he served as President alongside Vice President Frank Drake. The board included some of the most distinguished names in science, including Nobel Laureates George Smoot and Charles Townes, and MacArthur Fellow Sara Seager. When Yuri Milner launched the $100 million Breakthrough Listen initiative, Gertz’s leadership and vision were recognized with his appointment as the sole layman on its advisory board.
Beyond his work in extraterrestrial research, John Gertz is President and CEO of Zorro Productions, Inc., where he has overseen numerous global adaptations of the iconic character, including The Mask of Zorro, Zorro: The Musical, 12 TV series, and over 75 stage productions. He has collaborated with major talents such as Steven Spielberg, Isabel Allende, The Gipsy Kings, and Quentin Tarantino, with Django/Zorro currently in development as a feature film with SONY.

https://johngertz.com