Wednesday, Jul 22, 2026

In 1977, the detection of a brief radio signal prompted SETI astronomer Jerry Ehman to write a single word in the margin of a computer printout: "Wow!" Nearly fifty years later, the famous Wow! signal continues to capture our imagination, reminding us that moments of wonder often begin with a single, unexpected observation. Inspired by that spirit of curiosity and discovery, we are delighted to launch the Wow! Literary Award for emerging writers and poets. Our Open Call is now live; read on to learn more. And, as always, catch up on the latest SETI AIR news and events.

Clear skies,
Bettina

AIR Program News

Wow! Literary Award Prize Open Call

The annual Wow! Literary Award (formerly Cosmic Chronicles Literary Prize) is a contest for emerging writers of all ages whose work explores questions of interspecies communication, intelligence and consciousness in the universe. The Wow! Literary Award invites writers and poets working in literature, speculative fiction/sci-fi, experimental poetry, and philosophy to submit original, unpublished creative work that reflects and expands on the SETI Institute’s “Intelligence and Consciousness” research area, exploring the questions:

  • What may interspecies communication entail? 
  • What is the nature of consciousness? 
  • What is the nature and evolution of intelligence? 

The Wow! Literary Award comes with a $1,000 award and publication on the SETI Institute’s website. Deadline is September 10, 2026. Read the full contest rules here.​​​​​​

SETI AIR Artist News & Events

Xin Liu 

Cosmic Metabolism: On Residue, Growth, and Technological Afterlives in Xin Liu's Work

Review in Asian Art Contemporary

Read More

Insomnia, 2025. Credit: Xin Liu

Jonathon Keats

Why are artists creating work for an audience that will be born 100 years from now?

Review in Vogue India

Read More

One hundred of Jonathon Keats’s pinhole cameras have been placed in secret ­locations across Berlin. Photographed by Sibila Savage

Bettina Forget

Imagine Aliens

Workshops at the Exploratorium, San Francisco, USA

  • July 23, 2026, 7pm - 9:30 pm - After Dark
  • July 25 and 26, 2026, 11:30 am - 3:30 pm - Life in Space Festival 

LEARN MORE

Imagine Aliens Workshop. Credit: Bettina Forget

Richelle Ellis

Iceland Eclipse Festival

Presenter

Snæfellsnes, Iceland
August 11 - 15, 2026

READ MORE

Richelle Ellis

Linda O'Keefe

Iceland Eclipse Festival

Presenter

Climate Memories

Learn More

Linda O'Keefe

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