Avi Loeb’s book ‘Extraterrestrial’ wins 2023 Cosmos Award

Professor Avi Loeb, who heads the Galileo Project and is the director of the Institute for Theory and Computation at Harvard University, was awarded the 2023 Cosmos Prize in Italy for his book, “Extraterrestrial” (HarperCollins), on Saturday.

After being translated into 25 languages, “Extraterrestrial” has appeared on the bestseller’s list in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly, Die Zeit, Der Spiegel, L’Express, among others.

The prize is awarded annually to the “best popular science book” as recognized by a student jury, which includes approximately 600 high school students.

The Cosmos Award was announced in the presence of Carmelo Versace, mayor of the city of Reggio Calabria, Angela Misiano, director Planetarium Pythagoras, and Gianfranco Bertone, president of the Scientific Committee Cosmos Prize. Also present were Serena Bonito, delegate of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Anna Brancaccio, delegate of the Italian Ministry of Education, and Roberto Buonanno, president of the Italian Astronomical Society.

The award ceremony will take place on Oct. 7.