2026 Ceremony
The Lewis Thomas Prize for Writing about Science
An International Award Honoring the Scientist as Poet
Will be awarded to
Chris Impey, Ph.D.
Distinguished Professor of Astronomy
Steward Observatory
The University of Arizona
Author of Worlds Without End: Exoplanets, Habitability, and the Future of Humanity
5:30 PM Registration and Reception
6:30 PM Prize Presentation and Lecture
Free admission and open to the public.
Registration is required.
Caspary Auditorium
1230 York Avenue at East 66th Street
New York, NY 10065
Renowned astronomer Chris Impey, Ph.D., has significantly advanced our understanding of the universe by developing innovative methods to observe and measure its matter and energy, bringing scientists closer to astronomy’s holy grail: finding life beyond Earth. As an author, he transforms complex discoveries and the work of the dedicated individuals behind them into clear, compelling narratives for general readers. His intellect, passion for the cosmos, and commitment to educating the public have shaped his achievements across both astronomy and literature.
Dr. Impey’s research has explored some of astronomy’s most profound questions, from the nature of quasars—extremely remote, radiant celestial objects—to the type and purpose of matter in the intergalactic medium—the vast, ghostly space between galaxies. In pursuit of insights into these mysteries, he has advanced gravitational lensing techniques and used cutting-edge instruments at numerous ground-based observatories and the Hubble Space Telescope.
Dr. Impey has written 10 popular science books that explore an impressive range of topics, from the origins of the universe and the nature of galaxies and black holes to the search for life beyond Earth. In his latest, Worlds Without End: Exoplanets, Habitability, and the Future of Humanity (2022), he describes humankind’s fascination with habitable planets other than our own. With lucid prose sprinkled with cultural references from Shakespeare to Avatar, he educates readers on the incredible scientific and technological advances that have revealed a diversity of planets outside our solar system that circle their own star—where astronomers, astrophysicists, and colleagues in multiple fields are searching for life. At the same time, he makes a compelling case for saving our own planet from the existential threats it is facing. “There is no planet B,” he says.
Dr. Impey was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and spent the second half of his childhood moving between the U.S. East Coast and London. In 1977, he graduated with highest honors in physics from Imperial College in London, earning a Ph.D. in astronomy four years later from the University of Edinburgh. He completed postdoctoral positions at the University of Hawai‘i and Caltech before landing at the University of Arizona’s Steward Observatory, where he is now a University Distinguished Professor. For his research and teaching, Dr. Impey has earned many accolades, including being honored as an NSF Distinguished Teaching Scholar, a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the first astronomer to be named a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professor.
Chris Impey, Ph.D.
