You’d be forgiven for pondering that it was her beautiful 2005 ebook “The Planets” that put Dava in consideration for the Cosmos Award. The extremely private and evocative assortment of essays in regards to the worlds of our Photo voltaic System performed a job within the determination, however solely as further proof of her capacity to carry science alive on the web page.
The Planetary Society’s board of administrators acknowledged that Dava’s writing stands as testomony to the ability of storytelling in science. She exhibits us that the Universe is defined not simply by means of equations and experiments however by means of human tales, making distant historic figures breathe once more, and permitting us to see science by means of their eyes and really feel their surprise. These presents made her a really perfect recipient of the Cosmos Award.
Dava joined us in Washington, D.C., on the night of Could 30 to be celebrated by Invoice Nye, our board of administrators, and particular friends. In her quietly eloquent acceptance speech, Dava shared how very honored she was to obtain this award named for one of many best achievements of Carl Sagan, the individual she credit with having set her on her course so a few years in the past.
Dava first met Carl Sagan when she interviewed him at Cornell College for an article in a neighborhood paper. He wrote her a letter of advice that helped her get a writing job on the establishment. Later, as manufacturing of “Cosmos” was getting underway, Carl would once more suggest Dava as an incredible alternative for the general public data agent who can be current as taking pictures proceeded world wide.
Bronx-born Dava was herself quickly acknowledged throughout our pale blue dot as a gifted author. She received the British E-book of the 12 months award for “Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Biggest Scientific Drawback of His Time.” In 1999, she penned “Galileo’s Daughter: A Historic Memoir of Science, Religion, and Love.” It could turn out to be a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.
Our paths started to cross within the fall of 2023. Dava supplied to adapt “Galileo’s Daughter” for a really particular stage presentation. Beneath the path of Planetary Society board member Robert Picardo, celebrated actors John Rhys-Davies and Linda Purl grew to become Galileo and his good, convent-sequestered daughter, Sister Maria Celeste. They recited a portion of the lengthy thread of letters that had impressed Dava to create the ebook.
That enchanted occasion gave me my first alternative to speak with Dava. She would return for extra Planetary Radio interviews over the next years. Each dialog was as magical, fascinating, and entertaining as her books.
