UFO: The Inside Story of the US Government’s Search for Alien Life Here—and Out There
Presented as part of the Hurst Lecture Series.
Featuring Garrett Graff, journalist, historian, and director of Cyber Initiatives at the Aspen Institute, in conversation with Vivian Schiller, executive director of Aspen Digital at the Aspen Institute. Graff will discuss his latest book, “UFO: The Inside Story of the US Government’s Search for Alien Life Here—and Out There,” a comprehensive exploration of the US government’s decades-long quest to solve one of humanity’s greatest mysteries: are we alone in the universe?
Paepcke Auditorium, doors at 5:00 pm
While attendance at the events is free and open to everyone, registration is required, and capacity is established on a first-come, first-served basis. Register here.
Parking
Parking is very limited. Please carpool, walk, bike, or ride RFTA.
You can purchase his book “UFO: The Inside Story of the US Government’s Search for Alien Life Here—and Out There” here. Books will also be available for purchase at the event. Book signing to follow.
“One of the rare books on the topic that manages to be both entertaining and factually grounded.” —The Wall Street Journal
“The perfect guide for readers interested in learning how that discussion has evolved. . . . a narrative as compelling as Graff’s other works.” – Associated Press
Garrett M. Graff has two decades covering politics, technology, and national security—helping to explain where we’ve been and where we’re headed. Today, he’s a columnist for the Washington Post, where he writes on leadership, and serves as the director of cyber initiatives at the Aspen Institute. The former editor of POLITICO Magazine and a longtime contributor to WIRED and CNN, he’s written for publications like Esquire, Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair, and Foreign Affairs, and authored nine books —including the #1 national bestseller “The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11,” and the New York Times bestseller “Watergate: A New History,” which was a finalist in 2023 for the Pulitzer Prize in History. His most recent books include “UFO: The Inside Story of the US Government’s Search for Alien Life Here—and Out There” and “When the Sea Came Alive: An Oral History of D-Day.”
Vivian Schiller joined the Aspen Institute in January 2020 as Executive Director of Aspen Digital, which empowers policymakers, civic organizations, companies, and the public to be responsible stewards of technology and media in the service of an informed, just, and equitable world. A longtime executive at the intersection of journalism, media and technology, Schiller has held executive roles at some of the most respected media organizations in the world. Those include: President and CEO of NPR; Global Chair of News at Twitter; General Manager of NYTimes.com; Chief Digital Officer of NBC News; Chief of the Discovery Times Channel, a joint venture of The New York Times and Discovery Communications; and Head of CNN documentary and long form divisions. Documentaries and series produced under her auspices earned multiple honors, including three Peabody Awards, four Alfred I. DuPont-Columbia University Awards, and dozens of Emmys. Schiller is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations; and a Director of the Scott Trust, which owns The Guardian.
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