Carl Sagan

Born: November 9, 1934

Died: December 20, 1996

Sagan insisted that “there is nothing about science that cannot be explained to the layman.” In his books and in his television series, this Pulitzer Prize-winning scientist, author, and teacher proved his point. No one made science come alive so clearly as did this astronomer who was at home in TV studios, classrooms, laboratories, and even the U.S. space program.

For religious believers, he is particularly interesting. In one personable and exciting individual, the believer can encounter the thinking, the attitudes, and the views of modern science. No one elected Carl Sagan, the boy from Brooklyn who dreamed of studying the cosmos, to be spokesperson for science. He did not seek the title. But he has it and if a religious believer wants to know what scientists think of belief and believers, then there is no better witness than Carl Sagan.