The Hertz Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing American scientific and technological leadership, today announced the appointment of Nobel laureate John C. Mather as an honorary member of its board of directors. A new designation for the Hertz Foundation, this non-voting role recognizes Mather’s extraordinary scientific achievements, longstanding engagement with the Hertz community and his continued commitment to advancing the mission and values of the foundation.
Senior astrophysicist at the Observational Cosmology Laboratory at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Mather won the 2006 Nobel Prize in Physics (shared with George Smoot) for his work on the Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) satellite, which launched in 1989. By making the first precise measurements of the cosmic microwave background radiation — regarded as the afterglow or echo of the Big Bang — the COBE provided data widely believed to have verified the Big Bang theory of the universe’s creation in a primordial explosion.
From 1995 to 2023, Mather served as senior project scientist for the NASA James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the largest, most powerful and most complex space observatory ever launched into space. Unlike the Hubble Telescope, which orbits the earth at an altitude of roughly 300 miles, the JWST orbits the sun, almost a million miles from earth. Since its launch in 2021, the JWST has fascinated the scientific community, allowing us to learn how galaxies form and grow, capture the first direct image of an exoplanet and observe distant never-before-seen galaxies.
Today, Mather is focused on a project called Hybrid Observatory for Earth-like Exoplanets (HOEE). He and his team are designing a family of inflatable star shades — giant, lightweight structures placed between a telescope on the ground and a star — that will block stellar glare and allow scientists to detect and characterize earthlike planets in habitable zones around parent stars.
“It’s a tremendous honor to serve the Hertz Foundation in this capacity and to help them do what they do best. By investing in people, we can expand knowledge, benefit humanity, and make the impossible possible.”
Mather earned a bachelor’s degree in physics from Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania and a doctorate in physics from the University of California, Berkeley, with the support of a Hertz Fellowship.
“John’s remarkable scientific career has riveted the Hertz community for decades,” said Stephen Fantone, chair of the Hertz Foundation Board of Directors. “We’re grateful for his distinguished service, leadership and continued contributions to science and technology, and we can’t wait for more opportunities to work with him.”
Mather’s connection to the Hertz Foundation extends through his engagement with the community and support for emerging scientists. His work, from fundamental discoveries about the universe’s origins to pushing the boundaries of observational technology, reflects the bold scientific leadership the foundation seeks to foster.
“John Mather’s appointment is a celebration of his landmark scientific contributions and an invitation to help us shape the future of the Hertz Foundation,” said Wendy Connors, president of the Hertz Foundation. “As we continue to empower scientific leadership, John’s expertise, wisdom and perspective remain invaluable to our community.”
Mather will begin his term this month, joining two other new board members: Hertz Fellow Megan Blewett, investor, Scion Life Sciences; and Stephen Pearse, managing partner, Yucatan Rock Ventures.
Interview with John C. Mather
We sat down with Mather to learn more about his work and what he hopes to contribute to the organization.
What are you working on right now that’s most exciting to you?
Mather: I’m developing an orbiting starshade — part of the Hybrid Observatory for Earth-like Exoplanets — that will work in tandem with the European Southern Observatory’s 39-meter telescope now under construction in Chile. The telescope is powerful enough to detect an earthlike planet, but only if we can block the overwhelming glare of its parent star, which is about 10 billion times brighter than the planet itself. The starshade would sit in space and cast a precise shadow on the telescope, revealing the faint planet beside it. It’s a difficult challenge, but we’ve seen what’s possible, given enough ingenuity and ambition.
Has your career changed your idea of what’s possible?
Mather: Absolutely. I was born a year and a day after Hiroshima, and have lived through the atomic age, the electronic age, the computer age and now the age of AI. The world has transformed dramatically. When I began at NASA, we designed spacecraft with pencils and drafting paper; today, sophisticated computers and simulation tools handle tasks we couldn’t have imagined. A vast, multitrillion-dollar technological infrastructure now enables possibilities far beyond what earlier generations could attempt. It doesn’t mean breakthroughs are easy, but experience has convinced me that if you can imagine something, there is likely a path to achieving it.
Do you ever return to ideas that didn’t work the first time?
Mather: Yes — ideas often resurface when conditions change. In the early 2000s, we proposed a starshade to pair with the James Webb Space Telescope. The idea wasn’t selected, but it stayed with me. I kept asking whether the telescope truly needed to be in space. Nearly two decades later, with new technology and fresh perspectives, the answer became clear: we needed a different orbit and a different configuration. That realization ultimately led to the Hybrid Observatory concept we’re developing now. Some ideas simply mature on their own timeline.
You are the first honorary board member for the Hertz Foundation. What does this mean to you?
Mather: It’s a tremendous honor. The Hertz Foundation made an enormous difference early in my career, when it mattered most to me, and I’m glad to be able to give something back. I’m also grateful for the opportunity to stay engaged, to offer whatever perspective might be useful, and to spend time with the board and fellows whenever I can.
What unique insights or perspectives do you bring to the Hertz Foundation?
Mather: They’re already doing such great work. But I’m interested to learn where they’re headed next and to contribute however I can. I am especially interested in helping young people make connections and make their ideas grow.
Why is the Hertz Foundation important for the future of science and technology?
Mather: The Hertz Foundation doesn’t just identify exceptional young scientists and engineers — it helps them fulfill their potential. Hertz Fellows go on to tackle problems across an extraordinary range of disciplines, and that broad dispersal of talent is one of the foundation’s greatest strengths. I believe our national interest is fundamentally global, and the Hertz Foundation has a vital role to play in shaping scientific progress worldwide through the people it supports.
What advice would you give to the newest class of Hertz Fellows?
Mather: My foremost advice is simple: Ask for help. It does two important things. First, obviously, it gets you the assistance you need. Second, it signals — to yourself and to others — that your ideas are worth supporting. I once believed asking for help was a weakness, but I eventually learned it’s an act of courage and a critical skill for growth. As a Hertz Fellow, you have a network of people who care about you and your success.
What are your thoughts about the future and what gives you hope?
Mather: The world feels chaotic right now, but in a broader historical sense, periods of stability are the exception, not the rule. Even amid political uncertainty, we have extraordinary opportunities for scientific and technological progress. I’m encouraged by the remarkable advances being made worldwide, often in unexpected ways. The future is unknowable — even science can’t answer everything — but I believe it’s possible for humanity to build a long-lasting civilization. My deepest hope echoes something I once wrote for Prospect Magazine: that the principles of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights might one day be fully realized.
About the Hertz Foundation
The Hertz Foundation is the nation’s preeminent nonprofit organization committed to advancing American scientific and technological leadership. For more than 60 years, it has stood as an unwavering pillar of independent support through the renowned Hertz Fellowship, cultivating a multidisciplinary network of innovators whose work has positively impacted millions of lives. Learn more at hertzfoundation.org.
