SETI League Press Release
LITTLE FERRY, NJ.., 28 April 2001 -- The SETI League, Inc., grassroots leaders in the privatized Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence, has awarded its highest honor to one of Europe's foremost amateur radio astronomer. Engineer Peter Wright, licensed in Germany as amateur radio operator DJ0BI, today received the coveted Giordano Bruno Memorial Award for his efforts to promote amateur radio astronomy and SETI throughout the European continent.
Wright, who hails originally from Scotland, was a member of the US-based Society for Amateur Radio Astronomy when, recognizing the need for a similar organization in Europe, he founded the European Radio Astronomy Club. With the help of his wife Angelika Gherke he publishes "The European Bit," an extensive quarterly newsletter, and chaired the first two European Radio Astronomy Congresses in Heppenheim Germany. Peter built the radio telescope which is the basis of the ERAC club station, was the first European participant in The SETI League's Project Argus sky survey, and volunteered to serve as one of The SETI League's first Regional Coordinators.
The Bruno is awarded annually for significant contributions to the art and science of SETI. It is dedicated to the memory of Giordano Bruno, the Italian monk burned at the stake in 1600 for postulating the multiplicity of inhabited worlds. This award was first suggested by sociologist Donald Tarter, at a SETI dinner held at the American Association for the Advancement of Science meetings in Atlanta on Feb. 17, 1995 (coincidentally the 395th anniversary of Bruno's death). Past recipients include physicist Dr. D. Kent Cullers, WA6TWX; software volunteer Daniel Boyd Fox, KF9ET; English amateur radio astronomers Trevor Unsworth, G0ECP, and Ken Chattenton, G4KIR; Australian coordinator Noel Cedric Welstead, VK4AYW; and photonics engineer Dr. Stuart Kingsley.
SETI scientists seek to determine through microwave and optical measurements whether humankind is alone in the universe. Since Congress terminated NASA's SETI funding in 1993, The SETI League and other scientific groups have been attempting to privatize the research. Experimenters interested in participating in the search for intelligent alien life, or citizens wishing to help support it, should email to join_at_setileague_dot_org, check the SETI League Web site at http://www.setileague.org/, send a fax to +1 (201) 641-1771, or contact The SETI League, Inc. membership hotline at +1 (800) TAU-SETI. Be sure to provide us with a postal address to which we will mail further information. The SETI League, Inc. is a membership-supported, non-profit [501(c)(3)], educational and scientific corporation dedicated to the electromagnetic Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence.
P.S. Tearsheets are always appreciated. Thank you.
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