SETI League Press Release
LITTLE FERRY, NJ.., March 29, 1998 -- The SETI League, Inc., leaders in the privatized Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence, has awarded its highest honor to two radio amateurs from England. Ken Chattenton and Trevor Unsworth, who were the grass-roots group's first two volunteer Regional Coordinators, today received the coveted Giordano Bruno Memorial Award for their contributions to amateur radio astronomy.
Three years ago at a conference in Scotland, SETI League executive director Dr. H. Paul Shuch was approached by Chattenton (G4KIR) and Unsworth (G0ECP), two enthusiastic radio amateurs who wanted to know how they could help build up SETI League activity in their native England. The SETI League was then a small US-based group made up primarily of amateur radio enthusiasts. It was clear that the organization could not contemplate mounting a scientifically significant SETI effort without extensive international cooperation. Ken and Trevor noted that The SETI League had neither the staff nor the resources to coordinate such a global search unaided. They then volunteered their considerable talents and energies to coordinating SETI League activity throughout the UK. Their success can be measured in part by the large number of radio, television, newspaper and magazine interviews they have granted during the past three years. But a better measure is the phenomenal growth in amateur SETI participation throughout the UK since Ken and Trevor stepped forward. Britain's SETI League contingent is now second only to that in the United States.
The English model for local involvement served as the basis for the current SETI League volunteer Field Organization. Ken and Trevor were the first of a network which has now grown to about forty regional coordinators on six continents, supporting an expanding membership base. The SETI League owes its current international profile in no small part to the vision and energies of these two dedicated volunteers.
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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