SETI League Press Release
LITTLE FERRY, NJ.., July, 1999 -- The membership-supported SETI League, Inc., grass-roots leaders in a privatized Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence, achieved a significant milestone with the addition of the thousandth name to its membership roster. As the idea of privatized SETI catches on, more and more individuals are taking part in what has been called "the science which refuses to die." Congress terminated NASA's SETI program more than five years ago.
Lucky member #1,000 is Dr. Paul Fisher, an assistant professor of astronomy and physics at Northeast Louisiana University, Monroe LA. His research interest is radio astronomy, and he serves as faculty advisor to the NLU Astronomy Club. Paul was formerly a telescope operator at the Very Large Array (VLA) in New Mexico, which was featured in the film Contact. He is a licensed radio amateur (callsign KB5KBX) and a member of the American Radio Relay League, the Society of Amateur Radio Astronmers, the American Astronomical Society, the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, the Planetary Society -- and now, The SETI League. His plans include construction on campus of a small radio telescope, and eventual participation in Project Argus, the all-sky survey for intelligently generated extra-terrestrial radio signals which The SETI League launched in April of 1996. That search is now up to 75 active stations in 15 countries, and 26 of the 50 United States.
"Though The SETI League began accepting memberships in early 1995," notes Dr. H. Paul Shuch, the nonprofit science group's executive director, "it took us more than two years, until May of 1997, to welcome our 500th member. The 1,000 mark was reached less than two years later, which shows that public awareness of SETI is certainly growing. We're especially proud to have dedicated professionals like Paul Fisher involved in our amateur search."
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.
 email the Webmaster | entire website copyright © The SETI League, Inc. this page last updated 30 November 2002 |
 Top of Page |