Society for Amateur Scientists
Encyclopedia
The Society for Amateur Scientists (SAS) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to "helping ordinary people do extraordinary science".
on January 1, 1994 by Shawn Carlson
, Ph.D., a physicist from the University of California
, Berkeley's Center for Particle Astrophysics. Inspired by the example of his grandfather, a gifted amateur scientist named George Donald Graham, Carlson decided to create an organization dedicated to supporting and encouraging citizen scientists in all fields of science. Members of the founding Board of Trustees included Nobel Prize
winner Glenn Seaborg and Guggenheim Fellowship
winner Paul MacCready
. In 2000, the organization relocated to East Greenwich, Rhode Island
and in June of 2007 it moved again when Carlson also became the Executive Director of the SciTech Hands On Museum--a science center in Aurora, Illinois.
In 1995, Scientific American
magazine tapped Carlson, due to his leadership in the citizen scientist community, to write their long running column The Amateur Scientist
. During the six years that Carlson wrote this column, SAS grew to a reported 2,000 members. In 1999, the MacArthur Foundation
recognized Carlson for his visionary leadership in creating SAS with a MacArthur Fellowship in science education.
SAS provides a number of services to citizen scientists. The organization publishes an Ezine called The Citizen Scientist, which is edited by Forrest Mims
and which provides how-to science tips as well as reports of citizen scientist research. In July 2008 the Chicago Tribune named The Citizen Scientist one of their five favorite science magazines. SAS hosts annual conferences in various cities around the United States. They run a community website to promote networking between citizen scientists around the world. They also have a number of local chapters and affiliate organizations. SAS also provides educational services to young researchers. In particular, they sponsor a science project support website, now called Dr. Shawn's Super Science Project Support Center.
In December, 2008 Discover Magazine named three SAS members-Forrest Mims
, Ely Silk and Bill Hilton-to be amongst the "50 Best Brains In Science"
organizations. As of September 2006, they claim to have attracted nearly $500,000 in private donations to support the program and to have completed a highly successful 5-month pilot program in June, 2006. An online version of Labrats already exists with 24,000 claimed members. New members register through SAS's project support website.
History
The organization was founded in San Diego, CaliforniaSan Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
on January 1, 1994 by Shawn Carlson
Shawn Carlson
Shawn Carlson is an American science educator who founded the Society for Amateur Scientists in 1994, which is dedicated to "Helping ordinary people do extraordinary science." In 2010, he founded the LabRats Science Education Program, to inspire students aged 11 to 18 to "love learning about...
, Ph.D., a physicist from the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
, Berkeley's Center for Particle Astrophysics. Inspired by the example of his grandfather, a gifted amateur scientist named George Donald Graham, Carlson decided to create an organization dedicated to supporting and encouraging citizen scientists in all fields of science. Members of the founding Board of Trustees included Nobel Prize
Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
winner Glenn Seaborg and Guggenheim Fellowship
Guggenheim Fellowship
Guggenheim Fellowships are American grants that have been awarded annually since 1925 by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation to those "who have demonstrated exceptional capacity for productive scholarship or exceptional creative ability in the arts." Each year, the foundation makes...
winner Paul MacCready
Paul MacCready
Paul B. MacCready, Jr. was an American aeronautical engineer. He was the founder of AeroVironment and the designer of the human-powered aircraft that won the Kremer prize...
. In 2000, the organization relocated to East Greenwich, Rhode Island
East Greenwich, Rhode Island
East Greenwich is a town in and the county seat of Kent County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 13,146 at the 2010 census. East Greenwich is the wealthiest municipality within the state of Rhode Island....
and in June of 2007 it moved again when Carlson also became the Executive Director of the SciTech Hands On Museum--a science center in Aurora, Illinois.
In 1995, Scientific American
Scientific American
Scientific American is a popular science magazine. It is notable for its long history of presenting science monthly to an educated but not necessarily scientific public, through its careful attention to the clarity of its text as well as the quality of its specially commissioned color graphics...
magazine tapped Carlson, due to his leadership in the citizen scientist community, to write their long running column The Amateur Scientist
The Amateur Scientist
The Amateur Scientist was a column in the Scientific American, and was the definitive "how-to" resource for citizen-scientists for over 72 years , making it the longest running column in Scientific American's history...
. During the six years that Carlson wrote this column, SAS grew to a reported 2,000 members. In 1999, the MacArthur Foundation
MacArthur Foundation
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is one of the largest private foundations in the United States. Based in Chicago but supporting non-profit organizations that work in 60 countries, MacArthur has awarded more than US$4 billion since its inception in 1978...
recognized Carlson for his visionary leadership in creating SAS with a MacArthur Fellowship in science education.
SAS provides a number of services to citizen scientists. The organization publishes an Ezine called The Citizen Scientist, which is edited by Forrest Mims
Forrest Mims
Forrest M. Mims III is an amateur scientist, magazine columnist, and author of the popular Getting Started in Electronics and Engineer's Mini-Notebook series of instructional books that was originally sold in Radio Shack electronics stores. Mims graduated from Texas A&M University in 1966 with a...
and which provides how-to science tips as well as reports of citizen scientist research. In July 2008 the Chicago Tribune named The Citizen Scientist one of their five favorite science magazines. SAS hosts annual conferences in various cities around the United States. They run a community website to promote networking between citizen scientists around the world. They also have a number of local chapters and affiliate organizations. SAS also provides educational services to young researchers. In particular, they sponsor a science project support website, now called Dr. Shawn's Super Science Project Support Center.
In December, 2008 Discover Magazine named three SAS members-Forrest Mims
Forrest Mims
Forrest M. Mims III is an amateur scientist, magazine columnist, and author of the popular Getting Started in Electronics and Engineer's Mini-Notebook series of instructional books that was originally sold in Radio Shack electronics stores. Mims graduated from Texas A&M University in 1966 with a...
, Ely Silk and Bill Hilton-to be amongst the "50 Best Brains In Science"
'Labrats'
SAS is also developing what they hope will be a national science education program called "Labrats", that is loosely modeled after the ScoutingScouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
organizations. As of September 2006, they claim to have attracted nearly $500,000 in private donations to support the program and to have completed a highly successful 5-month pilot program in June, 2006. An online version of Labrats already exists with 24,000 claimed members. New members register through SAS's project support website.