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Janet A. Mattei was dedicated to the union of professional and amateur astronomy worldwide. We have received many suggestions on how to memorialize her life and passion for bringing professionals and amateurs, including young amateurs, together in astronomy. Indeed, that is the central (and fitting) common thread among the vast majority of the ideas from family, friends, and colleagues. We feel that a goal worthy of Janet's memory is to continue her work of professional-amateur collaboration.
To enable this collaboration, the AAVSO Council is creating the Janet A. Mattei Research Fellowship Program. This program will fund (with your generous support) a visiting scientist, postdoctoral researcher, or student to visit and perform research at AAVSO Headquarters. The visitor will work with the ever-growing treasure-trove of variable star observations in the AAVSO International Database, with the goal of turning these observations into scientific results disseminated among both the professional and amateur communities through professional journals and informal outlets.
We would like this program to be self-funding through the interest and dividends earned from your donations. Janet's passion and enthusiasm can then continue on into the long-term, bright future of the AAVSO. The more generously you can give, the more Mattei Fellows we can invite to AAVSO Headquarters.
We invite you to give as generously as you can to the Janet A. Mattei Research Fellowship Program. You may donate with a Visa or Master Card via our secure server, or you may send a check or money order made payable to the AAVSO to: AAVSO, 185 Alewife Brook Parkway, Suite 410, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA. On the check, please be sure to designate that your donation is for the Janet A. Mattei Research Fellowship Program. All contributions are tax-deductible.
Thank you for remembering Janet and helping her name and work live on like the star she was and will always be to so many of us.