The Lirpa Sloof Foundation is pleased to announce the 4th Quarter 2003 Sloof Amateur Project Grant goes to the Nevada Astronomical Society, an amateur astronomy organization based in Reno, Nevada. The grant is in the form of five permanent structures to serve as community observatories, each including two 24" telescopes, four desktop computers and a Ham Radio station. One telescope at each site will be connected to and controlled by the computers. The structures will be located in rural areas away from city lights outside of Las Vegas, Reno, Elko, Ely and Tonopah.

In announcing the award, Dr Lirpa Sloof, founder of the Sloof Foundation, said the Nevada Astronomical Society has helped inspire many children and adults about science and mathematics. "One of the things that impressed the grant committee was the regular events held across the state where anyone can drop in and just look in a telescope." This grant will allow the Nevada Astronomical Society to have regular events and observations in their own community observatories covering most of the state.

The grant includes creation of an account to be managed by the Foundation which will cover costs of fuel for generators, insurance, periodic equipment upgrades and the building maintenance.

About the Sloof Foundation

The Sloof Foundation is a non-profit philanthropic organization which supports science and technology research projects. The foundation is based in Las Vegas, Nevada and was founded by Dr Lirpa Sloof. The Foundation's primary focus is on university research projects, and also offers a quarterly grant to amateur projects which provides them with tools of the professionals in their subject area. The foundation's web site is at www.sloof.us.