The MAST Mission Statement

Madison Area Science and Technology (MAST) is a non-profit amateur science organization whose mission is to support scientific research without regard to credentials, to support a scientifically informed public, and to perform tasks of a scientific nature on behalf of the public.

To support these broad goals MAST has developed several programs:

• Support for Citizen Science Research: This program exists to guide amateur scientists in producing meaningful results in their own work, to assist them in attaining the necessary skills or equipment, and in publishing their results for others to share.
• Courses and Certification Programs for Amateurs: This program exists to give amateurs access to college-level courses for their own education. Since MAST has the ability to pursue research grants, in-house certification programs are being developed so that members can work towards getting funding for their work.
• Storm Chase Group: This program is a scientific attempt to learn about the formation and detection of severe weather in general and tornadoes in particular.
• Computational Science Group: This program works to develop new ways of solving problems in physics (and related sciences) through the use of the computer.
• Radio Telescope Development Group: This program is exploring the possibilities of building and operating a radio telescope.
• Support for Science in the Public Interest: This program is designed to produce informational articles to inform the public about scientific issues of importance.
• Support for Science in Education: This program seeks to strengthen science curriculum, and to assist educators in providing a good science education to their students.
• Tornado Spotter Network: This program is a public-service program where members and associated individuals attempt to provide the National Weather Service with the information they need to issue severe weather warnings in a timely manner.
• Heather Hrabovsky Memorial Laboratory: This is a facility to allow amateur scientists aplace to perform experiments.

Click here to return to the home page.