Wheaton scientist to be honored

The Center for History in Wheaton will be hosting a program later this month dedicated to the life of Grote Reber - a prominent research scientist who once called the city home.

Several scientists and educators will be on-hand Aug. 16 to visit the old stomping grounds of Reber, a former radio engineer who helped pioneer the science of radio astronomy.

Among those in attendance will be Sander Weinreb of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, who will be in town to receive an award named after Reber.

Several of the scientists will speak about Reber's origins in Wheaton and how his work detecting and mapping cosmic radio waves through a telescope he built in his back yard helped advance the science.

"Just having these prominent people from all over the world in our little town is amazing," said Jane Rio, marketing and events director for the Center for History. "We're really excited they've chosen to come here."

The public is invited to the program, which will be held at the center's museum, at 315 W. Front St. For more information on the program, call the Center for History at (630) 871-6601.