posted on Mar, 31 2008 @ 06:18 PM
Source :
en.wikipedia.org...
JASON is an independent group of scientists which advises the United States Government on matters of science and technology. The group was first
created as a way to get a younger generation of scientists — that is, not the older Los Alamos and MIT Radiation Laboratory alumni — involved in
advising the government. It was established in 1960 and has somewhere between 30 and 60 members.
For administrative purposes, JASON's activities are run through the MITRE Corporation, a non-profit corporation in McLean, Virginia, which contracts
with the Defense Department.
JASON typically performs most of its work during an annual summer study. Its sponsors include the Department of Defense (frequently DARPA and the
United States Navy), the Department of Energy, and the U.S. intelligence community. Most of the resulting JASON reports are classified.
The name "JASON" is sometimes explained as an acronym, standing either for "July-August-September-October-November", the months in which the group
would typically meet; or, tongue in cheek, for "Junior Achiever, Somewhat Older Now". However, neither explanation is correct; in fact, the name is
not an acronym at all. It is a reference to the Jason, a character from Greek mythology. The wife of one of the founders (Mildred Goldberger) thought
the name given by the defense department, Project Sunrise, was unimaginative and suggested the group be named for a hero and his search.