The search for extra-terrestrial intelligence (or SETI) is the main function of the Interstellar Electromagnetics Institute (or IEI). This federally incorporated, non-profit corporation was established in 1985 by Robert W. Stephens, an electronics technologist from Edmonton, Alberta. The organization supplies the corporate backup structure for the Hay River Radio Observatory (or HRRO), home to Canada's second largest collection-aperture microwave radio telescope, which single-handedly Stephens has established, instrumented, and now operates at Hay River. Optical and radio observatories are commonly established in isolated parts of the world. This one is no exception. Hay River is the name of a river, an Indian reserve, and a busy northern town of about 3000 inhabitants. Its remote location offers an exceptionally radio-interference-free environment for the sensitive radio telescope: a $2 million replacement cost assortment of steel, concrete, and silicon which now listens patiently for a faint, deliberate whisper above the natural hiss of background microwave radiation permeating from deep space.

The town is located on the south shore of Great Slave Lake, at the mouth of the Hay River. The observatory is situated well away from local activity on the northern tip of Vale Island, a natural delta situated between the east and west channels of the river ' s mouth. Since 1981, Stephens has been scrounging around for the electronics and microwave equipment necessary for a SETI program. In order to purchase this equipment he has had to sell off most of his personal possessions. Stephens negotiated some good bargains along the way. In 1981 he purchased the two, 60-foot parabolic dish antennas which now form the radio telescope at Hay River for one dollar. They were originally built in 1963 as part of a series of troposcatter, long-haul microwave repeater stations, part of the DEW (Distant Early Warning) Line.

Stephen's work has been a subject of interest in the media for some time. There is a growing pile of newspaper and magazine articles, including a full page in Omni's Anti-Matter section (March, 1986) and interviews and discussions on radio programs, including David Suzuki's nationally syndicated, radio-science program "Discovery" the following year. NBC-TV flew its news crew from New York to Hay River in February 1987, filmed the operation, and aired the news item internationally on the network the following month.

In addition to the SETI program, Stephens' facility now offers an excellent "hands-on" observing experience for undergraduate university students. This program hosted its first student during the summer of 1987 . H. Peter White, an astronomy and physics honours student from St. Mary' s University in Halifax, was the first of what Stephens hopes will become a series of students who will benefit from HRRO in coming years.

IEI's funding for SETI has come mainly from Stephens' own pocket, although a trickle occasionally flows in by way of local support from the town, its business sector, public-service clubs, and private donations through the mail. The Planetary Society recently awarded Stephens a small grant . There has not been enough, however, to keep up with the burden of utility bills and property-lease payments. As of this writing - November 1987 - Stephens has personally accumulated large debts and the observatory now teeters precariously close to shutdown.

The Hay River installation represents the sole dedicated SETI program in Canada, and has the distinction of being the third such program on-line in North America - right in there with Ohio State and Harvard University - but only a major increase in outside support will assure the program' s continued survival.