Jeffrey S. Medkeff

Jeffrey S. Medkeff (1968 – 3 August 2008), usually known as Jeff Medkeff, was a prominent science writer and educator. He was also a designer of robotic telescopes, a minor philanthropist, and an advocate of personal and sexual freedom.

Early life

Medkeff was born in Akron, Ohio in 1968, and was raised in nearby Cuyahoga Falls. He contracted asthma early in life, and endured several prolonged hospitalizations as a child. The condition was severe enough to restrict his activity and pose a threat to his life. He attributed a lifelong love of reading and self-directed learning to this experience. He was a skeptic and an atheist.

Career as a systems professional + Minor planets discovered: 10 such as Fraser Cain, Derek Colanduno, Robynn McCarthy, PZ Myers, Phil Plait, Michael Stackpole and Rebecca Watson. In 2003, the International Astronomical Union recognised his contribution to science by naming asteroid 41450 Medkeff in his honor, noting that "he has contributed to the discovery and photometric observations of thousands of minor planets."

In the spring of 2004, Medkeff sold his company to a firm specializing in automating seismic observations and retired from the technology field.

Career as science writer and educator Medkeff began writing on science topics in the 1980s, with his first published article appearing in the September, 1986 issue of Sky & Telescope magazine. He joined that publication as a Contributing Editor in 1997, writing many articles. During this period, he also served as a source for numerous journalists and offered background materials on asteroids to many journalists.

In the late 1990s, he was also active in an astronomy club whose mission included public education about astronomy. He developed several talks covering various topics of interest to the general public, and gave them to a number of venues. He was also a prominent speaker on the star party circuit, delivering talks at the Texas Star Party, the Riverside Telescope Makers' Convention, the Northern Arizona Star Party, and several others.

In 2004, Medkeff and his wife moved to Eagle River, Alaska. Having sold his business in Arizona and resigned from his commitment at Sky & Telescope, he concentrated on the development of astronomy and science-oriented educational and public outreach programs. He joined the team of amateur astronomers offering free astronomy lectures at the Eagle River Nature Center, and first delivered a popular talk on stellar evolution at that venue in early 2005.

He went on to develop several more presentations and distributed background material on science to journalists, developing teaching materials and curriculum for teachers and home-schoolers. As of late 2005, he was devoting his personal fortune to this effort, and had not accepted outside funding.

In December 2007 Medkeff started the Blue Collar Scientist blog, where he wrote about science, science communication, skepticism and atheism.

Cancer and death

In early June 2008 Medkeff was diagnosed with primary liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma) and sought treatment at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. He died of cancer complications on August 3, 2008.