Associated Universities, Inc

Increasing Cooperation in Astronomy

This is a time of great promise for astronomy, with major new facilities like EVLA, ALMA and JWST under construction, others like LSST and ATST in advanced stages of design, several concepts for extremely large ground based optical/IR telescopes are well along, and many other projects like SKA and CCAT are the focus of international planning teams and technology development. It is more important than ever to maintain coordination and cooperation across the astronomy community, as astronomy becomes ever more dependent on facilities covering the full frequency spectrum, and as forefront facilities increasingly require funding from multiple sources and multiple countries. It is especially appropriate to coordinate advocacy for astronomy in the face of continuing budget constraints.

Eugene Levy, Chair of the Board of Trustees of Associate Universities, recalls that the United States’ strong federal support for scientific research was propelled in the aftermath of World War II by the vision of Vannevar Bush, who argued, in his famous paper Science: The Endless Frontier, that ‘basic research is the pacemaker of technological progress,’ a key argument credited with leading to establishment of the National Science Foundation. Professor Levy adds:

“Today we are challenged every bit as much as 60 years ago. Science and technology, more than ever, underpin our society and our competitive posture. Astronomy occupies a singular position both as a stimulant of scientific passion and as a crucible for the development of new technologies and understanding. We can hardly afford, as a nation, to stint on our investments in astronomy and, more broadly, in basic science.”

At its winter meeting in Washington, D.C. on 22 February, the Board of Trustees of Associated Universities, Inc. (AUI), the managing organization of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, invited Bill Smith, President of the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA), and Tim DeZeeuw, the recently installed Director General of ESO, to share their perspectives on the state of astronomy and the initiatives being pursued by their respective organizations. Formal coordination already exists between AUI/NRAO and ESO, as major partners in ALMA, currently under construction in Chile. Formal cooperation also exists between AUI and AURA, in their joint advocacy for the Virtual Astronomical Observatory, the successor to the National Virtual Observatory framework effort of the past seven years.

A number of topics spanning the organizations were discussed. These included:

-how best to convey the benefits that astronomy brings to society and industry in advancing technology as well as in promoting education and technological literacy

-how best to advocate for increased funding for all of astronomy, balancing the need to maintain major facilities with grants for the astronomy community and research support for the users of major facilities

-how best to sustain partnerships to advance new projects in astronomy, including the new Virtual Astronomical Observatory

-how best to plan for and support the next Decadal Survey in astronomy and astrophysics

The informal discussions were very productive, and continued at the AURA Board meeting the next week. We all expect that these interactions will continue.

Ethan J. Schreier, President, Associated Universities Inc.