UK astronomy cuts hurt economy, Royal Astronomical Society holds
The UK's Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) has expressed its dismay at the level of cuts to UK astronomy research recently announced by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). Cuts amount to about GBP 80 million (¿112 million) over three years. The UK will withdraw from the Gemini South observatory in Chile as well as the astronomical observatory on La Palma, Spain. In addition, there will be no further investment in ground-based solar-terrestrial physics facilities and high-energy gamma-ray astronomy research. The Astronomy Technology Centre in Edinburgh will lose nearly 50% of its funds. Finally, some projects that had already been cleared for funding have to compete against new project proposals for a contingency fund set aide by the STFC. However, there will be an independent review into the health of physics, John Denham, the Secretary of State at the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS), announced. The RAS hopes to be able to illustrate the importance of 'a vibrant programme of 'blue skies' research in areas such as astrophysics' in the framework of this review. 'I welcome John Denham's decision to review physics funding and the RAS will be keen to be involved, but this needs to be set against the immediate impact of these cuts on UK Physics Departments,' said RAS president Professor Michael Rowan-Robinson. 'The Government needs to recognise that astrophysics, space science and solar system science make a direct contribution to the UK economy through spin-off and knowledge transfer on time-scales which can be surprisingly short.' 'The students and postgraduates that we train are highly skilled and sought after by industry and the financial sector,' Professor Rowan-Robinson added. 'Astrophysics and particle physics are major attractors of students, including international students, into university physics courses. Astronomy and space also play an important role in attracting school-children towards science.' The STFC is an independent body of the DIUS, providing funding for researchers in universities through grants with a focus on astronomy, particle physics, space science and nuclear physics.
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