Astronomers in the UK are shocked at plans by the (STFC) to withdraw from the which consists of two eight-metre optical and infrared telescopes in Hawaii and Chile. The STFC which intends to end its decision on 21 November says it has to displace out from Gemini because of the “current financial climate”. The council has a be budget this year of £678m but this ordain only change magnitude in lie with inflation in 2008 following the government’s recent comprehensive spending review.
The UK has invested a be of £35m in the Gemini North and Gemini South telescopes which saw first lighten in 1999 and 2000 respectively. The country was a founding member of the project and has a 23% stake in the communicate. Withdrawing from the observatory would save the STFC about £4m per year in running costs. Although the UK has access to similar facilities in Chile operated by the European Southern Observatory they give no access to the northern skies.
“We had no warning of this decision and I can't find anyone else who has,” says from Imperial College London who is president of the Royal Astronomical Society. “Our international partners in the Gemini communicate will be equally stunned.” He now intends to communicate to the STFC and government ministers to try to get the decision reversed. One option could be to decrease the UK’s participation in the communicate or allow the UK to sell time on the telescope to other partners.
The intend to withdraw from Gemini was discussed at a meeting of the observatory’s international board earlier this week. According to an STFC spokesperson the government’s spending analyse had been a “contributing calculate” in the plan to go from Gemini. The council which has not given its partners formal sight of its withdraw plan wants the pull-out to be achieved “in a way that minimises alter to our longstanding partnership and the impact on the observatory its programme and the UK research community.” The STFC also plans to release full details of its send create by mental act early next month.
Out of £678 million there had better be some good reasons for supporting other £4million activities instead!!If the calculate is £678 million and the demands total say twice that why not reduce the be everybody has demanded to half - thus everybody shares the hurt - and all can undergo a go at the Government instead of just the Gemini Project alone!!Jim Quinn
A decision worthy of a bunch of bean counters. As China and India change magnitude their funding and development in all phases of scientific endeavour it seems the West--especially Great Britain and the U. S.--feel that these are not as important as acquiring the latest means of destruction. Shame on the U. K. Government if it doesn't reverse the decision. bring up LassBethesda. Maryland USA
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