Austria Declares
Intent To Join ESO
(24 April 2008) At a press conference
today at the University of Vienna's Observatory, the Austrian Science Minister
Johannes Hahn announced the decision by the Austrian Government to seek
membership of ESO from 1 July this year.
Said Minister Hahn:
"With membership of ESO, Austria's scientists will receive direct access to the
world's leading infrastructure in astronomy. This strengthens Austria as a
place for research and provides an opportunity for young researchers to
continue their work from here. With this move, Austria takes an important step
in the reinforcement of Europe's science and research
infrastructure."
The decision constitutes a major breakthrough for
Austrian scientists who have argued for membership of ESO for many years.
Seeking membership in ESO also marks a step towards the further development of
the European Research and Innovation Area, an important element of Europe's
so-called Lisbon Strategy.
"ESO welcomes the Austrian bid to join our
organisation. I salute the Austrian Government for taking this important step
and look forward to working closely with our Austrian friends and colleagues in
the years to come," commented the ESO Director General, Tim de
Zeeuw.
For Austrian astronomers, ESO membership means not only
unrestricted access to ESO's world-leading observational facilities including
the world's most advanced optical telescope, the Very Large Telescope, and full
participation in the quasi-global ALMA project, but also the possibility to
participate on a par with their European colleagues in the future projects of
ESO, including the realisation of ESO's Extremely Large Telescope project
(E-ELT), which is currently in the design phase.
All these projects
require some of the most advanced technologies in key areas such as optics,
detectors, lightweight structures, etc. Austrian participation in ESO opens the
door for Austrian industry and major research institutes of the country to take
part in the development of such technologies with their associated potential
for industrial spin off.
The main centres for astronomical research in
Austria are at the Universities of Graz, Innsbruck and Vienna. Furthermore
scientists in the area of mathematics, applied physics and computer sciences
already expressed their interest to contribute to the development of advanced
technologies required by ESO's future projects.
The Austrian bid for ESO
membership will be formally considered by the ESO Council at its next meeting
on 3-4 June and is subject also to subsequent ratification by the Austrian
Parliament.
(source: ESO)
