Say it Ain't So -- Arecibo May Go Dark in 5 Years

12/15/2006 05:11AM

Say it Ain't So -- Arecibo May Go Dark in 5 Years

An advisory panel to the National Science Foundation (NSF)has recommended a 24 percent funding cut over the next three years for Arecibo. The panel also recommended that outside funding to cover another 40 percent cut be found by 2011 or Arecibo risks closure.


Comments:

  • glauria [Eugene Lauria]
  • 12/15/2006 08:08PM
Yes George,<br><br>That's a big part of the issue. The problem is that the current administration in Washington has flat-funded the NSF mainly because of the war in Iraq. Unfortunately, the NSF is getting a big squeeze because of many projects that they are currently engaged in. They had to have this review because of their extremely limited budget, and they knew that the outcome would be painful.<br><br>The only way I would think to help the cause would be to let Washington know that they are causing a significant strain on research related to Astronomy. Hopefully, with a new exectutive adminstration in two years, they might start to better fund the physical sciences. -Which the current administration intended to do until the war in Iraq started.<br><br>
  • Jef [Jef Spalding]
  • 12/18/2006 07:35PM
For your information, Eugene, Bush has been systematically destroying govt science initiatives BEFORE the war in Iraq, especially the EPA which interferes with corporate profit. Unfortunately, real science and Bush's religious beliefs simply cannot co-exist. Remember, he is pushing for teaching "intelligent design" in the schools, which is clearly philosophical, NOT even remotely science.


  • heliophile [Reynaldo Cordero]
  • 12/15/2006 10:56PM
Political issues aside, this announcement comes as a shock to me. One of those things that instantly takes the wind out of your sails. I grew up in Puerto Rico, and visited the Arecibo telescope for the first time in 2006, fulfilling a dream long overdue. I was very impressed by its size and capability, but much more so by the extremely long list of scientific publications that have arisen out of the work performed there. <br><br>Back to the political angle, yes it is clear that the Federal Government has little interest in keeping this country at the cutting edge of scientific research, not only in astronomy, but in many aspects of medicine, physics, etc. And they still wonder why our children are falling behind in academic knowledge compared to their peers around the world. Our priorities are not what they should be. <img class='' src='http://new.astromart.com/astromart/javascripts/sceditor/emoticons/cwy.png' alt='cwy' title='cwy'/> <br><br>Reynaldo Cordero ><img class='' src='http://new.astromart.com/astromart/javascripts/sceditor/emoticons/sad.png' alt='sad' title='sad'/>
  • Mike174 [Mike O'Neil]
  • 12/19/2006 02:12AM
Dumbing the American people down is by design.<br><br><br><br><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="italic"><i>Reynaldo Cordero said:</i><br><br>Political issues aside, this announcement comes as a shock to me. One of those things that instantly takes the wind out of your sails. I grew up in Puerto Rico, and visited the Arecibo telescope for the first time in 2006, fulfilling a dream long overdue. I was very impressed by its size and capability, but much more so by the extremely long list of scientific publications that have arisen out of the work performed there. <br><br>Back to the political angle, yes it is clear that the Federal Government has little interest in keeping this country at the cutting edge of scientific research, not only in astronomy, but in many aspects of medicine, physics, etc. And they still wonder why our children are falling behind in academic knowledge compared to their peers around the world. Our priorities are not what they should be. <img class='' src='http://new.astromart.com/astromart/javascripts/sceditor/emoticons/cwy.png' alt='cwy' title='cwy'/> <br><br>Reynaldo Cordero ><img class='' src='http://new.astromart.com/astromart/javascripts/sceditor/emoticons/sad.png' alt='sad' title='sad'/> </div></blockquote><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="italic"><i>Reynaldo Cordero said:</i><br><br>Political issues aside, this announcement comes as a shock to me. One of those things that instantly takes the wind out of your sails. I grew up in Puerto Rico, and visited the Arecibo telescope for the first time in 2006, fulfilling a dream long overdue. I was very impressed by its size and capability, but much more so by the extremely long list of scientific publications that have arisen out of the work performed there. <br><br>Back to the political angle, yes it is clear that the Federal Government has little interest in keeping this country at the cutting edge of scientific research, not only in astronomy, but in many aspects of medicine, physics, etc. And they still wonder why our children are falling behind in academic knowledge compared to their peers around the world. Our priorities are not what they should be. <img class='' src='http://new.astromart.com/astromart/javascripts/sceditor/emoticons/cwy.png' alt='cwy' title='cwy'/> <br><br>Reynaldo Cordero ><img class='' src='http://new.astromart.com/astromart/javascripts/sceditor/emoticons/sad.png' alt='sad' title='sad'/> </div></blockquote>


  • Joe285 [Joe Godfrey]
  • 12/20/2006 09:54PM
I have to believe that the Arecibo Telescope and many other priceless American scientific projects are in line for at least some help in two years. So far,the array of potential Presidential candidates includes NO ONE anywhere near as anti-science as Bush & Co. <br><br>It would be nice to have further help from some private sector sugar-daddies, but science funding in the USA traditionally comes from the government. We have to vote, write politicians, motivate astronomy clubs, do a little stumping,--in short get active!<br><br>We all know this is a big issue.<br><br>Joe Godfrey
  • glauria [Eugene Lauria]
  • 12/21/2006 08:22PM
Exactly, Joe!<br><br>That's what I meant in my message. These institutions could really use any help they could get.<br><br>-Gene<br><br>