Many of you who signed the petition on the government’s website against the cuts to the UK astronomy budget will have received a response yesterday. I’m sure there will be more line by line responses to come, but here’s Andy’s take on the situation.
I’m increasingly aware that next year is the International Year of Astronomy, as mandated by the UN, no less. I need to think seriously about what to do about this but attempting to drag me firmly into all sorts of schemes is Pamela Gay, of Astronomy Cast. She’s visiting me here in Oxford for a couple of days; her first impressions are here.
If you’re an astronomer who has been following the funding crisis but wasn’t able to get to the meeting yesterday, then you’ll want this link to my report. For everyone else, there are plenty more news stories and interviews at the NAM blog.
This is my first attempt at taking part in a group blog like this; if you’d like to tell us what we should do differently next time round, then please do.
If you haven’t already been keeping an eye on the NAM blog you’re missing out. A new audio interview with Nial Tanvir about gamma-ray bursts is up, and today’s meeting includes the highlights from the Young Astronomers’ Meeting (YAM@NAM) and what’s sure to be an argument over the funding of UK astronomy this afternoon.
I’m sitting in the back of the first talk of the day at the National Astronomy Meeting, catching up on the good work that’s already up on the NAM blog over at Orbiting Frog. I’ll be posting updates throughout the day, and there are audio interviews courtesy of the Jodcast almost ready to go. Do come and join us…
My first post on the NAM blog is up, about this gorgeous Hubble photo obtained by NAM’s hosts at Queen’s University Belfast.
Today marks the first full day of the UK National Astronomy Meeting - along with other British bloggers and a few guest writers we’ll be providing full coverage over at this brand new site.
I’m stuck in the UK today but will be pouring over press releases in time for an early start tomorrow.
Chris
