Opportunity for Poland to join ESO

An illustration depicting the 40-metre E-ELT optical telescope, which represents only one of the future projects financed by the European Southern Observatory. An opportunity has arisen for Polish astronomy to gain access to the most modern telescopes and to participate in the development of novel technologies and future observational instruments since Poland has a chance to join European Southern Observatory, one of the biggest, most significant and richest institutions dealing with astronomical research. "ESO has evolved to become a world-leading organisation for ground-based astronomy and a true power-house for European research in astronomy and astrophysics. This is why several countries have joined our organisation in the recent years and why further countries express interest in joining. We would be delighted to welcome our Polish colleagues to the community of ESO users, thereby also integrating this important field of research in Poland into the European Research Area." - said ESO's Director General, Professor Tim de Zeeuw. ESO is in possession of two optical observatories in Chile (La Silla and Paranal) equipped with four 8-metre VLT telescopes, as well as Llano de Chajnantor Observatory, with its submillimetre APEX telescope. ESO is currently preparing big investments into projects of the future, namely the 40-metre E-ELT (European Extremely Large Telescope) and a network of ALMA radiotelescopes. The investments are worth hundreds of million euro, and Poland could not afford to undertake any of such projects on its own. As to whether the country famous for its astronomers, namely Nicolaus Copernicus, Johannes Hevelius, Bohdan Paczynski or Aleksander Wolszczan, will join the organisation is dependent on a decision of the government. If it decides that Poland may join ESO, a respective agreement therewith will have to be later ratified by Polish Parliament. Attempts to join the organisation started in January 2007 when a proposal to join ESO was submitted to the Polish government by the Committee on Astronomy of the Polish Academy of Sciences. "Joining ESO will guarantee a constant access to the world most technologically advanced ground-based astronomical instruments. Gathering and analysis of observational data, unavailable in any other situation, will introduce the entire Polish astronomy to the front line of research into the most fundamental issues concerning the Universe", said Professor Kazimierz Stepien, the chairman of the Committee. The initiative is supported by both professional astronomers, who gathered in Kielce for the Assembly of the Polish Astronomical Society in September, and by the General Board of the Society, the latter's voice expressed overtly in a resolution. Joining an organisation such as ESO entails, however, paying both annual contributions, amounting to 2-3 million euro, and a joining fee worth several times the annual fee. The amounts are significant as regards the budget of Polish science. Yet, in return, the participation brings numerous benefits. The most obvious one is the access to the most modern telescopes in the world. Our presence in ESO is especially important for young researchers, since it provides several new job opportunities for those most talented. The offer is open not only for astronomers or astrophysicists, but also IT specialists, since modern astronomy is predominantly based on advanced methods of the collection and analysis of data gathered by various instruments. Also engineers will have an opportunity to develop new instruments, while Polish companies will have the chance to take part in the construction of future astronomical instruments. Established in 1962, ESO comprises 13 countries: Belgium, Czech Republic (a member since January 2007), Denmark, France, Finland, Spain, Holland, Germany, Portugal, Switzerland, Sweden, Great Britain and Italy. ESO's Web Site is available at www.eso.org, while materials on Polish attempts to join ESO are available here www.astronomia.pl/eso More information: Materials on Polish attempts to join ESO ESO Web Site Source: By Krzysztof Czart, astronomia.pl