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Our National Centers (1Mar93)
(from the AURA Corporate Office, NOAO Newsletter No. 33, 1 March 1993)

National centers are the only place where most US astronomers can
observe.  The quality and quantity of science and service to the
community represent a bargain for US science. More than 2,000
colleagues use NOAO facilities each year.  This does not include
astronomers from universities that operate their own telescopes on our
sites, taking advantage of the economy of scale in mountain operations.
A recent study of technology transfer showed that NOAO also has a
surprisingly strong effect on innovation in industry.

Our national centers are a national asset. AURA is proud to manage NOAO
for NSF. We believe it is second to no other national or international
observatory in the world in effectiveness and cost-effectiveness.
After reductions in NOAO's budget by more than 25 percent over a
decade, its program is barely sustainable at the FY 1993 funding
level.

NSF and AURA share the responsibility for stewardship for NOAO. AURA is
doing its best to manage NOAO within the funds NSF provides. We have
urged NSF to do more on its part. We will get through this year
somehow, with reductions in staff, compensation, telescope use, and
therefore in service to the community. We need NSF's commitment to
bring NOAO back from this valley. Incremental funds will greatly
enhance innovation in science, service, education and technology at
NOAO.

Goetz Oertel

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