Save Armagh Observatory From Closure

clansmanchrisSat 05/04/08 14:55

It is not very often I agree with the SDLP and/or the Liberal Democrats but, on this occasion, I should like to commend both Dominic Bradley (SDLP MLA for Newry & Mourne) and Lembit Opik (MP for Montgomeryshire and Liberal Democrat Spokesman for Northern Ireland) for their robust defence of the Armagh Observatory.

Following a recent visit to the Observatory by Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly's Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee, Mr Bradley was reported as saying "The [Armagh] Observatory has world wide status … and it is disturbing to learn that the current funding situation is presenting a risk to its survival. In this, the 300th Anniversary year of the Observatory's foundation, it would indeed be ironic if this were to materialize. It is unacceptable that this prestigious facility has to scrape around to get enough funding to survive. The Observatory carries out valuable research into such topics as the current threat of climate change; it also engages with young people and helps encourage young people to consider physics, mathematics and science".

By the same token, Mr Opik (son of the famous astrophysicist Ernst Julius Opik who worked at the observatory from 1948 to 1981) has tabled Early Day Motion 1226 in the House of Commons, "This House applauds the Armagh Observatory's considerable contribution to astronomical research and its very high international standing; believes the Observatory is one of the world-class scientific institutions in the British Isles; is very concerned about the funding shortfall currently facing the Armagh Observatory; fears that if this shortfall is not met, the Observatory could close in 2009; and calls on the Government to ensure that the future funding of Armagh Observatory is secured to guarantee the on-going operations of one of the world's great seats of learning and research into the field of astronomy".

As an Englishman by birth – who lives less than twenty miles from the Royal Greenwich Observatory at Herstmonceux (a somewhat shorter distance than I am from the Armagh Observatory) – and an Ulsterman by adoption, I nevertheless acknowledge the contribution which the Armagh Observatory makes to the scientific world as a whole, and wish to put on record my support for calls from MLAs and MPs in all parties and none to safeguard its future.

In the meantime if, like me, you support Armagh Observatory, please write to your MP at the House of Commons, Westminster, London, SW1A 0AA, to urge him/her to sign EDM 1226, and if you are resident in Northern Ireland please write to your MLA and the Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure (Edwin Poots MLA) at Parliament Buildings, Stormont, Belfast, to urge them to safeguard the future of the observatory.