Spectacular discoveries regarding the nature and origin of the Universe continue to flow from the advanced technology of ground and space-based telescopes and instrumentation.
Spectacular discoveries regarding the nature and origin of the Universe continue to flow from the advanced technology of ground and space-based telescopes and instrumentation. Scientific synergy has also existed for many years between ground and space such as the use of 8-10 m class ground-based telescopes for spectroscopy of distant galaxies discovered in Hubble Space Telescope images. Further progress is anticipated in this area when the more powerful JWST will complement the next generation of Extremely Large Ground-based Telescopes now being designed around the world. Most examples of scientific synergy arise naturally due to the demands of addressing specific scientific questions.
There is a growing realization, however, that optimization of resources actually requires agreement on long term research goals and the selection and development of the appropriate complementary ground and space facilities, which commonly require a decade or more to bring to fruition. The US Decadal Survey is an example of this cooperation, and for the first time, a similar European-wide Science and Infrastructure Vision is being developed in collaboration between scientists and funding agencies. Synergy is thus a particularly apt theme for this symposium in France. Given the wide scope of this symposium it is also appropriate to consider other areas where synergies may be encouraged beyond the purely scientific, such as the development of enabling technologies, addressing the challenges of systems engineering, managing large, long term projects and adequately funding them over the development and operational lifecycles.
Venue: Palais des Congrès Parc Chanot Conference Centre Marseille, France
Dates: 23 - 28 June 2008
Web URL: http://spie.org/astronomical-instrumentation.xml?WT.mc_id=RCALENDARW