Astronomy and Astrophysics for the 1980's, Volume 2 Reports of the Panels (1983) / Chapter Skim
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II. Maintenance of Scientific Talent
II. Maintenance of Scientific Talent
Pages 338-349
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From page 338... ...
Private institutions have also provided substantial support for astronomy; a number have been particularly successful in maintaining strong research programs in spite of the inroads of inflation.
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From page 339... ...
The OEP Panel therefore recommends that urgent steps be taken toward maintaining the flow of excellent younger researchers into the university environment during the critical decade ahead. In particular, the Panel recommends that the Astronomy Division of the National Science Foundation initiate a program of "Astronomy Excellence Awards" to be funded at a level of 10 to 20 five-year positions annually, to be awarded to individuals on the basis of an open national competition.
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From page 340... ...
Advisory Committee for Physics, which stated: It is the opinion of the Advisory Committee for Physics that an emergency situation exists which threatens the viability of physics research in the U.S. The vitality of physics research -- which has played such a major role in the industrial and technological development of this country -- is seriously threatened.
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From page 341... ...
years is destined to become second-rate on the world scene. To deal with this "emergency situation," we propose two remedies: Astronomy Excellence Awards, being matching funds for faculty positions, and creation of parallel track positions of high prestige, with rolling tenure where feasible.
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From page 342... ...
_ Some institu-_ Lions have established senior research associate positions -- positions that have some degree of employment security beyond that of a postdoctoral position -- that fall short of the great security that is provided by This method for channeling support through universities depends critically on the ability of universities to develop guidelines that will make the positions sufficently attractive that they are competitive with industry and with National Astronomy Center positions. Research "nonfaculty" are in the long run more costeffective than a sequence of short-term postdoctoral researchers.
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From page 343... ...
The existence of a pool of experienced astronomers may also be useful in the 1990's when the projected demand for astronomy faculty will exceed the supply. The number of astronomers employed in non-tenure-track positions has increased substantially in recent years, while the number of faculty positions has stabilized (see below)
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From page 344... ...
True, the few (even with the matching funds program) available tenure-track positions may bring the very best to the universities, but increasingly, excellent young astronomers will be attracted by the research opportunities, job security, and salary of government laboratories, federally funded research and development centers, and industry, both within and outside astronomy.
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From page 345... ...
13 into positions in government laboratories (e.g., Goddard Space Flight Center) IS into positions in federally funded research and development centers (FFRDC's, e.g., Kitt Peak National Observatory)
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From page 346... ...
, which developed a parallel recommendation for physics and mathematics. Simple models argue that the shrinkage in needed faculty positions will exceed replacement positions in academia, leading to a possible net negative demand if departments and colleges close (as some have done)
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From page 347... ...
We calculate the cost of this new program below, keeping in mind possible savings arising from a depletion of the pool of people employed in temporary positions. Let us assume that the annual cost of supporting a person in a senior research position is $m X 104: we estimate that, for salary alone, m = 2; for salary plus overhead, m = 3.
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From page 348... ...
two additional employment mechanisms: expanded postdoctoral fellowships and substantial expansion of the National Astronomy Centers and National Laboratories. Expanded Postdoctoral Fellowships: This mechanism was actually introduced in the 1970's and has produced a situation in which astronomers often go from one postdoctoral position to another, in an often fruitless search for a stable position.
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From page 349... ...
Of course, if universities prove to be incapable of generating ways to develop professionally rewarding, stable positions supported by federal funds, an expansion of the National Centers or National Laboratories would be a reasonable way to cope with the manpower problem of the
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