The establishment of the Anglo-Australian telescope

224 Pages·2014·2.59 MB·English

University of Wollongong
Research Online
University of Wollongong Thesis Collection University of Wollongong Thesis Collections
1987
The establishment of the Anglo-Australian
telescope: an historical case study in Australian
science policy
Roger Trevor Garland
University of Wollongong
Recommended Citation
Garland, Roger Trevor, The establishment of the Anglo-Australian telescope: an historical case study in Australian science policy,
Master of Arts (Hons.) thesis, Department of Science and Technology Studies, University of Wollongong, 1987.
http://ro.uow.edu.au/theses/2232
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THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ANGLO-AUSTRALIAN TELESCOPE.
AN HISTORICAL CASE STUDY IN AUSTRALIAN SCIENCE POLICY.
A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the
requirements for the award of the degree of
MASTER OF ARTS (HONOURS)
from
THE UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG
by
ROGER TREVOR GARLAND
Bachelor of Science (University of Sydney) .
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY STUDIES
1987
i
CONTENTS
Contents
i
Abbreviations iii
Abstract iv
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1
The trend towards a large optical
telescope in Australia
Notes and references 5
CHAPTER 2 AUSTRALIAN ASTRONOMY AND SCIENCE 6
2. 1 What is Australian astronomy ? 1
2. 1 . 1 Background 1
2. 1 . 2 Funding 13
2.2 Australian optical astronomy and 16
the high civilization principle.
2. 2. 1 Sky watching 16
2.2.2 Astronomy in Australia 18
1788-1900
2.2.3 Australian Astronomy in 24
the 20th century
2.3 Australian science policy in the 41
1950s and 1960s.
Notes and references 47
CHAPTER 3 THE ANGLO-AUSTRALIAN TELESCOPE 52
PROJECT
1950s-DECEMBER 1962
3. 1 Introduction 52
3.1.1 The need for a large 52
southern telescope
3.1.2 A big science project 54
3.2 Advocacy, debate and delay; 63
trying to get the show on
the road
Notes and references 100
ii
CHAPTER 4 THE ANGLO-AUSTRALIAN TELESCOPE 105
PROJECT
JANUA1V- 1963-0CTOBER 197 4
4 • 1 Procrastination, further debate 106
and alternative proposals
January 1963 - May 1967
4.2 Organisation, resolution and 148
construction - building the
telescope
May 1967 - October 1974
Notes and references 159
CHAPTER 5 CONCLUSION 168
Notes and references 183
APPENDIXES 184
Appendix I The players 185
Appendix II Prominent committees 194
Appendix III Key events 198
BIBLIOGRAPHY 204
Manuscripts 205
Published material 209
iii
ABBREVIATIONS
AAO Anglo-Australian Observatory
AAT Anglo-Australian Telescope
Academy Australian Academy of Science
ANU Australian National University
ANZAAS Australia and New Zealand Association for
the Advancement of Science
APGC Astronomy Policy and Grants Committee (UK )
[within the SRC's Astronomy, Space and
Radio Board]
BCSO British Commonwealth Southern Observatory
CSIR Council for Scientific and Industrial
Research
CSIRO Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial
Research Organization
DSIR Department of Science and Industrial
Research (UK)
ESQ European Southern Observatory
JPC Joint Policy Committee
Royal Royal Society of London (UK)
Society
SRC Science Research Council (UK)
iv
ABSTRACT
This thesis examines the establishment of the Anglo
Australian Telescope as a case study in Australian
science policy. An historical overview of Australian
astronomy is developed, followed by an historical account
of the telescope project. The latter forms the major part
of the work. Attention is paid to the arguments put
forward by the astronomical community to justify funding.
The role of the Australian Academy of Science as an elite
science institution in the decision making process is
examined. Also considered is the impact in the 1960s of
emerging government science policy machinery. The
entrenchment of a high civilisation principle used to
rationalise the professional activities of astronomers is
also investigated. Cone lus ions are drawn about the
complex nature of decision making processes, how decision
making in science was affected by a changing context of
science policy formation, and the likelihood of a joint
astronomy project being undertaken in Australia in the
1980s.
1
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
":4
2
"astronomers are a queer and quarrelsome lot and
unblushingly push their own interests."
Marcus Oliphant [1]
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
The trend towards a large optical telescope in
Australia
The quest for larger and larger optical telescopes in
Australia has featured regularly in Australian
astronomical work. From the establishment of the first
astronomical observatory by Governor Sir Thomas Brisbane
in Parramatta in 1821, requests were made to improve
facilities by increasing telescopic power. Over the
years, such facilities were indeed developed, firstly by
the colonies and later by the Federal Government.
In the 1950s, the cyclical claims by astronomers for
bigger and better telescopic power were again made. This
time, the request was for a major telescope of gigantic
optical proportions. However, it was not until the mid-
1960s that funds were made available for a truly major
venture and only then after nearly ten years of active
lobbying. The outcome was a joint Anglo-Australian
facility.
This thesis is located within the field of science and
technology studies. In developing a perspective on
science policy formation it constructs an historical
account of the process followed in the establishment of a
3
large optical telescope in Australia. Included in this
approach is an exploration of some of the political
interactions between the institutions, philosophies and
individuals involved. The general issues in science
policy thus arising relate to:
1. the role of elite scientific groups
2. the development of 'big science' projects
3. competition between nations, scientific
disciplines and individuals involving prestige,
political expediency and world-views (including
a pure science philosophy and the high
civilisation principle).
While a number of historical accounts of the
establishment of the telescope exist [2], there has been
little interpretation and analysis of the circumstances
that gave rise to support for the project, nor the
political interactions underpinning the actions of
institutions and individuals involved. Several specific
themes emerge relating to the issues listed above. Within
the context of broad changes in Australian science policy
during the 1950s-1960s these include:
1. the role of the Australian Academy of Science
as an elite science institution