141
become our colleagues to sign the Treaty concerning Cooperation in
Astrophysics, which is still in force today.
With the decks now cleared, more ability to act, and knowing exactly where
we were headed, the initial team (no more than fifteen persons, most of them
still without permanent posts) got down to work. We were young, and the
challenges, although difficult, were beautiful, filled with hope, and excitement. We began more and more to believe in the possibilities.
As we were so few we worked through general meetings until we became
aware of the time being wasted in this way, so we left management to the fewest possible members of the team so that the rest could do science and technology, which was more important. Thus began what was later to become the
IAC’s Management Committee.
Another important step was taken in 1975 when we created a consortium
to bring together those entities that had something to contribute to the project; we also incorporated CSIC into the new consortium in order to emphasize its national character. We invited the following persons to take part in the
drafting of the document: Fernández Caldas, then Chancellor of the University
of La Laguna; Rafael Clavijo, then President of the Inter-island Association of
Cabildos; Primo Yúfera, President of CSIC; and Mayor Zaragoza, then
Fig. 15.2 The former University Institute of Astrophysics. The site is now occupied by
the Faculties of Physics and Mathematics in Avenida Astrofísico Francisco Sánchez.
(Credit: IAC)
15 The IAC: A Dream Come True (1971–Present)
become our colleagues to sign the Treaty concerning Cooperation in
Astrophysics, which is still in force today.
With the decks now cleared, more ability to act, and knowing exactly where
we were headed, the initial team (no more than fifteen persons, most of them
still without permanent posts) got down to work. We were young, and the
challenges, although difficult, were beautiful, filled with hope, and excitement. We began more and more to believe in the possibilities.
As we were so few we worked through general meetings until we became
aware of the time being wasted in this way, so we left management to the fewest possible members of the team so that the rest could do science and technology, which was more important. Thus began what was later to become the
IAC’s Management Committee.
Another important step was taken in 1975 when we created a consortium
to bring together those entities that had something to contribute to the project; we also incorporated CSIC into the new consortium in order to emphasize its national character. We invited the following persons to take part in the
drafting of the document: Fernández Caldas, then Chancellor of the University
of La Laguna; Rafael Clavijo, then President of the Inter-island Association of
Cabildos; Primo Yúfera, President of CSIC; and Mayor Zaragoza, then
Fig. 15.2 The former University Institute of Astrophysics. The site is now occupied by
the Faculties of Physics and Mathematics in Avenida Astrofísico Francisco Sánchez.
(Credit: IAC)
15 The IAC: A Dream Come True (1971–Present)