147
workshops. Everything turned out well, proof of this being the minimal
repairs and retouches that have been made over the thirty-year existence of the
buildings.
At the beginning of 1985, half of the office space was empty, but it did not
take long to fill it. Today, in spite of extensions made to the habitable space,
the buildings are again fully occupied. Even the area above the canteen, originally designated as accommodation for visitors, has had to be converted into
offices. That residence amply fulfilled its purpose of temporarily retaining at
the IAC excellent astrophysicists from all over the world in order to provide
contact with our young doctoral students. There are now around four hundred persons working in these crammed offices, including permanent and
temporary staff, doctoral students, and visitors. A success story run riot.
Turning now to funding, this is a key element in all development and the
foundation on which families, states, and businesses are built, and which
drives all human activity. It also needs to be borne in mind that the IAC was
born precisely into a Spain in transition towards democracy, with all the
attendant political effervescence, all minds being focussed on the change of
regime and the politicians preoccupied with the establishment of their political parties. Looked at from their point of view, in those times it must have
seemed an absurdity, a waste of resources, to devote any effort at all to funding
astrophysical research, a ‘luxury for rich countries’. Scientific research was not
in the least a matter causing any leader to lose sleep. Unfortunately, neither is
it today. We are not the United States, where other criteria prevail and even
entrepreneurs believe in the need to promote research, even if only because it
helps them fill their pockets.
Through the Law of Astrophysics, the IAC now figured in the general state
budget, but we had to ensure, year by year, that the portion corresponding to
the IAC grew in the public budgets of whichever ministry it was answerable
to at the time. We also had to budget for new personnel, and later better their
job security and working conditions. Hence, it was not enough just to raise
the banner of fundamental pure research; it was also necessary to add other,
‘more useful’, things. We tried our hand at comprehensible realities. One such
reality was the inflow of money resulting from foreign investment in large
telescopes and the funds needed for their continued use. Another was the visibility and prestige that having in the Canaries, and therefore Spain, so many
major institutions from the most advanced countries would represent. Then
there was the advanced technology that could be generated and funnelled for
the benefit of local firms and the national economy. And finally, the development of astronomical tourism would boost and add complementary incentives to our ‘sun and sand’ touristic boom.
15 The IAC: A Dream Come True (1971–Present)
workshops. Everything turned out well, proof of this being the minimal
repairs and retouches that have been made over the thirty-year existence of the
buildings.
At the beginning of 1985, half of the office space was empty, but it did not
take long to fill it. Today, in spite of extensions made to the habitable space,
the buildings are again fully occupied. Even the area above the canteen, originally designated as accommodation for visitors, has had to be converted into
offices. That residence amply fulfilled its purpose of temporarily retaining at
the IAC excellent astrophysicists from all over the world in order to provide
contact with our young doctoral students. There are now around four hundred persons working in these crammed offices, including permanent and
temporary staff, doctoral students, and visitors. A success story run riot.
Turning now to funding, this is a key element in all development and the
foundation on which families, states, and businesses are built, and which
drives all human activity. It also needs to be borne in mind that the IAC was
born precisely into a Spain in transition towards democracy, with all the
attendant political effervescence, all minds being focussed on the change of
regime and the politicians preoccupied with the establishment of their political parties. Looked at from their point of view, in those times it must have
seemed an absurdity, a waste of resources, to devote any effort at all to funding
astrophysical research, a ‘luxury for rich countries’. Scientific research was not
in the least a matter causing any leader to lose sleep. Unfortunately, neither is
it today. We are not the United States, where other criteria prevail and even
entrepreneurs believe in the need to promote research, even if only because it
helps them fill their pockets.
Through the Law of Astrophysics, the IAC now figured in the general state
budget, but we had to ensure, year by year, that the portion corresponding to
the IAC grew in the public budgets of whichever ministry it was answerable
to at the time. We also had to budget for new personnel, and later better their
job security and working conditions. Hence, it was not enough just to raise
the banner of fundamental pure research; it was also necessary to add other,
‘more useful’, things. We tried our hand at comprehensible realities. One such
reality was the inflow of money resulting from foreign investment in large
telescopes and the funds needed for their continued use. Another was the visibility and prestige that having in the Canaries, and therefore Spain, so many
major institutions from the most advanced countries would represent. Then
there was the advanced technology that could be generated and funnelled for
the benefit of local firms and the national economy. And finally, the development of astronomical tourism would boost and add complementary incentives to our ‘sun and sand’ touristic boom.
15 The IAC: A Dream Come True (1971–Present)