Nature – All together now
Nature – All together now
18 April 2012
The financial crisis brings Europe unexpected opportunities for international collaboration.
Big pieces of scientific kit aren’t getting any cheaper. Neutron sources, synchrotrons, telescopes and particle accelerators all require highly trained staff and lots of consumables. They need to be upgraded periodically for research to march forward, and the next generation must be even bigger and more ambitious.
…
Two examples show the strength of Europe’s hand. The first is ITER, a multinational fusion experiment that is being built in southern France. ITER’s ballooning budget is giving Europe headaches in the short term, but its long-term benefits to the continent’s scientific and technical expertise are undeniable. The second project, the Square Kilometre Array radio telescope, will be not be located in Europe for scientific reasons, but European scientists have a central role in choosing where it will be built, and will figure prominently in its operation.
To read the full article, click here.
