News by Council/Committee
news
May 24, 2000
The Member Representatives of the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) recently voted to admit Leiden University as its 6th International Affiliate member. This brings the total number of AURA Member Institutions to 35, 29 of which are US institutions. A list of AURA members can be found in the Membership section of AURA's website. Leiden's membership becomes effective on July 1. "Leiden has a first-rate program in astronomy research and education. We are looking forward to a closer association with our European collleagues," said William Smith,President of AURA. Leiden University was founded in 1575 and is the oldest university in the Netherlands. Leiden Observatory (Sterrewacht Leiden) was founded in 1633 to accommodate the so-called quadrant of Snellius (the scientist best known for his law of refraction), and is the oldest university astronomy department in the world. It is part of the Faculty of Mathematics and Physical Sciences of Leiden University, and is the largest astronomy institute in the Netherlands. In receiving the news of admission to AURA, Leiden astronomer Tim de Zeeuw said, "We are very pleased to join AURA. This is a very positive step for Leiden Observatory, and it will strengthen our ties with the US astronomical community." For more information, contact:
Marylu Evans
Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc.
(202) 483-2101
e-mail: mme@smtp.aura-astronomy.org The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. (AURA) is a non-profit consortium of 29 US institutions and six international affiliates. AURA operates the National Optical Astronomy Observatory, the National Solar Observatory, and the international Gemini Observatory under cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation; for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, AURA operates the Space Telescopes Science Institute.
