Assessing Basic Research

The Case of the Isaac Newton Telescope

Bibliographic Data

ID11924924
AuthorsJ M Irvine (0000-0003-4294-9380, University of Sussex, corresponding author), John Irvine (Science Policy Research Unit, The University of Sussex, Mantell Building, Falmer, Brighton, Sussex, BN1 9RF, UK.), Ben R Martin (0000-0002-5186-0903, Science Policy Research Unit, The University of Sussex, Mantell Building, Falmer, Brighton, Sussex, BN1 9RF, UK.)
Year1983
Volume13
Issue1
Pages49-86
Publication date1983-02-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSocial Studies of Science (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0306-3127 • E-ISSN: 1460-3659
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/030631283013001004
OpenAlexW2152388945
LanguageEN
Citations received11
References cited1

In a parallel paper, we have outlined a methodology for assessing the comparative scientific performance of large basic research facilities (and their associated user groups) working in the same specialty, and applied this method of `converging partial indicators' to an evaluation of the contributions to science made by a number of radio telescopes. In this paper, we employ this methodology to evaluate the scientific performance of various optical telescopes — in particular, the 2.5-metre Isaac Newton Telescope, operated as a central facility by the Royal Greenwich Observatory in South-East England. For several years, this was Britain's only major optical telescope, as well as being the largest such instrument in Europe. We compare its performance over the last decade with that of three American telescopes of similar size. This paper has three aims: first, to ascertain whether the method of converging partial indicators, originally applied to radio astronomy, provides a more general policy tool that can be extended to other specialties; second, to determine just how successful each optical telescope has been in producing new astronomical knowledge over the past decade; and, third, to discuss whether our results on the comparative scientific performance of the Isaac Newton Telescope may have any implications for British astronomy policy in general

Astronomy · Greenwich · Observatory · Optical telescope · Physics · Radio telescope · Telescope · Computer Science · Diversity and Career in Medicine · Primary Care and Health Outcomes · Geology