Britain鈥檚 Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council has refused to
throw a lifeline to the Royal Greenwich Observatory. In July, the PPARC decided
to close the observatory, which was established in 1675
(This Week, 12 July, p 22).
But the observatory鈥檚 management had hoped the council would back a plan to
continue its technical work and research as a limited company.
That plan has now been declared a nonstarter by the PPARC. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not really
our business to be a venture capital company with public funds,鈥� says PPARC
chief executive Ken Pounds. All but a handful of the observatory鈥檚 staff are now
expected to lose their jobs.