The United Kingdom Astronomy Technology Centre

Principles & Core Functions

Our principles and core functions are used to help manage the organisation:

Principles

• The organisation should be efficient and cost effective and deliver projects to schedule
• Work carried out by the UK ATC should be both science driven and project based
• There should be a range of projects from fast track to facility class instruments
• The UK ATC will only involve itself in projects where it adds real value to the UK astronomy programme (see Strategic Filter)
• The UK ATC will not unfairly compete with Universities, and projects will be collaborations with University groups where this is both cost effective and beneficial to the STFC programme
• The UK ATC should advise and provide consultancy to UK university groups in order to maximise the scientific return of the STFC programme
• The UK ATC should engage in and influence the STFC's long-term technology development programme
• The UK ATC should facilitate technology development in industry and universities to meet the needs of the current and future astronomy programme, and promote its exploitation in other research sectors and industry
• Maintenance work and astronomical support for telescopes should as far as possible be based at the overseas observatory site

Core Functions

• design and production of state of the art astronomical instrumentation
• provision of a national focus for UK instrumentation activity
• stimulation of collaborations involving university groups
• provision of key expertise required for instrument and telescope development
• participation in the strategic planning co-ordination and management of the ground-based astronomy programme
• facilitate technology development in industry and universities to meet the needs of the current and future astronomy programme, and promote its exploitation in other research sectors and industry