Our Mission, Supporters and Staff
Our mission
Our mission is to promote interest in astronomy and to support science education. We seek to exploit the Royal Observatory's unique mix of real astronomical science, technology and heritage to help us achieve this.
Our supporters
As the 'public face' of the Observatory, we are supported by all the organisations associated with the ROE. We are managed by the United Kingdom Astronomy Technology Centre (UK ATC), an establishment of the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). Our core funding is from the STFC's Science in Society Programme. We receive additional support from the UK ATC itself and the Institute for Astronomy of the University of Edinburgh.
The Centre is also guided and supported by the Royal Observatory (Edinburgh) Trust.
We receive additional funding for specific projects. Current and recent project funders include:
Improving Science Education 5-14 initiative.
Scottish Museum Council.
Royal Society of Edinburgh, Cormack Bequest.
British National Space Centre.
Science Year Scotland 2002.
Scottish Higher Education Funding Council.
The Dark Sky Scotland project is supported widely by our project partners in the Forestry Commission, Careers Scotland, the Institute of Physics and Glasgow Science Centre, and by our external funders, the Scottish Executive, the Science & Technology Facilities Council, Highlands & Islands Enterprise and the European Union. We are also ably assisted by the astronomers of Scotland, both amateur and professional, who give freely of their time and enthusiasm.
Visitor Centre staff
We employ a team of staff, including retired staff and students from ROE, to run our activities programme. Also, many of the Observatory's astronomers and technologists are volunteers for the Centre. The Centre is run by:
Tania Johnston, Education Officer
Will Sharp, Science Communicator
Dan Hillier, Visitor Centre Manager
David Chalton: Project Officer, Dark Sky Inspiration