Research Infrastructure for a Future Large Optical Telescope

Submission to the National Research Infrastructure Taskforce
Department of Education, Science and Training
29 August 2003

This submission was made by the Extremely Large Telescope Working Group (ELTWG) set up by the National Committee for Astronomy (NCA) of the Australian Academy of Science. The ELTWG is tasked by the NCA with exploring opportunities for Australian participation in projects to build an extremely large optical/infrared ground-based telescope (an ELT).

This submission considers the research infrastructure needed for a future large optical
telescope. Such a telescope will be a high priority for Australian astronomers in the
coming decade, and this submission focuses on the infrastructure issues that are
specifically relevant to realizing this particular major research facility. This submission is
complementary to, and should be read in conjunction with, other submissions from the
astronomical community that deal more generally with research infrastructure issues.
In this context, the following sections address the various issues raised in the Invitation
for Submission.

Download the submission (pdf; 500kB)