And, it is easy to see why, according to the latest NSF figures, astronomy Ph.D.'s in America have soared to a new high of 173 in 1995 - an increase of 20 percent in the last year. But the challenges we face are just as clear. The possible closing of telescopes at Kitt Peak and a tightening job market for newly-minted Ph.D.'s and postdoctoral fellows are just two of the concerns raised in Madison. Now is the time for astronomers to take a stand. We must educate policymakers about astronomy's role in shaping the America of the next century.
Every policy maker sees the future of nations as shaped by achievement in science and technology.
Members of Congress in particular know that the twenty-first century will demand a workforce schooled in technical and quantitative science. Astronomy is an excellent means to this end for it captures the imagination and nurtures in children and adults alike an appreciation of horizons beyond our own. There is no doubt that our arguments are sufficiently persuasive. The only question is whether our voices are sufficiently strong. Government support of basic research is a fragile enterprise.