Utrecht Science Faculty profile 2015: Astronomical Institute to be closed
On June 16th , 2011, the Faculty of Science of Utrecht University announced its plans to restructure its efforts in research and education. These plans no longer include an Astronomical Institute after 2014. Only some effort in astronomy education at the Bachelors level is to remain in Utrecht. This decision effectively ends an almost 370-year old tradition of education and research in astronomy and astrophysics in Utrecht, which has produced eminent scientists such as Marcel Minnaert, Henk van de Hulst, Kees de Jager and Ed van den Heuvel. The prospects for Utrecht Astronomy were excellent until now. Our efforts in theoretical astrophysics (high-energy astrophysics and stellar physics) are renowned world-wide. We have strong ties with our neighbour institute SRON, the Netherlands Institute for Space Research. This involves both astronomically oriented projects, notably in X-ray astronomy, as well as research into our Earth's atmosphere and (exo)planets. At the Astronomical Institute Utrecht we are developing instrumentation for the next generation of large telescopes in close collaboration with Dutch industry and Technical Universities. In the Netherlands we are unique in studying the Sun and its activity that impacts life and technology on Earth.
