UKSEDS have recieved a call for help to lobby the US Congress to reinstate funding for the James Webb Space Telescope, which is presently proposed to be withdrawn. A petition suitable for European residents has been drawn up and is available at the link below (or click here).
As the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope, James Webb promises to be every bit as important to our understanding of the universe as Hubble was. By looking further into the infrared it will be able to look deeper into the past than ever before. Please sign the petition to help save this vital project from cancellation.
The original email is included below:
Dear Colleague,
As you probably know the US Congress has plans to flatten or even stop its financial support to JWST and this would lead inevitably to its cancellation. We think we should let the US Administration know what a scientific loss this would imply for all the astronomical community. For this reason astronomers all over the world are taking initiatives to express publicly their concern about the fate of JWST and their support to its science.
In strict collaboration with our US colleagues, we have written the attached letter, that slightly differs from the American version, and should be sent within the beginning of September to Dr. Holdren, the White House Science Advisor.
With this message I’m asking you to sign the letter on the web site http://goo.gl/mvaOQ and spread the information about this petition as widely as possible, among staff members, postdocs and graduate students. Your help can significantly increase the number of subscribers and will be highly appreciated.
Some of you may have already signed the US version of the petition, before we were able to upload the European one. Overseas the feeling is that it would be more effective for the White House and Congress if the US list of subscribers is separate from the others. This is why we have set up a different site for the European petition and the slightly modified text. Please let me know if you prefer to remain in their list or be moved to ours.
I apologize with those of you who will receive the petition call more than once.
Thanks for your help,
Best wishes,
Monica
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