Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy

The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) is a consortium of universities and other institutions that operates astronomical observatories and telescopes.

Centers

*"Gemini Observatory" managed by AURA for an international partnership to operate twin telescopes, one on Mauna Kea in Hawaii and the other on Cerro Pachon in Chile.
*"National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO)" - AURA operates NOAO telescopes at Kitt Peak in Arizona and Cerro Tololo in Chile.
*"National Solar Observatory (NSO)" - AURA operates NSO conducting research at Sacramento Peak in New Mexico and at Kitt Peak in Arizona.
*"Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI)" - AURA manages STScI for NASA to carry out the scientific mission of the Hubble Space Telescope.
*"New Initiative Office (NIO)" - AURA established the NIO to work towards construction of a Giant Segmented Mirror Telescope.

President

President: Dr. William S. Smith, Jr

Dr. Smith was appointed President of the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) in February 2000. The President, as the chief executive officer, serves as the primary representative or spokesperson for AURA. The President is a member of the Board of Directors and implements policy decisions of the Board. The President serves the Board of Directors as its principal executive officer, providing leadership and guidance on policy matters, coordinating the activities of the Board and its various committees. The President is also responsible for maintaining effective working relationships with AURA Member Universities.

Prior to his appointment with AURA, Dr. Smith served 14 years as a professional staff member in various capacities on the House Committee on Science. He acted as Science Advisor from 1985 to 1988 and was then appointed Staff Director, Subcommittee on Space.

AURA Board of Directors

The Board, which meets quarterly, establishes the policies of AURA, approves its budget, elects members of the Management Councils, and appoints the President, the Center Directors, and other principal officers. The Board of Directors is responsible to the Member Representatives for the effective management of AURA and the achievement of its purposes.

Dr. Bruce Carney (Chair) Arts & Sciences Dean's Office , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Dr. Frederic Chaffee University of North Carolina

Dr. Peter Gilman High Altitude Observatory, National Center for Atmospheric Research

Dr. Heidi Hammel Space Science Institute

Dr. Timothy Heckman Dept. of Physics & Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University

Dr. Lynne Hillenbrand Astronomy and Astrophysics, California Institute of Technology

Dr. Elizabeth Hoffman Iowa State University

Dr. Jeffrey Kuhn Institute for Astronomy/University of Hawaii

Dr. Malcolm Longair Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge

Dr. John Peoples Jr. Fermilab

Prof. Bradley Peterson Department of Astronomy, Ohio State University

Dr. Caty Pilachowski (Vice Chair) Astronomy Department, Indiana University

Dr. Maria Teresa Ruiz Departamento de Astronomia, Universidad de Chile

Prof. Penny SackettResearch School of Astronomy & Astrophysics, The Australian National University

Dr. Michael Shull Dept. Of Astrophysical & Planetary Sciences, University of Colorado

Dr. William Smith (ex officio) AURA

Dr. Paula Szkody Astronomy Department, University of Washington

Members

Members have been distinguished between being: a) Private, or Public Institutes, b) Whether the focus is on Education or Research at the Institute, and c) The level of education provided according to a tiered system. The Carnegie Institution, is the exception, as it is less of a school, and more of a research organization.

United States

*Boston University (Private Research University)
*California Institute of Technology (Private Research University)
*Carnegie Institution of Washington (Research Organization)
*Georgia State University (State College)
*Harvard University (Private Educational University)
*Indiana University (Public Research University)
*Iowa State University (State College)
*Johns Hopkins University (Private Educational University)
*Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Private Research University)
*Michigan State University (State College)
*Montana State University (State College)
*New Mexico State University (State College)
*Ohio State University (State College)
*Pennsylvania State University (State College)
*Princeton University (Private Research University)
*Rutgers University (Public Research University)
*State University of New York (State College)
*University of Arizona (Public Research University)
*University of California, Berkeley (Public Research University)
*University of California, Santa Cruz (Public Research University)
*University of Chicago (Private Research University)
*University of Colorado (Public Research University)
*University of Florida (Public Research University)
*University of Hawaii (Public Educational University)
*University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Public Research University)
*University of Maryland, College Park (Public Research University)
*University of Michigan (Public Research University)
*University of Minnesota (Public Educational University)
*University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Public Research University)
*University of Texas at Austin (Public Research University)
*University of Virginia (Public Research University)
*University of Washington (Public Research University)
*University of Wisconsin-Madison (Public Research University)
*Yale University (Private Educational University)

International affiliates

*Swinburne University (Public Research University)
*Leiden University (Public Research University)
*Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (Private Educational University)
*Universidad de Chile (Public Educational University)
*Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (Public Educational University)

Honours

The asteroid 19912 Aurapenenta was named in honour of the association's fiftieth anniversary, on 1 June 2007.MPCit_JPL|19912

External links

* [http://www.aura-astronomy.org/ Official website]