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UTSA grows access to world-class observational labs for next gen astronomy students

UTSA grows access to world-class observational labs for next gen astronomy students

(May 14, 2019) -- The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) welcomes UTSA as a new member institution of AURA, a consortium of US institutions and international affiliates that operates world-class astronomical observatories on behalf of NASA and NSF. The UTSA application to join AURA was approved by AURA’s Member Representatives at its recent annual meeting in Tucson, Arizona.

UTSA is a multicultural discovery enterprise institution and is the largest university in the San Antonio metropolitan region. Founded by the Texas Legislature in 1969, UTSA now offers access and opportunity to more than 32,000 students including 4,200 graduate students.

The UTSA Department of Physics and Astronomy provides science and engineering undergraduates with the tools for student success with a solid background in physics, problem-solving skills, and equip scholars with invaluable research experience. It is also home to the Joint Graduate Program in Physics with San Antonio-based Southwest Research Institute, which regularly leads high-profile missions, such as New Horizons and Juno.

“We warmly welcome The University of Texas at San Antonio to AURA,” said Matt Mountain, president of AURA.  “AURA is looking forward to UTSA playing a full and active role in AURA decision making and increasing AURA engagement and awareness with UTSA students and faculty.”

AURA was founded in 1957 by a group of U.S. universities to create astronomical observing facilities available for use by all qualified researchers from U.S. institutions and universities on the basis of scientific merit. AURA’s role, that it carries out through its five centers, is to establish, nurture, and promote public observatories and facilities that advance innovative astronomical research. AURA’s Space Telescope Science Institute is responsible for the science mission for the Hubble Space Telescope, the science and operations for the James Webb Space Telescope, and the MAST data archive. AURA’s nighttime ground-based facilities include the Gemini Observatories, the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) under construction in Chile, and the National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO). The National Solar Observatory (NSO) is AURA’s solar center and is managing the construction of the DKIST Solar Telescope in Hawai’i.

“Joining AURA will greatly help advance research at UTSA for the good of our students and faculty alike.  The confluence of ‘big data’ in astronomy with UTSA’s planned School of Data Science, existing artificial intelligence strengths, and the departmental abilities in materials and nano-particle research ensures that UTSA will be able to significantly contribute to AURA’s mission. We are thrilled to be part of the AURA astronomical community," said Chris Packham, professor in the UTSA Department of Physics and Astronomy.

The partnership with AURA supports UTSA’s 10-year vision as San Antonio’s world-class public research university, which includes growing access to experiential learning to 75 percent of the student body so as to create a more enriching campus experience.  UTSA is also positioned to earn national and international recognition as it aims for National Research University Fund (NRUF) eligibility, monies designated by the Texas State Legislatures to help the state’s universities achieve prominence on the national stage. 

Milady Nazir


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UTSA Today is produced by University Communications and Marketing, the official news source of The University of Texas at San Antonio. Send your feedback to news@utsa.edu. Keep up-to-date on UTSA news by visiting UTSA Today. Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.


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The University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.

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We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.

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UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .

Our Commitment to Inclusivity

The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.