Space Science: ANU in world top ten

The Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics (RSAA) has again been named Australia’s leading space research institution by achieving a key top-ten world ranking.

The latest Thomson Reuters Essential Science Indicators report, published by Campus Review, lists the global top 20 institutions in space sciences. ANU ranked tenth, topping Harvard University, Cambridge University and the University of California, Berkley.

ANU is the only university in Australia to make it onto the list and one of only three non-US institutions in the top 20.

“While gratified by this recognition of our achievements to date, they are in fact the result of investment in research staff and forefront infrastructure that was made in the early-to-mid 1990s,” said RSAA Director Professor Harvey Butcher.

“The level of investment needed to maintain this performance has been lacking in recent years, and it is a matter of some concern that Australia appears to be falling behind in laying the foundation for future success in space science research.”

Professor Butcher said that RSAA’s exceptional performance is not limited to any one sub-field of space science.

“The astronomers at Mt Stromlo not only were in on the discovery of Dark Energy –  that mysterious component of the Cosmos that is causing it to accelerate its expansion – but have also continued to make fundamental contributions to our understanding of the content, dynamics and evolution of our own and other galaxies.”