Arizona Arts, Sciences and Technology Academy (AASTA)
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ASU Mars Missions Website
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It's
All About the Lighting |
AASTA Presentation PPT File (Large) |
Governor Janet Napolitano and AASTA President Patrick Burkhart discuss AASTA's recent report.
AASTA
Report Focuses on Economic Impact of Astronomy, Space Sciences
and Planetary Sciences Research in Arizona - Recommends Agenda to Remain World
Class and Advance Opportunities for Growth
Recent Op-Eds Arizona astronomy can't rest on laurels - Az. Daily Sun (1-16-08) State's title as capital of astronomy is eroding - Az Daily Star (2-16-08) Are Arizona's dark skies in jeopardy? - Az Republic (3-1-08) Arizona's Black Gold - Az Republic (3-4-08) Dark skies at 50: All win - Az Daily Sun (4-15-08) Obervatory nears 50th year and remains a vital presence - Az Daily Star (4-23-08) Discuss light, not lapels - Az Daily Star (4-24-08)
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The
Arizona Arts, Sciences and Technology Academy (AASTA) announces the publication
of a new economic impact report outlining the importance that Astronomy, Space
Sciences and Planetary Sciences (APSS) research plays in Arizona.
Key Findings
APSS Research in Arizona in 2006 returned a total dollar economic impact
of $252.8 million. This includes $138.6 million in earnings and $12 million
in tax revenues.
During FY 2006 Arizona’s observatories and related APSS research institutions
spent a total of $135.4 million on operations, including wages. An additional
$28.8 million was spent on capital investment and construction. For FY 2006,
total expenditures for these APSS organizations amounted to $164.2 million.
Of that, $69.3 million was spent in Arizona.
The total investment in capital facilities and land among Arizona’s APSS
institutions in FY 2006 equaled $1.119 billion, with an additional $635.7 million
reported in planned capital expansion.
APSS organizations and institutions employed 1,830 people in FY 2006 with a
total payroll of $83.9 million.
APSS organizations in Arizona attracted 200,805 visitors in FY 2006, 22% of
which were from out-of-state. Out-of-state visitors spent $61.4 million in FY
2006 generating an overall economic impact of $25.7 million. APSS institutions
across the state also generated $119 million in revenues for state and local
governments in FY 2006.
Building on Previous Reports
In prior reports prepared for the Arizona Department of Commerce, the
Battelle Memorial Institute noted that “Arizona ranks among the top ten
of all states in the physical sciences (7th), led by astronomy (2nd) in which
Arizona has nearly 18 percent of all university research activities nationwide”.
Battelle further noted that Arizona has key strengths in space sciences and
physics citing two areas of excellence; (1) remotely operated instruments for
measurements in space, and (2) advanced land based and space telescope design
and mirror construction.
AASTA’s report encourages the State of Arizona to commercially develop
and exploit APSS technologies embedded in the state’s universities, federal
labs and private institutions such as biosensing, communications, computing,
imaging, instrumentation, materials, microelectronics, navigation, optics, power,
propulsion, sensors, software and systems integration.
AASTA’s report also recommends increased scientific collaboration, additional
federal funds for APSS research, an APSS roadmap for the State of Arizona, and
new measures to control light pollution emitted from growing urban areas that
is degrading the effectiveness of existing Arizona observatories and limiting
the state’s ability to attract major new facilities for optical astronomy.
Project Partners
AASTA’s report, “Astronomy, Planetary Sciences and Space
Sciences Research Opportunities to Advance Arizona’s Economic Growth”
is the result of a collaboration among AASTA and twenty-two APSS organizations;
eleven observatories, three related research organizations and eight university
based departments/centers/labs.
The study and report were sponsored by the Arizona
Department of Commerce, The
Large Binocular Telescope Observatory, the leadership of Lowell
Observatory, Northern Arizona University,
The National Optical Astronomy Observatory,
Research Corporation, The
University of Arizona, and The
Vatican Observatory. Additional support for the publication of this report
was provided by AURA and Raytheon.
AASTA wishes to acknowledge the participation of the Economic
and Business Research Center at the Eller College of Management at the University
of Arizona for their contribution in data collection and performing the economic
impact analysis.
To Read the Report and Other Relevant Information
__________________________________________________________________________________________
AASTA Report (2006)
Ensuring an Effective Avian Influenza Pandemic Response: An Assessment of Arizona's Preparedness
(PDF File)
Executive Summary Issue Brief (PDF File)
Avian Influenza Conference Information
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
AASTA
Annual Report
AASTA Annual Report in PDF Format
AASTA's
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Fellows: Renew Your Membership ($150.00)
Donors: Make a Tax Deductible Gift To AASTA
A Tax Exempt 501-(c)-3 Organization
The Arizona, Arts, Sciences and Technology Academy (AASTA) seeks to coalesce the cultural, scientific and technical wisdom of Arizona and promote the growth of an intellectual community within the State. AASTA seeks to establish Arizona as a locus of leading influential thought, intellectual enrichment, and creativity. AASTA is nonpartisan and broadly based in cultural, behavioral and social sciences, the arts and humanities, physical and biological sciences, health sciences, administration, law and engineering. Overall, AASTA can be characterized as a volunteer-led, not-for-profit, member-based, service organization specializing in the creation and growth of a high-value scholarly society .
Arizona Arts, Sciences and Technology Academy Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 12628
Chandler, Arizona 85248
602-619-6441
