vbid/9783319490793

Description

Radio astronomy was born during the Second World War, but as this book explains, the history of early Dutch radio astronomy�is in several respects rather anomalous in comparison to the development of radio astronomy in other countries. The author describes how these very�differences led the Netherlands to become one of the world leaders in�radio astronomy. Dominated by the Leiden astronomer Jan Hendrik Oort, the field embarked on an�era of success, and to this day, the country still holds a leading position. To tell this story, the book focuses on three key events in�the period 1940-1970, namely the construction of the radio telescopes in Kootwijk (1948), in�Dwingeloo (1956), and in Westerbork (1970). These projects show that Dutch radio astronomers must not�be seen as merely scientists, but also as strategic lobbyists, networkers and organizers in a specific�political and economic context. It was in the process of planning, designing and constructing�these instruments that the interests of the astronomers, industrial partners, politicians and lobby�groups merged to create today’s existing research centers for radio astronomy.Typham this is the title: The Rise of Radio Astronomy in the Netherlands The People and the Politics