Short Wave Who Gets The First Peek At The Secrets Of The Universe?
Feb 7, 2023
Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR reporter specializing in science, joins the conversation to unravel the complexities of the James Webb Space Telescope’s data access policies. They discuss the overwhelming demand for telescope time and the proposal of immediate open access to data, which could accelerate discoveries. However, the team also weighs concerns about equity, as instant access might favor established researchers over newcomers. The dialogue highlights the evolving landscape of astronomical data and its implications for future exploration.
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Public Access to Space Telescope Data
- Space telescopes like Hubble changed data ownership.
- Data becomes public after one year due to public funding.
Pressure in Astronomy
- Astronomer Aalat Glickman spent two weeks writing her first Hubble proposal.
- A colleague was pressured by a competitor to share data before their proprietary period ended.
Open Access and Equity
- Open access to data may not benefit everyone equally.
- It could give an advantage to those with more resources.