Granada, July 15 (Reuters) – Spanish space science has advanced in recent years to become the world's seventh power in terms of scientific production, a field in which there is also a “quarry for the future”, according to the British newspaper “Daily Mail”. The president of the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), Eloisa del Pino.

This was stated by the president of the National Astronomy Commission during the opening of the 16th Scientific Meeting of the Spanish Astronomical Society on Monday, a semi-annual meeting that brings together until next Friday more than 600 specialists in Granada to discuss scientific and technological advances in astronomy in recent years and Spanish participation in all of them.

Del Pino stressed that Spanish space science is currently “among the best in the world.” But he pointed out that “it is not just a specific moment of good health,” but that there are more and more pre-doctoral researchers whose theses are related to space science, so there is “a quarry for the future.”

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Spain, which cooperates in the most important scientific results in this regard, has advanced in recent years to now be ranked seventh in terms of scientific production related to astronomy, behind the United States, China, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy and France.

This is the field of cosmology and astrophysics, to which the government is committed with the country's participation in several national and international organizations, the Secretary General of Research at the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, Eva Ortega Baño, told reporters, giving the example of the presence of observatories throughout the country.

The president of the Spanish Astronomy Society, Benjamin Montesinos, highlighted the significant increase in the number of astronomy professionals in the country, a figure that now exceeds 1,200 workers, including permanent employees, post-doctoral and pre-doctoral researchers, representing a 14% increase compared to the previous two years.

According to a report on human resources in astronomy and astrophysics released during the meeting, this positive development also adds to the consolidation of other high-quality technical jobs, since approximately 600 supporting people with specialized profiles in computing, engineering, management or scientific publishing should be added.

Specifically, of the 1,237 astrophysicists active in Spanish universities and research centres, 509 are regular employees (a 10% increase in the last two years), 369 have postdoctoral contracts (5% more) and 359 predoctoral contracts for young researchers who are preparing a doctoral thesis (+34%).

Despite this increase in the number of research workers, for the Spanish Astronomy Society, the high percentage of researchers without a permanent position is “worrying”, and the “uncertainty” about the possibilities of professional development and consolidation in Spain for all these young researchers.

Currently, women account for 31% of astronomy research staff in Spain, a slight improvement from 28% in 2022. However, the report notes that differences remain most pronounced in the highest categories of teaching and research: university professors and research professors account for 17%.

The vast Spanish journey in astrophysics is reflected in the date of presentation of the first doctoral thesis in astrophysics in Spain: 1969. Since then and until the end of 2023, there are already 1,294 from 28 universities.

Among the most notable developments in which Spain has participated, Montesinos pointed to the discoveries made by the James Webb Space Telescope, which has revolutionized many areas of astronomy thanks to its aperture with a mirror measuring six meters in diameter. Very distant galaxies. Evie

Paul/Ro/CRF

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