ann12097 — Announcement

President of Austria Visits ESO in Santiago

7 December 2012

On 6 December 2012 the Federal President of the Republic of Austria, Dr Heinz Fischer and his wife Margit Fischer, visited ESO��s premises in Santiago, Chile. The President was accompanied by Dorothea Auer, Austrian Ambassador to Chile and Friedrich Faulhammer, Secretary General of the Austrian Ministry of Science and Research. They were joined by several other Austrian government officials as well as a scientific and cultural delegation.

The President and his entourage were met by ESO��s Representative in Chile, Massimo Tarenghi, and ESO staff including an Austrian astronomer at ESO, Christoph Saulder, who introduced them to the organisation and its activities.

During his visit the President was given a short presentation about the 50-year history of ESO as well as the plans for the European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT).

Austria��joined ESO in June 2008 (eso0820) and since then Austrian astronomers have made extensive use of ESO facilities, including ALMA. In addition many ESO industrial contracts and subcontracts have been awarded to Austrian companies, including major involvement with the construction of the new ESO Headquarters Extension (eso1215, ann12044, ann12090).