NOAO - The Launch of NSF's National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory or Goodbye NOAO, Hello NSF OIR Lab

The National Science Foundation has merged all of its ground based astronomy facilities as of October 1, 2019.  These facilities include Kitt Peak National Observatory, Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory, the Gemini Observatory, the Community Science Data Center and the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope. In this podcast, NSF’s OIR Lab Deputy Director Dr. Beth Willman discusses the launch of the new organization. Dr. Beth Willman is Deputy Director of NSF’s National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory. https://nationalastro.org/ @NatOIRLab BIO: Rob Sparks is a Science Education Specialist at the National Optical Astronomy Observatory. A lifelong astronomy enthusiast, he earned a B.A. in physics at Grinnell College and his M.S. at Michigan State University. He taught high school physics, math and astronomy for 11 years at schools on St. Croix, Florida and Wisconsin. He spent the 2001-2002 school year working on the Sloan Digital Sky Survey as a recipient of the Fermilab Teacher Fellowship. He spent the summer of 2003 at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory as part of the Research Experience for Teachers. He has been working as a NASA Astrophysics Ambassador since 2002.    We've added a new way to donate to 365 Days of Astronomy to support editing, hosting, and production costs. Just visit: https://www.patreon.com/365DaysOfAstronomy and donate as much as you can! Share the podcast with your friends and send the Patreon link to them too! Every bit helps! Thank you! ------------------------------------ Do go visit http://astrogear.spreadshirt.com/ for cool Astronomy Cast and CosmoQuest t-shirts, coffee mugs and other awesomeness! http://cosmoquest.org/Donate This show is made possible through your donations. Thank you! (Haven't donated? It's not too late! Just click!) The 365 Days of Astronomy Podcast is produced by Astrosphere New Media. http://www.astrosphere.org/ Visit us on the web at 365DaysOfAstronomy.org or email us at [email protected].