Arizona Arts, Sciences and Technology Academy  (AASTA)

Governor Janet Napolitano and AASTA President Patrick Burkhart discuss AASTA's  recent report.

AASTA Report Focuses on Economic Impact of Astronomy, Space Sciences
and Planetary Sciences Research in Arizona - Recommends Agenda to Remain World Class and Advance Opportunities for Growth

The Arizona Arts, Sciences and Technology Academy (AASTA) announces the publication of a new economic impact report outlining the importance that Astronomy, Space Sciences and Planetary Sciences (APSS) research plays in Arizona.

Key Findings

APSS Research in Arizona in 2006 returned a total dollar economic impact of $252.8 million. This includes $138.6 million in earnings and $12 million in tax revenues.

During FY 2006 Arizona’s observatories and related APSS research institutions spent a total of $135.4 million on operations, including wages. An additional $28.8 million was spent on capital investment and construction. For FY 2006, total expenditures for these APSS organizations amounted to $164.2 million. Of that, $69.3 million was spent in Arizona.

The total investment in capital facilities and land among Arizona’s APSS institutions in FY 2006 equaled $1.119 billion, with an additional $635.7 million reported in planned capital expansion.

APSS organizations and institutions employed 1,830 people in FY 2006 with a total payroll of $83.9 million.

APSS organizations in Arizona attracted 200,805 visitors in FY 2006, 22% of which were from out-of-state. Out-of-state visitors spent $61.4 million in FY 2006 generating an overall economic impact of $25.7 million. APSS institutions across the state also generated $119 million in revenues for state and local governments in FY 2006.

Building on Previous Reports

In prior reports prepared for the Arizona Department of Commerce, the Battelle Memorial Institute noted that “Arizona ranks among the top ten of all states in the physical sciences (7th), led by astronomy (2nd) in which Arizona has nearly 18 percent of all university research activities nationwide”. Battelle further noted that Arizona has key strengths in space sciences and physics citing two areas of excellence; (1) remotely operated instruments for measurements in space, and (2) advanced land based and space telescope design and mirror construction.

AASTA’s report encourages the State of Arizona to commercially develop and exploit APSS technologies embedded in the state’s universities, federal labs and private institutions such as biosensing, communications, computing, imaging, instrumentation, materials, microelectronics, navigation, optics, power, propulsion, sensors, software and systems integration.

AASTA’s report also recommends increased scientific collaboration, additional federal funds for APSS research, an APSS roadmap for the State of Arizona, and new measures to control light pollution emitted from growing urban areas that is degrading the effectiveness of existing Arizona observatories and limiting the state’s ability to attract major new facilities for optical astronomy.

Project Partners

AASTA’s report, “Astronomy, Planetary Sciences and Space Sciences Research Opportunities to Advance Arizona’s Economic Growth” is the result of a collaboration among AASTA and twenty-two APSS organizations; eleven observatories, three related research organizations and eight university based departments/centers/labs.

The study and report were sponsored by the Arizona Department of Commerce, The Large Binocular Telescope Observatory, the leadership of Lowell Observatory, Northern Arizona University, The National Optical Astronomy Observatory, Research Corporation, The University of Arizona, and The Vatican Observatory. Additional support for the publication of this report was provided by AURA and Raytheon.

AASTA wishes to acknowledge the participation of the Economic and Business Research Center at the Eller College of Management at the University of Arizona for their contribution in data collection and performing the economic impact analysis.

To Read the Report and Other Relevant Information

Visit the Report Website

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AASTA Report  (2006)

Ensuring an Effective Avian Influenza Pandemic Response: An Assessment of Arizona's Preparedness

(PDF File)

Executive Summary Issue Brief (PDF File)

Avian Influenza Conference Information

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AASTA

Annual Report

AASTA Annual Report in PDF Format

AASTA's

Founding Fellows 

AASTA News

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Fellows: Renew Your Membership ($150.00)

Donors: Make a Tax Deductible Gift To AASTA

A Tax Exempt 501-(c)-3 Organization

The Arizona, Arts, Sciences and Technology Academy (AASTA) seeks to coalesce the cultural, scientific and technical wisdom of Arizona and promote the growth of an intellectual community within the State.    AASTA seeks to establish Arizona as a locus of leading influential thought, intellectual enrichment, and creativity. AASTA is nonpartisan and broadly based in cultural, behavioral and social sciences, the arts and humanities, physical and biological sciences, health sciences, administration, law and engineering. Overall, AASTA can be characterized as a volunteer-led, not-for-profit, member-based, service organization specializing in the creation and growth of a high-value scholarly society .

Arizona Arts, Sciences and Technology Academy Foundation, Inc.

P.O. Box 12628

Chandler, Arizona  85248

602-619-6441