[Sydney|00:01 12/03/2026] Australia could strengthen its scientific leadership and boost high-tech industry by joining the European Southern Observatory (ESO), according to a new report released today by UNSW economist Professor Richard Holden and UNSW Head of Physics Sarah Brough.
Full membership would give Australian researchers access to the world’s leading optical astronomy facilities, including the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), currently under construction in Chile and expected to begin operations in 2030.
The ELT will be the largest optical and infrared telescope ever built and is expected to transform our understanding of the universe, from how stars and planets form to the search for Earth-like worlds beyond our solar system.
The report estimates that Australia’s existing astronomy and astrophysics research already generates around $330 million in economic value each year, reflecting the broader impact of scientific knowledge on productivity and innovation.
UNSW Head of Physics Professor Sarah Brough says “We still have so many questions about the nature of the cosmos that only projects like the ELT will help us answer.
“With full-ESO membership we’ll be able to understand the dawn of the universe better and finally see what the earliest galaxies are made of.”
Membership of ESO would also deliver benefits beyond research. Major telescope projects require highly specialised optics, electronics and precision engineering, creating opportunities for Australian companies to collaborate with international partners and compete for high-value contracts.
Key Points:
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Full membership of the European Southern Observatory (ESO) would cost ~$400 million over ten years, giving Australian researchers access to the world’s most advanced telescopes.
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Astronomy research contributes around $330 million a year to the Australian economy and a boost to productivity.
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Membership would open new opportunities for Australian companies in high-tech manufacturing and precision engineering.
For more information and to set up interviews with Professor Brough contact:
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Contact details:
Tom Melville
0432 912 060
tom.melville@unsw.edu.au
