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26-04-2010
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Ich bin ein Leienaar

Submitter: Jan Noordam
Description: Today, nominally retired astronomer Rudolf le Poole will give a presentation about a somewhat controversial subject at his home institute, the Leiden Sterrewacht. In front of an august but critical battery of scientists he will explain his recent finding that the decision to close the European airspace for 6 days because of a volcanic ash cloud was vastly overblown.

His opinion hit the world last week in the form of a letter to the Dutch quality newspaper NRC (monday 19 April) where it got pride of place on the op-ed page. The next day, he appeared on the national TV talkshow of Andries Knevel. (He was contacted also by Pauw and Witteman, who decided that he appeared to be too "stellend", an epithet that rings true to his many friends and admirers).

Rudolf has a long-established reputation for thinking for himself, and his arguments are, as so often, uncomfortably compelling. They will undoubtedly play a role in the huge lawsuits that will follow the expensive shutdown. Since he has been associated with ASTRON for many decades, we are happy claim him for our own, and bask in some reflected glory. (This does not mean that ASTRON necessarily agrees with all his conclusions, of course).

The picture shows Rudolf (pointing at the problem) with Prof Huub Rottgering, who has recently been appointed to the chair of Observational Cosmology in Leiden. Huub plays a leading role in the use of the new LOFAR radio telescope. Last friday, he gave his maiden speech (oratie) to a packed audience.
Copyright: ASTRON
 
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