The team and governance

How it works

Where the decisions come from

Before the people, the framework. The observatory is operated by UPS in Space, and this chain says who elects whom, who decides what, and who the work is entrusted to. The post-holders change every year; the chain does not.

The general assembly

Every member of the association, more than sixty people. It votes the direction and elects the board, every year.

The board

Seven elected people. It takes the important decisions, approves commitments, and delegates day-to-day management to three divisions, one of them the observatory’s.

The observatory division

It builds and runs the observatory day to day. Its teams are presented on the association’s site.

Who decides what

Student-run, with two committees

The observatory is operated by UPS in Space, through an observatory division that is itself split into teams. That division works under the supervision of the association’s board, alongside the events and communications divisions.

Supervisory committee

It steers strategy together with the University of Toulouse and the main partners. It approves or amends the strategy, and includes former leads of the project.

Scientific committee

It selects scientific projects through a call for proposals. It brings together researchers covering the full range of astrophysics.

Nine supporters

Patrons

Nine researchers act as patrons of the observatory, starting with the astronomer whose name it bears.

  • Jocelyn Bell Burnell, University of Oxford

  • Sylvain Chaty, French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission

  • Hélène Courtois, Lyon Astrophysics Research Centre

  • David Elbaz, French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission

  • Jérémie Lasue, Institute for Research in Astrophysics and Planetology

  • Jean-Marc Lévy-Leblond, Université Côte d’Azur

  • Yaël Nazé, University of Liège

  • Roser Pelló, Marseille Astrophysics Laboratory

  • Peter von Ballmoos, Institute for Research in Astrophysics and Planetology

Open positions

Join the observatory

The observatory is looking for hands and ideas, and there is no prerequisite to join a team: what has to be learned is learned on site.

Active member

In the technical or the science team. Setting up, tuning and maintaining the instruments, or preparing and running the observing programmes.

Head of the technical team

Position open. Leading the team that makes a night of observing possible.

Deputy director

Position open. Supporting the head of the observatory division and standing in for them.

Joining the observatory means becoming a member of UPS in Space, which operates it.