Thirty-meter telescope fight reveals science’s shortcomings


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The years-long struggle to stop construction of the thirty-meter telescope atop Mauna Kea in Hawaii has exposed the fractured relationships between researchers and the communities they rely on for science.

Why is this important: At nearly 14,000 feet, the dormant volcano is a coveted location for astronomers looking to answer deep questions about the universe. But for many native Hawaiians, it’s a sacred place that has already been desecrated by telescopes of the past.

What is happening: Construction of the TMT has been at a standstill since around 2015, when protests on the mountain blocked equipment.

  • The protests also forced those pushing to build the telescope to reassess their plans and work more closely with the native Hawaiian community to find a potential path forward for the project.
  • The organization that builds and develops the telescope has had permission to proceed with construction since 2019, but before moving forward it is waiting to see what a major report that is helping the astronomical community to prioritize said about the telescope.
  • It is not yet clear what the survey will recommend for the telescope, with some astronomers arguing for an alternative site in the Canary Islands.

How it works: The TMT is designed to be one of the most powerful ground-based telescopes ever built, with the ability to take more detailed photos of distant objects, including planets that may harbor signs of life, and to probe the nature of dark matter and dark energy. – a mysterious substance and a force which dominates the cosmos.

  • Many astronomers argue that there is a need to answer some of today’s biggest cosmological questions, such as the formation of galaxies in the early days of the universe.
  • If built, it would join 13 other telescopes already on Mauna Kea.
  • The debate over building the TMT on Mauna Kea is often presented by telescope supporters as a struggle against an indigenous population who did not understand or appreciate the science of the telescope.

Yes, but: Those who oppose the construction of the telescope do not see it that way. Many protesters – who see themselves as protectors – see their position as pro-science.

  • Protesters have witnessed damage to Mauna Kea and broken promises as to when the old telescopes will be decommissioned and retired.
  • “It is science that informs our understanding of the sanctity of this mountain. It is science that makes us fear that the damage that could be done to this island could have ramifications for the entire ecosystem of the mountain. ‘island of Hawaii “, said Davianna PōmaikaÊ»i McGregor, professor of ethnic studies at the University of Hawai’i Mānoa.

Between the lines: The cosmology and indigenous knowledge passed down from generation to generation have historically been dismissed by mainstream science as legends, but Polynesian communities have studied astronomy for thousands of years, using it to navigate large areas of the world. ‘ocean.

  • “It is a common experience to hear cultural knowledge dismissed as stories, anecdotes, ‘not science’,” said Aurora Kagawa-Viviani, post-doctoral researcher and scientist in the cooperative studies unit University of Hawaii UH-Hilo Hawaii ‘I Hilo. “This sort of thing tends to focus power on the ‘expert’ and perpetuate power hierarchies in unnecessarily mean-spirited ways.”
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