A cheery New Year tale: How the Dundee Satellite Receiving Station might rise once more

Scotland-based boffins may have snatched victory from the slavering jaws of bureaucratic indifference with the relocation of Dundee's satellite data-slurpers to a handy airfield. Pending planning approval, of course. It all looked rather bleak last year as a curtain was seemingly drawn over more than 40 years of operation. …

[Will Godfrey]

Good Luck

I never seem to be amazed by the shortsightedness of some of these organisations. As for a university, you really would think they were (or should be) more in touch with the future benefits of this sort of kit. If nothing else, it is a fantastic teaching opportunity.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Good Luck

It is quite surprising indeed, but sadly not so uncommon. Within the University of Dundee have been many attempts or plans to resurrect the electronics degree, and with the prominence of space-related industry in Scotland and in the public conscious you might think they could have put 2 and 2 together and ended up with something above zero by saving the station to provide a practical focus for such a degree.

The departure of Atherton (principle) and Beech (vice principle) won't be mourned, more a case of rats and a sinking ship really, and another anonymous coward with inside knowledge made that point before when saying 'Dundee uni is the academic equivalent of "Deliverance" in some ways':

https://forums.theregister.co.uk/forum/all/2019/06/27/dundee_satellite_receiving_station/#c_3816665

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Good Luck

I think this is the first time I've been quoted by another commentard! It's really quite exciting :-)

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Good Luck

Some people who know Beech have expressed the opinion that Middlesex isn't far enough. One acquaintance who knows him has recently suggested that he should take up a post at Tehran University...

I can't wait to find out what the *real* story is with Atherton, though - my Deliverance theory could still fit. Maybe he wanted effective change to management, etc, which didn't fit with the academically incestuous incumbents.

Unfortunately, there is no sign that anything is going to change at university management level - properly qualified people with new ideas are not likely to risk taking up either vacant post given the recent history, so we might be back to another decade of failure. Really, the Scottish Parliament need to be taking a very close look at the mess.

[Anonymous Coward]

The chances of a response today would be unlikely anyway - today is still a Scottish holiday, and the University doesn't officially reopen after the Christmas break until Monday.

[eionmac]

And we need a 'hangover day' after the usual Ne'er day holiday

[SImon Hobson]

Boffinery at it's best, I hope they succeed. I've dropped them a little cash in lieu of a real pint.

[herman]

The should approach AMSAT UK for assistance. Many satcom amateurs and retired engineers will be willing to help for free.

[Chozo]

For a moment had this vision of eccentric Scottish boffins and plucky young students in a truck chase with a huge sat dish through the streets of Dundee pursued by evil accountants and scrap dealers.

Mae Culpa - watched to much Disney last week

[Anonymous Coward]

Weasle words

Interesting how the University's spokes-drone says its "vision for its future and the values it holds are different to the aspirations of Professor Atherton" instead of something along the lines of he failed to pay rent and bullied staff:

https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/dundee/1011833/dundee-university-principal-suspended-over-rent-payment-claims-accused-of-bullying-staff/

Also how they have spunked the best part of £0.5M on this failure of a guy:

https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/dundee/1038584/dundee-university-spent-75000-recruiting-principal-who-quit-after-less-than-a-year/

And yet they kept repeating how allowing the station to continue was going to threaten their finances, when the actual figures as revealed by the register were much lower (£121.4k / £158.3k) and would mostly be covered by other income:

https://www.theregister.co.uk/2019/06/27/dundee_satellite_receiving_station/