Activities and demographic trends in UK astronomy

The 1998 Demographic Trends Survey represents a snapshot of the astronomical community as it was in February 1998. On the positive side, there was a modest increase in the number of permanent academics in university positions over the five years covered by the survey. However, the survey also highlights several areas of concern. These include: the tension between the expansion in the university research groups on the one hand, and the decrease in PPARC funding for central facilities and grants on the other; the significant fall in the numbers of permanent technical staff in the universities; the lack of women in permanent and senior positions in UK astronomy; and the overall poor job prospects in astronomy for recent PhD students and postdocs.
Clive Tadhunter reports on the state of astronomy in the UK.