Lowell Observatory slashes research funding in the midst of financial struggle

For more than 130 years, scientists at Lowell Observatory have been at the forefront of scientific discovery.

But last month, the observatory announced changes that some say amount to several layoffs.

Lowell plans to slash its research funding and reduce the number of science staff to just two paid positions next year.

The observatory currently has about 12 full-time astronomers.

Most of them have tenure, meaning Lowell has given them a salary regardless of whether they have grant money to pay for their work.

But the observatory says that is about to change.

“Times like this are really tough, especially when it involves people that you care about and you've worked with and that are such great contributors to science,” says Lowell spokesperson Kevin Schindler.

According to Schindle