Prof. Andrew Lawrence
Head of School of Physics
University of Edinburgh
UK

Dear Prof. Lawrence: 

On behalf of Commission 40 (Radio Astronomy) of the
International Astronomy Union, I am very pleased to support
your proposal for an IAU Symposium entitled "The Virtual
Observatory in action : new science, new technology, and next generation
facilities", to be held during the XXVIth IAU General Assembly 
in Prague 2006.

This interesting proposal departs from the usual, in the sense
that it is focused in the Virtual Observatory project
and not on an astronomical object or phenomenon.
The Virtual Observatory project has the goal of making access to astronomical 
databases as seamless and transparent as browsing the World Wide Web is today. 
Being myself (as many other astronomers) a user of presently available
archival databases I feel that it is important to review, shape,
and define this ambitious project. 

The proposed scientific organizing committee is well balanced,
and as a result of enormous potential of a working
Virtual Observatory, this symposium will certainly be of 
interest for the participants of the Prague 2006 General Asembly. 
The proposal will include technology demonstrations with organized
"walk-throughs" of software and science results.

In summary, I amply support this proposal and look forward to its 
approval.

Sincerely,

Dr. Luis F. Rodriguez
President of Commission 40

ccp. Dr. Virginia Trimble, President of Division XII 
     Dr. Karel A. van der Hucht, IAU Assistant General Secretary