Call for applications for IScAI 2012

IScAI Students visit the Gran Telescopio Canarias
 (Photo: Consolider-GTC)

The Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) and partner institutions announce the 2012 edition of the International School for Advanced Instrumentation or IScAI, an international collaboration between universities, research centers and technologic companies with the goal of offering astronomers, physicists and engineers specialised formation in all areas related with the designs and building of cutting-edge scientific instrumentation.

The programme consists of five weeks of intensive course work on five different subjects related to the design and construction of astronomical instrumentation. Each one imparted by top professors on its field: in optics, Steve Eikenberry from University of Florida; in mechanics, Manuel Maldonado (FRACTAL S.L.N.E); in software, Nicolas Carfiel (Universidad Complutense de Madrid); in electronics, Enrique Joven (IAC); and in management Marisa García Vargas (FRACTAL S.L.N.E).

After the theoretical lessons, students can opt to a hands-on period in institutions or companies related to the school, working in world-class instrumentation programs.

These will be held at the headquarters of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, in La Laguna, on the island of Tenerife in Spain's Canary Islands. The IScAI will start in May 2012 and is open to astronomers, physicists and engineers worldwide. The deadline for applications is March 1, 2012.

IScAI founding institutions are Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (Spain), University of Florida (USA), Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Spain), Instituto Nacional de Astrofísica, Óptica y Electrónica de México (Mexico) and Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (Mexico). Other institutions have joined like Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes, and Centro de Astrobiología (Spain). Also the companies EADS Astrium Crisa, Fractal SLNE, GMV, IDOM, LIDAX, y NTE-Sener.

The IScAI 2012 is funded by the grant "First Science with the GTC", under the Consolider-Ingenio 2010 Programme of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation.

For more information about the IScAI and the registration procedure, please check the school’s web site at: http://iscai.iac.es

Spain and State of Florida reach research agreement

Past October 14th, an agreement between the Kingdom of Spain and the state of Florida was signed in Madrid, initiating the groundwork for a collaborative research in the fields of small satellite technology, agriculture biotechnology, and the science of aging.

Watch the video of the signing ceremony here:

The UF astronomy department had a key role on this agreement, initiating the arrangement that now materialises during the visit of the Spanish minister of science and innovation to UF on may 2011, on occasion of the last launch of NASA’s Endeavour shuttle.

Although astronomy department initially became interested in collaborating with Spain because of its small-satellite program, as the relationship grew it became clear that there were other possibilities for partnering.

“Spain and Florida have a great deal in common, both of their economies are based on tourism and agriculture, they have similar population demographics and they have a common interest in space exploration.”  said Rafael Guzman, astronomy department chairman on an interview for the UF news services.

Read more about the agreement following this link.