English (UK)
Almería, 12th June 2025
About a hundred professionals participate in the 2nd edition of the meeting, celebrated in Granada from June 10th-13th, 2025, and organized by the Spanish Network of Infrastructures in Astronomy (RIA), in collaboration with the Institute of Astrophysics in Andalusia (IAA-CSIC), the Spanish Astronomical Centre in Andalusia (CAHA) at Calar Alto, and the Institute of Millimetric Radioastronomy (IRAM).
The Scientific Organizing Committee also includes members from the Institute of Astrophysics in the Canary Islands (IAC), the Astrophysical Observatory of Javalambre (OAJ-CEFCA), the Large Canarian Telescope (GRANTECAN), and the Yebes Observatory (OY-OAN).
Since Tuesday, June 10th, 2025, around a hundred astronomers, engineers, technologists, technicians, and administrative staff have been meeting in Granada for the second edition of the national meeting “Promoting synergies between large Spanish observatories”. Organized by the Spanish Network of Infrastructures in Astronomy (Red de Infraestructuras de Astronomía, RIA), in collaboration with the Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia (IAA-CSIC), the Spanish Astronomical Centre in Andalusia (CAHA), and the Institute of Millimetric Radioastronomy (IRAM). The event is being held in person until Friday 13th at the headquarters of the IAA-CSIC.
“The first meeting was a great success for the mutual knowledge of capabilities and challenges, and for the development of joint collaboration strategies at the technical and administrative staff level, key for the performance of scientific activities in large Spanish telescopic facilities”, says Martín A. Guerrero, chair of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) and researcher at IAA-CSIC.
This meeting aims at consolidating the synergies initiated in the first edition, held on La Palma Island in 2023, and to continue strengthening cooperation between the technical teams of the Singular Scientific and Technical Infrastructures (ICTS) in Spanish astronomy, in order to improve their performance and efficiency.
ICTS: at the forefront of research
The Singular Scientific and Technical Infrastructures (ICTS) are unique facilities, strategic in nature, which are dedicated to cutting-edge scientific and technical research and to the transmission, exchange and preservation of knowledge, technology transfer and innovation. In the field of astronomy, these infrastructures form a network of leading observatories that represent the backbone of astronomical research in Spain.
Jesús Aceituno, Director of Calar Alto Observatory, emphasizes that "The Centro Astronómico Hispano en Andalucía, aka Calar Alto Observatory, as an active RIA member, participates prominently in this second edition of the meeting. CAHA highly values these initiatives that reinforce the cooperation between astronomical ICTS, fundamental to face common challenges and promote the technological and operational development of our facilities. The presence of CAHA at the meeting underlines its commitment to inter-institutional collaboration and to the continuous improvement of the services it offers to the national and international scientific community."
During the opening day, interested participants visited the Sierra Nevada Observatory (IAA-CSIC) and the IRAM 30-meter antenna on Pico Veleta. On their return, the director of the Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia (IAA-CSIC), Antxon Alberdi, was in charge of officially welcoming the participants. This was followed by words from Begoña García-Lorenzo, RIA coordinator and IAC researcher, and Martín A. Guerrero, LOC chair and IAA-CSIC researcher.
The program includes talks focused on key aspects for the present and future of astronomical ICTS: from sky protection to massive data processing, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, including atmospheric characterization, infrastructure operation, technological development, automation, and maintenance. Thematic working meetings will also be held to identify and develop new collaborations, exchange experiences, and address common challenges.
In parallel, on Wednesday, June 11th, a specific session dedicated to administrative aspects, aimed exclusively at the ICTS management personnel, was held at the IRAM headquarters in Granada.
The ICTS that make up the Spanish Astronomy Infrastructure Network (RIA) are the Centro Astronómico Hispano en Andalucía (CAHA), the Gran Telescopio de Canarias (GRANTECAN), the IRAM-30m telescope of the Institut de Radioastronomie Millimétrique (IRAM), the Observatorio Astrofísico de Javalambre (OAJ-CEFCA), the Observatorio de Yebes (OY-OAN), and the Observatorios de Canarias (OCAN), including the Observatorio del Teide (OT) and the Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos (ORM).
The meeting is funded by the RED2022-134688-I Research Networks 2022 project, in its ICTS Networks modality of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, and with the collaboration of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (IAA-CSIC). In addition to CAHA, IAA-CSIC and IRAM, the scientific committee also includes members from the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC), the Observatorio Astrofísico de Javalambre (OAJ-CEFCA), the Gran Telescopio de Canarias (GRANTECAN) and the Observatorio de Yebes (OY-OAN).
Full meeting program is available here.
The Calar Alto Observatory is one of the infrastructures that belong to the national map of Unique Scientific and Technical Infrastructures (Spanish acronym: ICTS), approved on March 11th, 2022, by the Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Council (CPCTI).
CONTACTS:
Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (IAA-CSIC) - Martín A. Guerrero
Calar Alto observatory (CAHA) - Gilles Bergond
COMMUNICATION – CALAR ALTO OBSERVATORY