INSTITUTIONS

Research Institutions and IScAI

The IScAI is open to world wide scientific institutions with expertise in cutting-edge scientific instrumentation interested in participating in 2012 edition. As a partner, an institution is expected, first, to propose an internship project, and second, to host IScAI students during their internship to work in its laboratories carrying out the proposed project within an experienced technical team.

Participating research institutions will need to provide the following information:

1. A self-contained, well-defined and well-planned instrumentation project that can be completed during the two months and a half internship.


2. A proposal for a set of deliverables to be submitted by the students at the end of their internship, in order to evaluate their performance.

The participating institutions must also guarantee:

1. A tutor who will supervise the progress of the students during their internship.


2. All laboratory equipment required for completing successfully the internship.

In the event that no other sources of funding are available, IScAI may provide the necessary financial aid for students during their internships.

If you would like to learn more about how your institution can become a partner in the IScAI 2012 or you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mercedes Franqueira, the IScAI manager (at iscai[at]iac[dot]es), or the executive director of the IScAI 2012, José Miguel Rodríguez Espinosa, (at jre[at]iac[dot]es), address: Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, C/ Vía Láctea s/n, E-38205 La Laguna, Spain.

Founding Research Institutions

Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC, Spain) IAC / Universidad de La Laguna is the institution that has built more ground-based and space astronomical instrumentation in Spain. Several GTC instruments are under development at the IAC headquarters, for instance OSIRIS and EMIR. The IAC is also in charge of the control systems of FRIDA. The IAC has expert technical personnel in most areas of advanced technologies for astronomical instrumentation.

Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM, Spain). The Universidad Complutense de Madrid houses a group specialized in Data Reduction Pipelines and control software. The UCM group is developing the EMIR and FRIDA pipelines. They have had a strong contribution in the design and implementation of the GTC telescope Data Processing Kit.

University of Florida (UF, USA). The University of Florida is one of the world's leaders in the construction of facility-class infrared astronomical instruments for large telescopes. Among the major instruments recently completed or in progress are T-ReCS and FLAMINGOS-2 for Gemini South, CanariCam and CIRCE for GTC.

Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM, Mexico). The IA-UNAM is a top-class Astronomy research institution in Mexico, and is involved in state-of-the-art instrumentation projects. The IA-UNAM operates the Observatorio Astronómico Nacional in San Pedro Martir, Baja California (OAN/SPM), and it is a partner of the 10-m class GTC telescope consortium. It also runs a graduate program in Astrophysics and participates in activities for popularizing scientific and technological advances, promoting wide science interest in the country.                                                                                    

Instituto Nacional de Astrofísica, Óptica y Electrónica (INAOE, Mexico). INAOE is the lead Mexican institution for the Large Millimeter Telescope (LMT) and is partner of the GTC consortium. The institute is one of the research centers of the national science and technology council, CONACyT. With a staff of over 100 researchers in astrophysics, optics, electronics and computational sciences, INAOE is one of the most important research institutes in the country.

Partner Research Institutions

Centro de AstroBiología (INTA/CSIC, Spain). The CAB (Centre of Astrobiology) is a mixed center INTA-CSIC located in the INTA campus. It is associated with the Astrobiology Institute of the NASA. Its research activity is focused on the origin of life and its presence and influence in the Universe. CAB Scientists and technicians are specialized in subjects such as astronomy, fluid dynamics, geology, biochemistry, genetics, remote sensing, ecology, computer sciences, robotics, etc.

Instituto Nacional deTécnica Aeroespacial (INTA, Spain). INTA is a spanish public institution, specialized in aeronautic and aerospace research and development. Founded in 1942 within the Spanish Air Force, in 1977 came under the aegis of the Secretary of State for Defence of the Ministry of Defence, expanding the scope of its activities.