Diana Morant visits the Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia

The Minister of Science and Innovation has highlighted the contribution of her research staff in capturing the first historic image of the black hole at the centre of the galaxy

10/06/2022

Granada, 10 June 2022. The Minister of Science and Innovation, Diana Morant, visited the Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia (IAA-CSIC), the Severo Ochoa centre of excellence, for the first time today, together with Inmaculada López Calahorro, subdelegate of the Government in Granada.

Accompanied by the director of the IAA-CSIC, Antxon Alberdi, she took part in a meeting with the heads of the different Scientific Departments, as well as with the heads of the Unit and the Sierra Nevada Observatory, where she was informed of the current scientific and technological projects currently being led by the IAA-CSIC, as well as the impact that the accreditation as a Severo Ochoa centre of excellence has had on its production.

After the meeting, the Minister of Science and Innovation was given a guided tour of the Instrumental and Technological Development Unit (UDIT), where she was able to see first-hand some of the instrumental developments for ground-based observatories and space missions in which the IAA-CSIC is currently involved.

 

 

Morant highlighted the contribution of its research staff in capturing the first historical image of the black hole at the centre of the galaxy and stated that scientific centres such as the IAA make Granada the great Andalusian capital of science. Finally, Diana Morant held an informal meeting with the directors of the five centres of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) in Granada.

 

Diana Morant and Francisco Cuenca with the directors of the five CSIC centres in Granada.

About the IAA-CSIC
The IAA is the largest institute of Astronomy and Space Research of the CSIC. The wide experience of its staff, together with its technical activities, are unique in Spain. Its research ranges from the Solar System to the early Universe. The IAA has contributed to almost all recent major ESA/NASA/JAXA space missions to the Solar System and builds state-of-the-art instruments for ground-based telescopes. The IAA is an international reference centre for radio astronomy, with a major involvement in the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) and a commitment to establish a Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Regional Centre. The IAA has a strong track record, producing a large number of high-impact papers on a sustained basis. The Severo Ochoa Excellence Award has had a transformative impact on the IAA in terms of attracting international talent, rejuvenating our staff, increasing our scientific output, launching a novel training programme, reinforcing work on strategic infrastructures, international visibility and scientific outreach.

 

Contact: 

Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (IAA-CSIC)
Unidad de Divulgación y Comunicación
Silbia López de Lacalle - sll[arroba]iaa.es - 958230532
http://www.iaa.es
http://www-divulgacion.iaa.es