Chinese Academy of Sciences strengthens its relationship with UdeC by visiting the Department of Astronomy

In order to know the facilities of the Center for Astronomical Instrumentation (CePIA) and achieve technological development and cooperation agreements, members of the South American Astronomy Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CASSACA, for its acronym in English), shared with students and academics during their visit to the Department of Astronomy of the UdeC.

On the occasion, the director of CASSACAZhong Wangand researchers Lei Shu and Yuping Tang were received by academics from the Department and members of the Center for Astrophysics and Related Technologies (CATA), Dr. Rodrigo Reeves Diaz Y Dr Dominik Schleicherwith whom they shared details about the research carried out between professors and undergraduate and graduate students, thus seeking instances of mutual cooperation between Chile and the Asian country.

“We have a long history of collaboration with the Department of Astronomy of the UdeC for at least 10 years. Chinese students who studied at UdeC are now teachers in China and vice versa, so We believe that this relationship is mutually beneficial and, despite the difficulties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, we are happy to see our friends from the University of ConcepciónZhong Wang stated.

For Professor Reeves, who is also director of CePIA, the importance of the meeting lies in the possibility of show the development of various projects in which the Asian organization participates, one of which is the Leighton Chajnantor Telescope (LCT), which ended up being disconnected in Hawaii while waiting for the disarmament process to arrive by sea to Chile.

“CASSACA has always supported our evolution as a laboratory. They were even interested in participating as an interested counterpart in a FONDEF project, related to the development of water vapor radiometers for atmospheric characterization in observatories in northern Chile; projects that are working properly”, affirmed the UdeC academic.

common challenges

From the South American Astronomy Center they consider that both China and Chile are in a backward position in the development of advanced instrumentation and observation techniques compared to other astronomical powers. So, one of the challenges in terms of cooperation is to continue the instances of support and mutual learning through the exchange of staff and studentstogether with the development of projects such as the LCT.

“China, in general, and the NAOC (National Astronomical Observatories of China) in particular, are receiving students who visit research centers and universities. Also, we look forward to sending more of our young students to work in Chile at places like the University of Concepción”, added the director of CASSACA.

Finally, for the Department of Astronomy, this relationship translates into an impact on the entire astronomical community, both academics and undergraduate and graduate students, since according to Professor Reeves: “By participating and supporting the LCT project, a professional level scientific observation platform is being enabledmainly for our Department, its professors, students and postdocs, and later for scientific use of national time shared with the national community, so Astro-UdeC would have priority access to the LCT infrastructure”.