Author: cassac_wpadmin

CASSACA Council Meeting held in Beijing

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On December 18, 2015，the Council Meeting of the Chinese Academy of Sciences South America Center for Astronomy (CASSACA) was held in  National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences (NAOC). Prof. Zhongli Ding, Vice President of CAS & Director of the Council, attended the meeting and gave important suggestions and guidance to CASSACA. There are more than 30 attendees coming from CAS administration divisions, the institutes in CAS Observatory system and Universities. 

Prof. Zhong Wang, Director of CASSACA, reported the overall progress and achievements of the Center obtained in 2015. Prof. Jiasheng Huang, Chief Scientist of CASSACA, specially introduced the progress in research and scientific programs in the past. Then the Council gave full affirmation on the achievements and progress by the Center. The Council gave practical guidance and suggestions to the Center’s development and future plans. Two new members were approved to join the Council.  

CASSACA has achieved remarkable results and progress in the past, over its collaborations with Chilean institutions and scientists, on the scientific researches, programs and projects. Especially, the CASSACA set up the China-Chile astronomical data center with cooperation with Universidad Tecnica Federico Santa Maria of Chile and Huawei company of China. Prime Minister Keqiang Li and Chilean President Michelle Bachelet witnessed the signing ceremony of the data center in May 2015. The system run stably and went into the stage of software debugging and commissioning since November 2015. 

CASSACA was set up in 2013 and has been playing an important role on the international collaborations in Astronomy between China and Chile together with other South America countries. 

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COUNCIL MEETING
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GROUP PHOTO

Call for China-Chile Joint Research project 2015

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Based on the principles established in a 2013 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the National Commission of Scientific and Technological Research of the Republic of Chile (CONICYT), and the more specific guidelines described in a recent (2015) Agreement between the National Astronomical Observatories of China (NAOC), the Chinese Astronomical Society, the Chilean Astronomical Society (SOCHIAS) and CONICYT (pdf), we are now inviting research proposals that involve China-Chile collaboration in astronomical research,  to promote astronomical research collaborations between China and Chile, to advance astronomy in both countries.

Project duration will be 1-2 years, with funding level around $75k USD in average. The PI of the proposal must be from either China or Chile, and the subject can be in any area of astronomical research, including observations, instrumental development, and theory.

For more details, please read the attached announcement (pdf).

China-CONICYT Postdoctoral Fellowship 2015

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The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Comisión Nacional de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (CONICYT) of Chile are inviting for applications for post-doctoral fellowships in observational, theoretical, and/or computational astrophysics. The official announcement of this opportunity is made at the CONICYT website (www.conicyt.cl) and duplicated at www.cassaca.org. The duration of the Fellowship is for two to three years, with at least part of it spent at a host institution in Chile.

Preferential considerations will be given to those applicants with proposed research activities involving collaborations between the Chinese and Chilean astronomy communities. Potential applicants should check out the two web sites above for more up-to-date information on this opportunity and possible deadline extensions, and are encouraged to contact prospective sponsors accordingly before applying. A catalogue of  research projected proposed can be found at https://cassaca.org/?p=631.

Applications must include the CV, a research statement, a support letter from the Host institution in Chile signed by the Department Director and faculty sponsor, a copy or certificate of degree, and two recommendation letters. The applications will be received at http://www.conicyt.cl/astronomia/category/concursos/ and all the documents except recommendation letters should furthermore be sent  by email in PDF format to postdoc.cas@conicyt.cl and echen@das.uchile.cl before the deadline August 31st. Further inquires about this fellowship opportunity can be addressed to Dr. Jiasheng Huang, Chief Scientist of CASSACA （the CAS South America Center for Astronomy) at jhuang@nao.cas.cn.

Major Chinese media visit ALMA and ESO Paranal observatories

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[Preface: Since its inauguration in 2013, the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ South America Center for Astronomy (CASSACA) initialized several research collaborations between China and Chile, attracting broad interests of the national and international media, and from the general public. Especially after both Premier Li Keqiang’s and Chilean President Michelle Bachelet attended a signing ceremony of the agreement on building the China-Chile Joint Astronomical Data Center on May 25, 2015, the topics of astronomy in Chile has drawn even more attention. Recently, we made arrangements for journalists from several major Chinese news media to visit two international observatories in northern Chile, for an in-depth look at astronomical research activities in the Southern Hemisphere. ]

Journalists from local stations of the Xinhua News Agency, People’s Daily newspaper, and China Radio International visited ALMA (the Atacama Large Millimeter/sub-millimeter Array) and ESO (European Southern Observatories) Paranal, two of the largest international observatories in northern Chile, on 16-18 July 2015. During the visits and through interviews of on-site astronomers and employees, they had witnessed frontier research activities at the first-class international observatories, and gathered a lot of valuable first-hand information. CASSACA Director Wang Zhong and Deputy Director Wang Wei accompanied the visits and participated in the outreach activities.

The media group first went to ALMA Observatory on the 17th, where they visited the telescope control room, laboratory, working and living areas, and interviewed the person in charge of the station as well as front-line staff, who demonstrated the huge truck made specifically for transporting the antennas. Then they arrived at the antenna array on the 5000-meter-high plateau, equipped with supplies of oxygen, after given a medical check-up in accordance with the provisions for high-altitude environment. The large-scale modern scientific facilities, along with the magnificent natural scenery, highlight the importance of astronomical research, and illustrate the great contributions of scientists and other staff. On 18th July, at 2600m-high Paranal Observatory, the media visited the giant optical and infrared VLT 8-meter telescopes. The journalists learned about the parameters of telescopes and instruments, and the ongoing research programs carried out by the observers. They also had the opportunity to watch the entire procedure of telescope dome opening, instrument testing and preparing for observations. The dedication and professionalism of the staff, along with the advanced site management and operations, impressed them, just like the excellent sky conditions at the observatory. In the telescope control room, reporters had a light-hearted interview with Dr. Yang Bin, formerly of the National Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, who was on-duty as a night astronomer working for ESO. The professionalism, passion for astronomical observations, perseverance and dedication of this young female astronomer won their admiration.  Continue reading

CASSACA to co-sponsor a conference on “The Soul of High-mass star formation”

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CASSACA is co-sponsoring a conference on “The Soul of High-mass star formation”, which is to be held on March 15-20, in Puetro Varas, a beautiful port city in South Chile.

During the last decade many large-scale surveys (e.g. GLIMPSE, ATLASGAL) led to the identification of massive star formation regions in their earliest stages in our Galaxy. These have been observed with new instruments, in particular massive Herschel data has been taken to characterize physically and chemically the most embedded sources on moderate to large spatial scales. Today, when ALMA will soon begin full operations opening new windows in frequency, chemistry, spatial resolution, and sensitivity, it is timely to discuss our current understanding and open questions on massive star formation.

For more, please visit http://www.das.uchile.cl/star-formation.

 

CASSACA to co-sponsor the MODEST15 meeting in Chile

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CASSACA is co-sponsoring 15. meeting of the MODEST community (MODEST15) in Departamento de Astronomia at the Universidad de Concepcion, in Concepcion, Chile at the 2nd – 6th of March 2015.

The aim of this meeting is to provide a comprehensive software framework for large-scale simulations of dense stellar systems, within which existing codes for dynamics, stellar evolution, and hydrodynamics can be easily coupled and compared to reality.  For more, please visit http://www.astro-udec.cl/modest15/index.html.

MODEST15

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Postdoc position in Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María

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The Advanced Center for Electrical and Electronic Engineering (AC3E) was created on 2014 to group individual research efforts into multi- and inter-disciplinary teams and re-focus research towards industry related problems to spark innovation. The center is hosted by Universidad Tecnica Federico Santa Maria, in Valparaiso, Chile, one of the top engineering universities of Chile (listed among the top 300 universities according to Times Higher Education Ranking 2014-2015).
The mission of AC3E is to contribute to the advancement of knowledge, technological development and competitiveness in technology-based economies by achieving excellence in research, forming advanced human resources, and fostering innovation and technology transfer in areas of societal and industrial impact through the field of electrical and electronics engineering. Additional information about the center can be found at www.ac3e.cl and the university can be found at www.usm.cl.
We are looking to hire highly qualified individuals as postdoctoral researchers with extensive experience in the following research line and subtopics (but not limited to). More details here (pdf).

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PhD positions in Astrophysics at the Universidad de Valparaiso, Chile

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The Institute of Physics and Astronomy offers possible PhD projects in a large variety of astrophysical research areas ranging from planetary and stellar science to extragalactic astronomy and cosmology.

The maximum duration of the PhD program is 4 years which are typically reduced to 3 years if  the candidates have a masters degree.

We offer scholarships of 7 Million Chilean pesos (approx. $US 11500) per year for our students. Additional funds might be available for very strong candidates.

Contact: Prof. Dr. Matthias R. Schreiber (matthias.schreiber@uv.c)

Application package :

– CV
– Motivation letter
–  letters of recommendation
–  Copy of degree certificate
– Marks and ranking since the first University years

deadline for application March 15, 2015
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The Fourth Chile-China Astronomy Science Workshop held successfully in Guangzhou, Dec. 7-10, 2014

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In order to promote the communication and collaboration between astronomy communities of China and Chile, sponsored by Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), National Astronomical Observatories, CAS (NAOC), the “Fourth China-Chile Astronomy Workshop” was successfully held in Sun Yat-Sen University (SYSU), Guangzhou, on Dec. 7-10, 2014. The meeting was organized by the CAS South American Center for Astronomy (CASSACA), also known as China-Chile Joint Center for Astronomy (CCJCA), with the help of the School of Astronomy and Space Sciences of SYSU.

CASSACA is one of the overseas projects initiated by CAS to develop cooperation in science and technology with foreign countries. In February 2013, CASSACA was inaugurated at NAOC, and its Santiago office was inaugurated in October 2013 at University of Chile. The Center serves as a platform for collaboration in astronomical research and related technologies between China and South America countries. The Center helps to build international scientific teams and joint programs engaging in frontier astronomy research. The China-Chile Astronomy Workshop is a major platform to strengthen communications in astronomical research between the two countries, and has been held alternately in Chile and China. It has been proven to be successful in the past meetings of the series, prompting knowledge and information exchange between astronomers, and initiating collaborative projects and joint programs.

Around 100 participants attended this Workshop, including experts, young scientists and students. Professor Xiping Zhu, vice president of SYSU offered his welcome as the host; Jinghua Cao, Deputy Director of the Bureau of International Cooperation, CAS and Guoxuan Dong, Deputy Director of Mathematics and Physics Department, NSFC, both addressed the meeting; Professor Rojo Patricio, Chairman of Astronomical Society of Chile (SOCHIAS) and other Chilean astronomers expressed high expectations for the Chile-China cooperation, and gave a lot of suggestions and comments；Dr. Zhong Wang, Director of CASSACA, and Dr. Jiasheng Huang, its Chief Scientist introduced the current status and future prospects of the Center. At this Workshop, directors or their representatives of nearly all major astronomical observatories/departments of China and Chile summarized the major research areas and current activities of their institutions, and also gave detailed talks on some recent research highlights. During the four-day workshop, astronomers from both countries communicated cordially and comprehensively, reviewing the existing ties and finding opportunities for future collaboration. The bilateral workshop is recognized as an important catalyst for Chile-China astronomy communications, and a useful model for CAS to advance international cooperation widely.

The website for this bilateral workshop is at http://ccaw4.csp.escience.cn.

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Workshop group photo

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Jinghua CAO, Deputy Director of the Bureau of International Cooperation, CAS, addresses the meeting

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A glance at the workshop

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Progress of CASSACA, talk by Dr. Zhong Wang, director of CASSACA