Outreach

INAOE Astrophysics Research Summer (VIAI 2023)

Santa María Tonantzintla, Puebla, June 30. 27 students from different states of the country participate in the Astrophysics Research Summer of the National Institute of Astrophysics, Optics and Electronics (VIAI), which has been taking place since June 19.

The objective of the VIAI is that students in their last year of studies or recent graduates who are thinking of pursuing a scientific career in the field of Astrophysics learn to do research. The VIAI offers participants the chance to join a research group from the INAOE Astrophysics Department for three weeks to work on a project. Many of these projects involve data from the world's largest and best telescopes, such as the LMT, HAWC, GTC, as well as theoretical modeling and instrumentation development. They also learn both the theory and analysis techniques used to conduct research at a professional level.

The topics of VIAI are cosmology, galaxies, stars, star formation, black holes, debris disks, instrumentation development and data processing, among others.

For Dr. Olga Vega, INAOE researcher and one of the VIAI organizers, VIAI represents an opportunity for students to find out and explore whether research is the path they would like to follow in their future.

Likewise, she reported that 27 students from different states of Mexico were admitted to this edition of VIAI, "and we also have students who are in the INAOE International Summer Program."

She added that the program is made up of introductory classes in Astrophysics, as well as an introductory course in Python programming and various seminars on the different telescopes used at INAOE, such as the LMT and HAWC.

“There are also seminars on instrumentation and visits to the different INAOE laboratories, such as cryogenics and Aspherical Surfaces. Students have also made observations in the Schmidt Chamber. The last week will be dedicated to working on the different research projects they have been working on”.

The VIAI will conclude on July 7. For more information visit www.inaoep.mx/~viai23/