Interview with CTAO ERIC Council Chair, Dr. Francisco Colomer

By

On February 12, 2025, Dr. Francisco Colomer was elected as the first CTAO ERIC Council’s Chair, bringing with him a wealth of experience in both astronomy and the management of international scientific projects. Currently serving as Programs Director for the Spanish Deputy Directorate General for International Consortia, Organisms and Research Infrastructures, under the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (MICIU), Dr. Colomer has played a key role in shaping European research policy. In 2023, he coordinated the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the fields of Scientific Research, Innovation, and Space.

The CTAO ERIC Council is Officially Established and Elects Francisco Colomer as its Chair

By

On February 12, 2025, the CTAO ERIC Council was formally established during its inaugural meeting in Bologna, Italy, solidifying the governance framework of the CTAO. Following the European Commission’s creation of the CTAO ERIC in January 2025, the newly formed Council plays a fundamental role in steering the organisation’s future. As the Observatory’s governing body, the Council brings together delegates from all governing parties that form the CTAO ERIC to oversee strategy and decision-making in pursuit of CTAO’s mission and objectives.

The CTAO ERIC Joins the ERIC Forum

By

From 28 to 29 January, the CTAO ERIC participated in the ERIC Forum Annual Meeting at the Club University Foundation in Brussels, Belgium. During the event, Designated Director General for the CTAO ERIC, Stuart McMuldroch, signed the Memorandum of Understanding to make the CTAO the Forum’s newest member after the European Commission established it as an ERIC … Continued

The CTAO Becomes a European Research Infrastructure Consortium

By

Bologna, Italy, 7 January 2025 – On January 7, 2025, the European Commission established the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO) as a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC), furthering its mission to become the world’s largest and most powerful observatory for gamma-ray astronomy. The creation of the CTAO ERIC will enable the Observatory’s construction to advance … Continued

First Meeting of New IAC and CTAO Directors Marks Next Phase of Collaboration

By

(English/Spanish) This week, CTAO Managing Director, Stuart McMuldroch, and Construction Programme Manager, Volker Heinz, traveled to the Canary Islands for a productive visit with the hosting partners at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) and colleagues from the CTAO Large-Sized Telescope (LST) Collaboration. The team was warmly welcomed at the IAC Headquarters in Tenerife … Continued

Maurizio Miccolis Joins the CTAO as its New Project Manager

By

We are thrilled to announce the appointment of Maurizio Miccolis as CTAO’s new Project Manager. With more than 25 years of expertise in engineering and project management, Maurizio brings a wealth of experience in leading complex, high-profile scientific projects. Maurizio holds a degree in Electronic Engineering from Politecnico di Milano, Italy, and a PMP certification … Continued

Nadia Defrancesco Promoted to Director of Administration of the CTAO Central Organisation

By

On 15 October, Nadia Defrancesco was named the new Director of Administration for the CTAO Central Organisation, which is responsible for overseeing the design and implementation of the Observatory and managing its construction and operation. In this position, she will be responsible for a broad range of administrative activities such as Human Resources, IT, Finance … Continued

New Hub for High-Energy Astrophysics – CTAO Science Data Management Centre Opens at DESY in Zeuthen

By

On September 23, the CTAO ACADA Collaboration achieved yet another milestone when the CTAO Central Organisation officially approved and closed out the Critical Design Review (CDR) of the Array Control and Data Acquisition (ACADA) system. The approval of the CDR, an in-depth evaluation to ensure the system design meets all the requirements of the Observatory, marks a new phase in the project, moving from testing to integrating the advanced software packages that will operate the arrays.

CTAO Science Data Management Centre Inauguration on 14 October 2024, Zeuthen (Germany)

By

On September 23, the CTAO ACADA Collaboration achieved yet another milestone when the CTAO Central Organisation officially approved and closed out the Critical Design Review (CDR) of the Array Control and Data Acquisition (ACADA) system. The approval of the CDR, an in-depth evaluation to ensure the system design meets all the requirements of the Observatory, marks a new phase in the project, moving from testing to integrating the advanced software packages that will operate the arrays.