Radio Astronomy driving new competences and innovation on the European scale

July 16, 2019

LOFAR (Low Frequency Array) is the world’s largest and most sensitive low frequency radio telescope. It was designed, built, and is now operated by ASTRON, the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy. LOFAR’s reach now spans Europe – from Ireland to Poland, with the newest LOFAR antenna station being delivered to Ventspils University of Applied Sciences in Latvia.


It might be surprising that a niche discipline such as Radio Astronomy is a driver for new competences and innovation on the European scale. Moreover, this discipline sets a template for future fundamental science to help structure ‘perfecting the European endeavour’ as Dutch Prime Minister Rutte put it so eloquently in June 2018.


Here we propose that LOFAR is a prime example of how state-of-the-art facilities leads to the sharing and building of competencies: it is one of today’s major success stories of research infrastructures on a European scale.


ASTRON is a world-leading institute in the development, exploitation, and scientific use of radio telescopes. Building world-leading radio telescope instrumentation is rarely a task that one institute or even one country can achieve. It requires collaboration, enduring relationships and knowledge exchange: moreover, as it is fundamental science with expensive facilities, it must deliver benefits for all parties involved.



The International LOFAR Telescope (ILT) is a foundation under Dutch law. The members of the ILT are the eight institutes and countries who currently own LOFAR stations. The mission of the ILT is to exploit the LOFAR telescope under common policies to maximise its science output. Access to LOFAR observing is open to all scientists from around the world following a competitive peer-reviewed process termed ‘open skies’ in the astronomy discipline.

 

Largest radio telescope

LOFAR, now connecting fifty-two antenna stations in eight European countries to powerful computers in Groningen, the Netherlands, forms the largest radio telescope and operates at the lowest radio frequencies that can be observed from Earth. Unlike classical dish telescopes, LOFAR is a multipurpose sensor network, with an innovative computer and network infrastructure that can handle extremely large data volumes. Its long-term archive currently contains over 40 petabytes of astronomical data.

The core of LOFAR consists of a network of twenty-four stations concentrated in a three kilometre area the north-east of the Netherlands; there are a further fourteen stations also in the Netherlands. The network has grown over the years, making LOFAR a truly pan-European research infrastructure with six stations in Germany, three in Poland, and one each in France, Ireland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the next one being delivered to Latvia in summer 2019. The greatest distance between stations is termed the ‘baseline’ and now approaches 2000 km. This baseline sets the resolution, or detailed zoom-in ability, of the LOFAR telescope. The total number of stations determines its sensitivity to the weakest radio emission from the sky. All this is done in the highly-populated European continent: it is a testament to the brains behind the continuously-improving signal processing algorithms that this is achievable.

Last week, the equipment for the new station was shipped to Latvia, which will enhance the resolution, sensitivity, and fidelity of LOFAR.

 

Twinning

Being part of the LOFAR family brings multiple benefits to the research community in the member countries. A recently completed H2020 project, BALTICS (Building on Advanced LOFAR Technology for Innovation, Collaboration, and Sustainability), ran between January 2016 and December 2018. The partners – VIRAC (Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center), ASTRON, and UMAN (University of Manchester) – strengthened the expertise and experience of VIRAC radio astronomers and technology and instrumentation engineers. The project encompassed development and training in instrumentation and data analysis, accompanied by dissemination and scientific publications.

BALTICS was a great stepping stone on the way to financing, realisation, and future exploitation of the LOFAR station under construction in Latvia. VIRAC views the LOFAR station as the natural extension of their Irbene Observatory. It will further anchor the role of VIRAC as a top-level science and technology expertise centre in the northeast of Europe.

 

Networking

BALTICS was specifically designed to cement the networking collaborations between ASTRON, UMAN, and VIRAC. This will facilitate subsequent participation in future joint endeavours, including top-notch instrumental and astronomical research and development projects, e.g. regarding the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), often on the interface between academia and industry, in high-impact regional, national and European research areas.

The project successfully concluded its activities with a scientific conference organised in Jurmala, Latvia on 5 December 2018. Attendees from Latvia, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, as well as Bulgaria, France, Germany, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine, shared and discussed the knowledge and experience gained during the project.

The conference was followed by a Workshop at the Irbene Observatory of VIRAC on 6 December 2018, with the goal of promoting the opportunities that the participation of VIRAC in LOFAR and the EVN (European VLBI Network) will bring to the new user community, and to intensify links with partner scientific and technological institutes in the wider European region. The workshop covered topics from the basics of ILT science operations, organization and future upgrade, to science research topics from potential users.

 

Next steps

In the closing report to the European Commission, VIRAC expressed its pleasure and gratitude with the results they derived from the BALTICS project. The ASTRON participants were delighted to be able to contribute to increasing their capabilities, and were impressed by the work of all contributors in their research in Low Frequency Radio astronomy and the related technical facilities. All participants in the closing meeting of BALTICS were excited to see the ground preparations for the LOFAR station. The ILT looks forward to welcoming the Latvian consortium as a full member.

The ILT is now engaged in a major technological upgrade, again led by ASTRON, that will position the facility as a cutting-edge research infrastructure throughout the 2020’s, and for technological pathfinding aimed at the decade beyond. Meanwhile, the ILT aims to welcome new partner countries and institutes to further enhance the facility, as well as to strengthen its support base and user community.

By Dr. René Vermeulen, Director of the International LOFAR Telescope, and Prof. Carole Jackson, Scientific and General Director of ASTRON

Source: EuroScientist



Share on other platforms

Other news

How is the Baltic blue economy changing

By Rota Žagare • June 29, 2026
How is the Baltic blue economy changing – and what kinds of technologies, skills and decisions are needed to support its sustainable future? MarTe has published a new collection of webinar and workshop recordings on YouTube. The videos bring together researchers, industry experts and public sector representatives from Estonia and Latvia to discuss the future of the Baltic blue economy from two perspectives: the bigger strategic picture and practical technology tools.

From Heat Engines to Solar Active Regions: Entropy in the Sun’s Atmosphere

By Rota Žagare • June 18, 2026
A team of solar physicists has discovered a new way to detect and measure entropy variations in the Sun’s atmosphere – a breakthrough that could help researchers better understand how energy moves through the solar corona and why the Sun’s outer atmosphere is millions of degrees hotter than its surface. Entropy is a concept that dates back to the 1860s, when German physicist Rudolf Clausius introduced it while studying the efficiency of heat engines and the famous Carnot cycle. Since then, entropy has become one of the most fundamental ideas in physics, helping scientists describe how energy is distributed and transformed in systems ranging from steam engines and black holes to stars and even the Universe itself. Despite its importance, entropy has remained notoriously difficult to measure directly in the Sun's atmosphere. In a new study currently in press in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, researchers from the University of Warwick, the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre (VIRAC, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences), and University College London have shown that entropy leaves observable fingerprints in waves that travel through the Sun's hot, magnetised atmosphere, known as the corona. "Entropy is one of the key quantities that tells us how energy is organised within a physical system," explains lead author Dmitrii Kolotkov, Stephen Hawking Fellow. "In a conceptual sense, we can think of solar active regions as natural heat engines, continuously converting and transporting energy through hot magnetised plasma. Their behaviour and efficiency are closely linked to entropy. The concept itself has deep roots in thermodynamics and even plays a central role in black hole physics, where entropy is associated with the fundamental limits of information and energy storage. When entropy remains unchanged, energy tends to stay more organised and localised. When entropy is perturbed, energy becomes redistributed and spreads through the surrounding plasma. If we can measure how entropy changes in solar active regions, we gain a new way of tracking how energy is transported, dissipated, and ultimately converted into heat."

First EDI Seminar Implemented within COLOURS

By Rota Žagare • June 8, 2026
On 18 May, the first EDI (Equality, Diversity, Inclusion) seminar, implemented within the COLOURS project, was successfully held at the café “Panorāma.” The aim of the seminar was to promote understanding of equality, diversity, and inclusion, as well as to strengthen cooperation between different groups of society. The seminar brought together 53 participants, including local students, international students, Erasmus+ students, administrative and academic staff, as well as members of the wider community. The event also attracted a broad range of participants: volunteers from the “Youth House,” city residents, secondary school students, participants of the Lifelong Learning Centre (MIC) alumni courses, and a guest lecturer from the University of Brittany in France. This diversity of participants ensured the practical implementation of the Quadruple helix principle, fostering collaboration between academia, industry, society, and the youth sector. The seminar was led by students Līva Slesare, Amanda Gintere, and Tillija Naumann, demonstrating the active involvement and leadership of young people in building an inclusive education and society. All seminar participants received a COLOURS virtual badge, serving as proof of the knowledge and skills acquired, and can be used for personal and professional development, including on LinkedIn profiles. It is planned that starting from autumn 2026, this training seminar will also be offered in an online format in both Latvian and English. This will make it accessible to a wider audience. Everyone – students, staff, and city residents alike – will have the opportunity to participate, gain knowledge about EDI, and receive the COLOURS badge. This initiative is seen both as an opportunity and a responsibility –to jointly build a more inclusive, open, and understanding society.

VUAS adopts policy for equality, diversity and inclusion

By Rota Žagare • May 29, 2026
Ventspils University of Applied Sciences has officially adopted the COLOURS Alliance EDI Policy – a shared framework for equality, diversity and inclusion. The policy will now be adapted and implemented within the university’s operations. The aim is to strengthen inclusion across education, research, and everyday practices. The policy can therefore be seen as both a pedagogical and strategic implementation tool to prevent discrimination, increase understanding of differences, and equip students and staff to perform at their best in diverse teams. EDI stands for equality, diversity and inclusion. The training in EDI is designed to strengthen interpersonal relationships, raise awareness of the value of diversity in innovation, creativity and knowledge development, and encourage reflection on one’s own position and approach to others. The implementation of the policy contributes to the development of generic competences and critical thinking among both students and staff. This EDI policy is part of a much larger context, as we are one of nine higher education institutions in Europe adopting the same framework. EDI as a driver for an inclusive society The policy also emphasizes the importance of collaboration through the Quadruple Helix model, where universities, industry, the public sector, and civil society work together. The goal is not only to develop knowledge within EDI, but also to disseminate it and create societal impact. The policy marks the starting point for new initiatives and serves as a bridge to society. EDI strengthens the quality of education and research and is an important tool for both current operations and future needs. Signed policy is available HERE

Translation programme students expand their knowledge with guest lecturers from France and Poland

By Rota Žagare • May 28, 2026
On Tuesday, May 19th, second year students of the bachelor’s study programme “Translation and Language Technologies” participated in a lecture lead by guest lecturer Aurélie Le Melinaidre from the Southern Brittany University in France. She tested the students’ knowledge of various English idioms, encouraged creativity by asking them to rewrite a text fragment as differently as they could, and was pleasantly surprised by the students’ excellent knowledge of English. Students also learned about the guest lecturer’s experience teaching English in different countries. Guest lectures held on May 20th and 21st were led by guest lecturer Karolina Siwek from Jan Dlugosz University in Poland. The guest lecturer, met through the COLOURS network, gave four interconnected lectures about different translation aspects for the second- and third-year students of the bachelor’s study programme “Translation and Language Technologies”. Karolina Siwek firstly introduced the students to the history of translation, compared what the profession of a translator was like in the 19th and 20th centuries and what it is like today, highlighting the aspects that have remained the same and those that have changed. During Wednesday’s lecture, students had the opportunity to engage in a discussion and compare the nature of the profession, not only from a historical perspective, but also in terms of the current state of the translation industry in Poland and Latvia. During the lecture about the differences between literary and specialised translators, the guest lecturer compared the translator’s visibility in their work, various potential risks during translation, and the necessary skills, as well as discussed about the prestige and income of the profession. Particular attention was paid to hybrid competencies, which play a significant role in the modern translation profession. Meanwhile, on Thursday, a series of related lectures took place about ISO standards and their impact on the daily work of translators, covering both the positive and negative aspects. The guest lecturer also discussed possible emotions of a translator, their causes, and how to manage them, emphasizing, above all, that emotional regulation is a core professional skill for translators. The guest lecturer shared several stories about her experiences, describing how she handled specific situations and what she learned from them, giving the students a realistic insight into the profession of translation and offering useful advice. Prepared by Sanija Zundovska and Sindija Plotniece from the study programme “Translation and Language Technologies”

Students Explore the World of Diplomacy at “Meet the Nordics”

By Rota Žagare • May 19, 2026
Three students from Ventspils University of Applied Sciences participated in the student networking event “Meet the Nordics: Insights, career opportunities and networking”, organized by the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Office in Latvia in Riga. The event was organized in cooperation with the embassies of Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden the event brought together students from different universities to explore diplomacy, Nordic-Baltic cooperation, and international career opportunities. Throughout the event, students gained valuable insight into the daily work of diplomats, the challenges of working in international environments, and the skills needed to succeed in diplomacy. The speakers shared not only professional experience, but also personal stories about communication, adaptability, and building a meaningful career in an ever-changing global environment. Second-year student of the bachelor’s study programme “Intercultural Communication”, Luīze Anna Spriņģe , highlighted the networking session as the most memorable part of the event: “This part was the most valuable because we could learn more directly from the professionals and their experience. It was valuable to speak with diplomats in a more open environment where we felt comfortable asking different questions.” She also admitted that it was especially interesting to hear the advice of Norwegian Ambassador Ine Måreng, Finnish Deputy Head of Mission Eero Vento, and Danish Deputy Head of Mission Alexander Lemche on how to stand out professionally and build a career in diplomacy. Additionally, second-year student of the bachelor’s study programme “Intercultural Communication”, Evija Saldaka , emphasized the practical value of the experience: “It was interesting to hear about different career paths and practical examples from the diplomats’ daily work. The networking conversations felt especially useful.” Meanwhile, first-year student of the bachelor’s study programme “Translation and Language Technologies”, Janita Kate Asare , shared that the event gave her a deeper understanding of the responsibility and complexity of diplomatic work. She especially appreciated the discussions about diplomacy, work-life balance, and maintaining professionalism in international environments. The students agreed that international events like this provide much more than new knowledge. They create opportunities to develop communication skills, build meaningful professional connections, and inspire students to think more boldly about their future careers. The event also highlighted that diplomacy is not only about politics or international agreements, but equally about building understanding, trust, and dialogue between people and cultures. Written by: Elizabete Apiņa-Fleisa (BSP “Intercultural Communication”, 1st year)
Other news