Astrophysics Center for Multimessenger studies in Europe 

Full Name of the Project: Astrophysics Center for Multimessenger studies in Europe 

Project No. 101131928

Projekt AcRonym: ACME 

Funded by: EU funding (H2020) 

Project Submitter: Main Partner – Le Centre National de la recherche scientific- CNRS (FR), 36 cooperation partners, one of them – Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, Engineering Research Institute „Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre” (VUAS ERI VIRAC)

VUAS Project Scientific manager: leading researcher Ivars Šmelds

Project Duration: 01.09.2024. – 31.08.2028. (48 months) 

Project Objectives:

ACME's objectives are to implement the recommendations of the Astroparticle Physics European Consortium (APPEC) and the Planning and Advisory Network for European Astronomy (ASTRONET) roadmaps, serving as a guide to expand and enhance access to relevant research infrastructure services and data.

This includes evaluating new models for better coordination and large-scale service provision, ensuring harmonized transnational and virtual access, developing centers of expertise, improving scientific data management, and creating interoperable systems for the rapid identification of significant and unexpected cosmic events, optimizing their subsequent observations. Additionally, ACME will provide training for a new and broader generation of scientists and engineers, open astrophysics and astroparticle physics datasets to researchers in other fields, and increase public engagement. 

Main activities:

• implement the European roadmaps’ recommendations and act as a pathfinder to broaden, improve and align access to the respective RI services and data, and assess and evaluate new models for better coordination and provision of at-scale services
• provide harmonized and inclusive trans-national and virtual access to world-class RI
• develop centres of expertise providing expert support to enable easier access for more researchers
• improve science data products management to facilitate both focused research goals and serendipitous discoveries, implementing FAIR approaches to broaden access
• improve interoperable systems for rapid identification of astrophysical candidate events, and alert distribution to the network of RI and scientific consortia to optimize follow-up observations
• provide training for a new and broader generation of scientists and engineers
• open the astrophysics and astroparticle physics data sets to other disciplines, such as environmental studies or marine biology for the undersea neutrino facilities and increase citizen engagement in scientific research.

Within the project, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Engineering Research Institute "Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center" (VUAS ERI VIRAC) will provide transnational access to its infrastructure—fully steerable parabolic antennas RT-16 and RT-32, as well as the LOFAR-LATVIA antenna array. Additionally, the project will facilitate VSRC scientists' access to Europe's high-level scientific infrastructure.

Results of the Project VUAS ERI VIRAC branch: 

Further development and use of the European Very Large Base Interferometry Network (EVN) facilities, results of astronomical observations, scientific articles, conference reports.

Project Funding: € 14 499 999,34, including VUAS ERI VIRAC funding: € 15 001,00 

Project home page: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101131928

 
For reference:

Multi-messenger astronomy is the coordinated observation and interpretation of multiple signals received from the same astronomical event. Many types of cosmological events involve complex interactions between a variety of astrophysical processes, each of which may independently emit signals of a characteristic "messenger" type: electromagnetic radiation (including infrared, visible light and X-rays), gravitational waves, neutrinos, and cosmic rays. When received on Earth, identifying that disparate observations were generated by the same source can allow for improved reconstruction or a better understanding of the event, and reveals more information about the source.

Contact information:

Project Scientific manager – Ivars Smelds, ivars.smelds@venta.lv