The community of the Institute of Radio Astronomy and Astrophysics (IRyA) at UNAM, Campus Morelia, is characterized by its high academic quality and a constant closeness to the Michoacan society, said Luis Alberto Zapata González, Director of IRyA, when presenting his fifth activity report, corresponding to the period September 2023-August 2024.
This report was presented in Institute’s auditorium on October 22, 2024, and was attended by authorities from the academic and administrative entities of the UNAM Campus Morelia, as well as the academic, administrative and student communities of the IRyA.
Among the achievements highlighted by Luis Zapata is that the academic community published 5.6 scientific articles per researcher in 2023, one of the highest publication rates in the entire UNAM scientific research subsystem. Additionally, several academics and students received awards and recognitions for their work, highlighting the State Science Award in 2023 for Laurent Loinard and in 2024 for Aina Palau.
Luis Zapata also highlighted the consolidation of the academic staff and a growing number of postdoctoral researchers, providing a robust and dynamic environment at the Institute for research and for the computing and archiving services that it requires. In addition, the student community stands out both for the impact of its scientific results and for its institutional commitment.
On the other hand, two high-impact multi-year projects have substantial participation from IRyA’s academic community: the Next Generation Very Large Array (ngVLA), a radio observatory in which the Institute contributes with planning and management for the installation of some of its antennas in northern Mexico; and the Tulancingo radio telescope, in the state of Hidalgo, which will convert an antenna of what used to be the ground station for telecommunications into a radio telescope.
The IRyA also has a high social impact in its science communication and outreach programs, as highlighted by Luis Zapata, serving more than 60,000 people in person at various outreach and sky observation activities, as well as special astronomical events such as the solar eclipses of October 2023 and April 2024, and also with a cumulative impact on social media of 892,000 people during the reported period.
Luis Zapata concluded his presentation by thanking the entire IRyA community for their commitment in all areas, including research, teaching, outreach, academic services, institutional life, and administrative services, work that is reflected in the good results obtained by the Institute.
Image: Luis Zapata, Director of IRyA, during the activities report. Credit: Unidad de Vinculación, UNAM Campus Morelia.
About IRyA, UNAM
The Instituto de Radioastronomía y Astrofísica (IRyA), or Institute for Radioastronomy and Astrophysics is an academic unit at UNAM, Campus Morelia, Mexico. The Institute’s personnel perform high-level and high-impact research in the areas of interstellar medium, star formation, evolved stars, high energy astrophysics, Galactic dynamics and structure, extragalactic astronomy and cosmology. They also contribute to educate high-level human resources through a postgraduate program, and maintain a close relationship with society through diverse outreach and science communication programs.
If you are interested in our Institute, visit the English version of our webpage, www.irya.unam.mx/web/en
Text: IRyA UNAM
Media contact:
Dr. René A. Ortega Minakata
Outreach and Science Communication
IRyA UNAM Campus Morelia