November 2017
Spider workshop on single particle data analysis
Practical workshop, 2 - 3 days.
Events
CIISB Events Calendar
Important and interesting events in the domain of large research infrastructures
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President Petr Pavel visited the ESO observatories in Chile
As part of his official visit to South America, on April 17 of this year Czech President Petr Pavel, accompanied by a delegation of business leaders and scientists and the Chilean Minister of Foreign Affairs, visited the Paranal Observatory in Chile. The observatory is operated by the international organisation ESO (European Southern Observatory), of which the Czech Republic has been a member since 2008. The delegation was welcomed by ESO Director General Prof. Xavier Barcons. In addition to the world’s most advanced astronomical telescope, the VLT, and its control center, the president also toured the construction site of the ELT (Extremely Large Telescope) on nearby Cerro Armazones. Once completed and put into operation (planned for 2029–2030) it will become the largest and most advanced astronomical facility in the world. The Czech Republic’s membership in ESO is administered by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MŠMT). Czech scientists actively use the Paranal Observatory and its facilities for observations and analyses. The La Silla Observatory, also managed by ESO, is home to the Czech PlatoSpec project—a telescope and spectrograph that was renovated and installed for observation by the Institute of Astronomy of the Czech Academy of Sciences in collaboration with two Chilean universities. With the support of the MŠMT, this institute also plans to participate in the construction of the ANDES spectrograph, which will become an important component of the ELT telescope as one of its instruments. The Czech Republic’s participation in the ANDES consortium will not only create an opportunity for Czech astronomers to use this spectrograph but will also open the door for Czech companies to get involved. ESO Director General Prof. Barcons said during his visit: “We are very pleased to welcome President Pavel and his delegation to Paranal. The Czech Republic has been a highly committed and supportive ESO member state for nearly 20 years.” He also highlighted the successful collaboration between the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports and ESO, which led to the establishment of an internship program in engineering and science for young Czech astronomers and engineers: “This program now serves as a model for other member states.” Prof. Barcons also mentioned the upcoming involvement of the Astronomical Institute in the ANDES project: “The involvement of Czech institutes in the development of instrumentation for the ELT are examples of how cooperation between ESO and the Czech Republic is advancing astronomy and, at the same time, how the Czech Republic is investing in a new generation of scientists and engineers.”
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Slovakia and Montenegro Join ELI as Observers, Expanding European Research Collaboration
Slovakia and Montenegro have joined the Extreme Light Infrastructure ERIC (ELI) as Observers, strengthening their participation in European research infrastructures. Their accession broadens ELI’s Member and Observer base and reinforces its role as a platform linking national research communities with large-scale laser facilities across Europe. Slovakia: Connecting national capabilities with large-scale infrastructure Slovakia’s accession formalises a process that has developed since 2021, supported by coordinated efforts across Slovak research institutions and government. As an Observer, Slovak researchers have a structured pathway for participation in ELI’s scientific programmes and governance. “The scope of ELI represents an ideal overlap and extension of Slovakia’s capabilities,” the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic said in a statement. “This connection will open new opportunities for our scientific community and train people for the future.” Slovakia has also strengthened its national coordination, establishing a dedicated unit for research infrastructures within the ministry to support engagement with European initiatives. The country’s participation will focus on integrating its technical expertise in optics, photonics and materials science with ELI’s experimental platforms. Slovak researchers are already active in ELI’s User Programme, with proposals submitted and initial experiments underway. Planned investments will target complementary technologies, including sample preparation, surface analysis and advanced materials characterisation, positioning Slovak facilities as specialised contributors within the wider infrastructure. Montenegro: Expanding collaboration and training opportunities Montenegro enters ELI with an established research ecosystem and participation in European programmes, including Horizon Europe, positioning it to contribute across scientific research, training and technology development. “By joining ELI, Montenegro gains an institutional framework for participation in the work of this infrastructure, access to experiments, training and international projects, as well as the possibility of inclusion in working and advisory bodies,” the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation said in a statement. The decision builds on existing collaboration between ELI and the University of Montenegro, which has included joint research, training programmes and experimental work at ELI’s facilities. That cooperation has developed into a sustained research pipeline, with multiple proposals accepted through ELI’s merit-based user access programme and resulting scientific publications. These activities have resulted in more than 36 weeks of experimental work at ELI’s facilities and 19 scientific publications. Montenegrin students and early-career researchers have also participated in ELI training programmes and summer schools, contributing to experiments and publications while strengthening national expertise in high-energy physics and related disciplines. Future cooperation will expand into strategic areas aligned with ELI’s scientific agenda, including laser- driven radiobiology, Flash-effect based radiotherapy, inertial confinement fusion and radiation-hard technologies for medical and space applications. Participation in European initiatives such as EU Cost action PROBONO and EU research project “EuPRAXIA” is expected to further support these efforts. ELI: New observers bring complementary strengths “Slovakia and Montenegro bring complementary strengths to ELI, from established technical capabilities to highly active research communities,” said Allen Weeks, ELI Director General. “Their participation strengthens the connection between national research systems and large-scale experimental infrastructure. Becoming an Observer in ELI provides a platform for research and training and a network that supports their work.” As Observers, both countries will participate in ELI’s governance and contribute to the development of its scientific and strategic direction.
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8th ELI User Call
The Extreme Light Infrastructure (ELI) is pleased to announce the opening of the 8th ELI User Call on 17 March 2026. Researchers from around the world are invited to submit proposals for experiments to access ELI’s state-of-the-art instruments and research infrastructure. Proposals will be accepted until 22 April 2026, 12:00 (noon) CEST, and will be evaluated by an international peer-review panel based on scientific excellence. The Call offers access to a wide range of cutting-edge instruments and capabilities at the ELI ALPS (Szeged, Hungary), ELI Beamlines (Dolní Břežany, Czech Republic), and ELI Nuclear Physics (Măgurele, Romania) facilities. The complete offer of available equipment and experimental opportunities is available below, together with guidelines for proposal submission and evaluation. Applicants are strongly encouraged to discuss their concepts with instrument scientists early in the process to ensure alignment with facility capabilities. Proposal Submission Deadline: 22 April 2026, 12:00 (noon) CEST