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ALMA engineers and software engineers converge with Chilean industry

7 December, 2018 / Read time: 3 minutes

The large majority of ALMA’s more than 250 workers are not astronomers; they are engineers or software engineers who work to optimize and maintain operations at the most important earth astronomical observatory in the world. To build ties with local industry, a group of ALMA engineers participated in different events held in the Biobío Region: the 1st Technological Industry Convergence Conference and the Chilean Astronomy Instrumentation Network (ChAIN) Workshop.

“It is highly motivating to participate in these activities, which promote the development of astro-engineering in Chile. Not only do they give us an opportunity to show what we are doing at ALMA and receive feedback, but also to see what others are doing,” says ALMA Software Operation Manager, Tzu-Chiang Shen, who participated in both events.

6 plenary talks were given and 18 papers presented at the 1st Technological Industry Convergence Conference, organized by the Concepción-Talcahuano branch of Inacap. The main purpose of this conference was to generate a critical analysis and reflection on the state of affairs of high-impact smart industries in Chile and convey updated knowledge.

Following this event, the Universidad de Concepción developed the first workshop of the Chilean Astronomy Instrumentation Network, organized by its Center for Astronomic Instrumentation (CePIA, for its Spanish acronym). The activity brought together around 80 participants to build a community network with all the laboratories, universities and institutions that develop technologies for this area, in conjunction with the observatories installed in Chile.

“For ALMA, it is very important to build ties with this field, to share our experiences and contribute to skills development on a local scale,” concludes Jorge Ibsen, head of Computing at ALMA.

More information on each event:

ChAIN

1^erCongreso de Convergencia Tecnológica en la Industria

About ALMA

ALMA is a partnership between ESO (on behalf of its European Member States), NSF (USA), and NINS (Japan); together with NRC (Canada), MOST and ASIAA (Taiwan), and KASI (Republic of Korea), in cooperation with the Republic of Chile. The Joint ALMA Observatory is operated by ESO, AUI/NRAO, and NAOJ.

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