The EU-funded project ACME (Astrophysics Centre for Multimessenger Studies in Europe) officially launched on 1 September 2024.
ACME aims to achieve a coordinated, Europe-wide optimization of accessibility and cohesion among leading astroparticle and astronomy research infrastructures. It offers access to cutting-edge instruments, data, and expertise, with a focus on advancing multi-messenger astrophysics.
The project brings together 40 world-class institutions from 14 countries, including key partners from the RadioNet Consortium: AALTO Korkeakoulusaatio SR (AALTO), Centro Nacional de Información Geográfica (CNIG), Institut de Radio Astronomie Millimétrique (IRAM), Joint Institute for Very Long Baseline Interferometry ERIC (JIV-ERIC), Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy (MPIfR), Low Frequency Array ERIC (LOFAR ERIC), the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON), Uniwersytet Mikolaja Kopernika W Toruniu (UMK), Ventspils Augstskola (VUAS), and The University of Manchester (UNIMAN).
RadioNet partners will provide transnational access and specialized support for multi-messenger science projects through state-of-the-art radio astronomy facilities, including EVN, LOFAR, e-MERLIN, and Effelsberg. Additionally, access to their archives will be offered, aiming to lower barriers via the harmonization of data access and analysis tools. IRAM will improve its handling of multi-messenger transient events at its observatories (NOEMA and 30m), streamlining processes to deliver high-quality data quickly to the scientific community and working towards integration into a future ACME real-time infrastructure. Training the multi-messenger community will be a key focus, ensuring the full utilization of Europe’s radio astronomy infrastructures.
ACME’s objectives are to implement the recommendations of the APPEC and ASTRONET roadmaps and serve as a pathfinder to broaden and enhance access to research infrastructure services and data. It aims to assess new models for better coordination, provide harmonized transnational and virtual access, develop expertise centers, improve science data management, and create interoperable systems for rapid event identification and alert distribution. ACME also focuses on training a new generation of scientists, opening astrophysics data to other disciplines, and increasing citizen engagement.
See the project page here.
Image: © ACME kick-off meeting; Participants at the kick-off meeting for the Astrophysics Centre for Multimessenger studies in Europe (ACME) in September 2024 in Paris.
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