Training and Outreach

Educational activities

As part of our service to the astronomical community, the German ARC node organizes lectures and workshops for ALMA users, students and other astronomer who may consider using ALMA in the future. The range of topics covered in recent years include

Radio Astronomy: Tools, Applications, Impacts
Introduction to Radio Interferometry
Radio Interferometry: Methods and Science
Radio Interferometry hands-on
Introduction to ALMA
ALMA - current status and development
Polarization with ALMA
Proposal preparation with ALMA
ALMA-OT workshop
proposal clinic
AIPS tutorial
CASA tutorial

The Master-level course Radio Astronomy: Tools, Applications and Impact serves as a comprehensive introduction to the field of radio astronomy from cm wavelengths up to the (sub)mm regime. Besides getting an overview of classical and cutting-edge research topics, the participants are introduced to the fundamental physics giving rise to the observed signals and to the diagnostic tools that are used in radio astronomy. The powerful concepts of radio interferometry and aperture synthesis feature prominently among the discussed theoretical background. On a more practical side, the course also introduces the various components of radio telescopes and interferometers and offers hands-on guidance on observing and data reduction in the radio regime. Master students enrolled at the universities of Bonn or Cologne can take this course for credit (6 CP).

The Master-level course Radio Interferometry: Methods and Science offers hands-on training in the data reduction and analysis of interferometric data for Master students, PhD students and senior astronomers. The course starts with a brief review of the basic concepts of radio interferometry including calibration and imaging. Then the various steps necessary to create fully calibrated data cubes from interferometric raw data are discussed. Already during the lectures, the participants can practice the individual steps on their copy of an ALMA data set, using two powerful compute servers and the versatile Common Astronomy Software Applications (CASA) package. In the final sessions, the participants learn how to analyze their interferometric data and what additional considerations are required for special research topics like polarization studies. Master students enrolled at the universities of Bonn or Cologne can take this course for credit (4 CP).

During the German ALMA Community Days, usually held about 4 weeks before an ALMA proposal deadline, the focus lies on preparing the local astronomical community for the upcoming observing cycle and on giving practical advice on proposal preparation. After a brief introduction to the basic radio astromonical concepts and terminology for non-radio astronomers and an overview of recent scientific results obtained with ALMA, ALMA's capabilities in the upcoming cycle, ALMA procedures, ALMA tools and the available help are discussed. These presentation are complemented by hands-on work in workshops for novice users as well as for advanced users. During these workshops, participants can start to prepare their own ALMA proposals with technical support from experts.

In addition, ARC node staff is happy to present talks on various aspects of ALMA on request at seminars and scientific conferences.

Outreach events of the German ARC Node in recent years

October 2019 - February 2020	Radio Astronomy: Tools, Applications, Impact	AIfA, Bonn
16 - 21 September 2019	Highlights der Physik: Zeig dich! featuring our interactive LEGO model of ALMA	Münsterplatz, Bonn
April - July 2019	Radio Interferometry: Hands-on Data Reduction and Scientific Methods	AIfA, Bonn
March - April 2019	ALMA Proposal preparation Support: Video tutorials and virtual drop-in clinic	AIfA, Bonn
October 2018 - February 2019	Radio Astronomy: Tools, Applications, Impact	AIfA, Bonn
24 October 2018	ALMA Town Hall Meeting at the Radio 2018 Symposium	Jena, Germany
22-26 October 2018	ALMA-OT/CASA Imaging Tutorial	ICCUB School, Barcelona, Spain
April - July 2018	Radio Interferometry: Hands-on Data Reduction and Scientific Methods	AIfA, Bonn
05 April 2018	German ALMA Community Day	AIfA, Bonn
March - April 2018	3 ALMA proposal Training Sessions	AIfA, Bonn
October 2017 - February 2018	Radio Astronomy: Tools, Applications, Impact	AIfA, Bonn
18-22 September 2017	ALMA Booth at the annual meeting of the German Astronomical Society	Goettingen University
03 April 2017	Swiss ALMA Community Day	Bern, Switzerland
April - July 2017	Radio Interferometry: Methods and Science	AIfA, Bonn
27/28 March 2017	German ALMA Community Days	AIfA, Bonn
April - July 2016	Radio Interferometry: Methods and Science	AIfA, Bonn
6-8 April 2016	German ALMA Community Day	AIfA, Bonn
16 March 2016	XCLASS tutorial	Arcetri, Florence, Italy
02 March 2016	XCLASS tutorial	MPIA, Heidelberg
14 January 2016	XCLASS tutorial	University of Cologne
18 September 2015	ALMA Lunch Meeting at the annual meeting of the German Astronomical Society	University of Kiel
26 August 2015	XCLASS tutorial	UNAM, Morelia, Mexico
April - July 2015	Radio Interferometry: Methods and Science	AIfA, Bonn
25-27 March 2015	German ALMA Community Days	AIfA, Bonn

Public Outreach

In addition to fostering the local astronomical community, the German ARC node also reaches out to the general public by giving public talks, talking to the German press etc. Places/events visited in recent years include:

Wissenschaftsfestival "Highlights der Physik", Bonn
Sternwarte Erkrath
Bonner Sternenhimmel
Schnupperuni, Bonn
Westfälische Volkssternwarte und Planetarium Recklinghausen
Astronomie Stiftung Trebur
Lehrerfortbildung, Cologne
Walter-Hohmann Sternwarte Essen
Planetarium Bochum
WDR5 Leonardo