From Astrophysics to Society

Cartel del "Primer taller europeo sobre transferencia de conocimientos y tecnologías generadas por la Astrofísica".
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The Knowledge Cities World Summit (KCWS) is an annual meeting which brings together representatives of ten of he most developed cities and regions of the world to debate models of sustainable knowledge-based growth. The Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) is participating in this edition, with “The First European Workshop on the transfer of technology and knowledge generated by Astrophysics” which is taking place on Friday 23 November at the IAC Headquarters in La Laguna (Tenerife).

This workshop has been organized by the area of technological and business collaboration of the IAC, IACTec. It has been funded by the Incyde Foundation and it is being carried out in cooperation with the Cabildo of Tenerife to strengthen the technological underpinning of business on the island.

Pablo Redondo, the person in charge of the technical side of IACTec is the coordinator of the event. “The IAC is maintaining its intention “ he explains “ of stiumulating and supporting the two-way transfer of technology and knowledge between Astrophysics and other related disciplines.

At the workshop there will be 5 professionals in Astrophysics who have made their careers through links and synergies with other sectors: Paola Sesito, a systems engineer working in the sector of scientific instrumentation, Nick Cox, a research and development engineer working in satellite image analysis, Ugur Ural, an analyst researching on the impact of climate change, Javier Blasco, a data analysis expert, and Rene Fassbender, the director general and founder of a company dedicated to data analysis.

Redondo explains that IACTec is aiming at strengthening the technological and local business base with initiatives which stimulate the creation of highly qualified employment. “This workshop lets us get to know how astrophysicists trained in the IAC apply their knowledge in specialities such as the treatment of satellite images or analysis of the climate.

This is the first time that the Knowledge Cities World Summit is being celebrated in the islands, principally in the installations of the University of La Laguna, with the motto “Islands of Knowledge”. Redondo expects that this workshop “will establish a fórum for debate about the potential of the IAC as a generator of technological employment, and about the versatility of the knowledge to be found within the people of the team at the iAC”.