The Institute for Astronomy (ifA)

The Institute for Astronomy (IfA) is a leading UK centre for research into fields such as cosmology and computational astrophysics. It is one of four major components of the School of Physics and Astronomy at The University of Edinburgh (the other three being the Institute for Physics (IfP), the Edinburgh Parallel Computing Centre (EPCC), and the National e-Science Centre (NeSC)).

The research programmes pursued at the IfA are extremely varied, but the main strengths are in Cosmology, Active Galaxies and Quasars, Star Formation, Low Mass Stars, Protoplanetary systems, and project work in Survey Astronomy and e-Science undertaken by the Wide Field Astronomy Unit (WFAU).

As well as forming a major research area within the School of Physics and Astronomy, the IfA also undertakes a vigorous teaching programme at both undergraduate and post-graduate level, leading to BSc Hons, MPhys Hons and PhD degrees in Astrophysics.

Network

The IfA shares the Royal Observatory Edinburgh site with the UK Astronomical Technology Centre (ATC) and collaborates with the ATC to deliver the massive technological advances required by modern observational astronomy.  Astronomers within the University work in close scientific collaboration with the STFC-funded scientists and instrument builders within the ATC.

The ATC designs and builds astronomical instruments for customers including the European Space Agency and the national Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).  Instruments developed by the ATC include the £37 million Visible and Infrared Survey telescope for Astronomy (VISTA), which features the world's largest infrared camera.

Further information on UK Astronomy Technology Centre

Locate

The historic and beautiful Royal Observatory Edinburgh on Blackford Hill is unique among UK scientific establishments in that it houses on a single site a university astronomy research group, an establishment of a UK Research Council and a Visitor Centre.