Picture credit: Erin O’Donnell, NSCL
Claudia Travaglio, researcher in nucleosynthesis and chemical evolution at at INAF-Astrophysical Observatory Turin, has been selected as coordinators of the focus area 5 (Computer Models) in the framework of International Research Network for Nuclear Astrophysics (IReNA), recently founded with 2 billion dollars.
Author: Claudia Travaglio (INAF-OATo)
The emergence of multi-messenger astronomy, where extreme astrophysical environments are observed using gravitational waves, X-rays, visible light, gamma-rays, radio waves, and neutrinos, opens up the opportunity to understand the formation of the elements and the nature of dense matter.
IReNA (International Research Network for Nuclear Astrophysics) connects this broad range of observations with the extraordinarily broad range of experimental and theoretical nuclear physics studies and advanced computational models needed to truly create new windows into the physics of the universe.
IReNA is a US National Science Foundation AccelNet Network of Networks. It connects six interdisciplinary research networks across 17 countries to foster collaboration, complement and enhance research capabilities in the US and abroad, and thus greatly accelerate progress in science. An important component of IReNA is the training of students and other young researchers in an unique interdisciplinary, collaborative, and international environment that prepares them for a broad range of STEM careers in science, industry, government, and national laboratories.
IReNA is organized into eight focus areas that address critical aspects of this problem at the forefront of science. In all eight areas there is a particularly strong benefit of connecting the complementary expertise and capabilities of the various international networks and coordinate research internationally. I’m the coordinator of one of these areas.
In summary IReNA will be a worldwide coordination of nuclear astrophysics related to the study of the origin of chemical elements for the next 5 years with $2 million grant given by the American National Science Foundation.
