The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Comisión Nacional de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (CONICYT) of Chile have decided to promote mutual collaborations in astronomical research between the two countries. To provide support for young astronomers in their early stages of research career, a China-CONICYT Postdoctoral Fellowship program has been initiated since 2013, with four finalists selected and awarded the Fellowship in its first year. The 2014 implementation of this Fellowship will start soon in the form of a call issued by CONICYT. Qualified candidates must have assurance to obtain their Ph.D. degree before the start of the Fellowship (expected by mid-2015). Preferential considerations will be given to those applicants with proposed research activities involving collaborations between the Chinese and Chilean astronomy communities. Potential applicants should check out the web sites www.conicyt.cl and www.cassaca.org for more up-to-date information on this opportunity in the coming months and may contact prospective sponsors accordingly before applying.

Further inquires about this fellowship opportunity can be addressed to Dr. Jiasheng Huang, Chief Scientist of CASSACA (the CAS South America Center for Astronomy) at jhuang@nao.cas.cn. (PDF: CC_postdoc_ad_2014 ).

More information to come…

Continue reading

7月，中科院国家天文台南京天光所（简称天光所）研制的“极端”自适应光学系统（Extreme Adaptive Optics，简称：Ex-AO）作为客座仪器，成功对接欧洲南方天文台（ESO）3.6米新技术望远镜（NTT），圆满完成了测试观测。该套Ex-AO系统在近红外H波段获得了衍射极限成像，表明具备了用于系外行星科学成像观测的能力。 Continue reading

According to a new agreement between the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) for the advancement of science in developing countries, up to 140 students/scholars from the developing world will be sponsored to travel to China for PhD studies for up to four years.

This CAS-TWAS President’s Fellowship Programme provides students/scholars from developing countries (other than China) an opportunity to pursue PhD degrees at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) or Institutes of CAS around China.

Under the terms of the new CAS-TWAS agreement, travel from their home countries to China will be provided to the fellowship awardees in order to begin the fellowship in China (one trip only per student/scholar). Visa fee will also be covered (once only per student/scholar). Continue reading

2013年12月31日，中国科学院南美天文研究中心（简称南美天文中心）首届理事会工作会议在国家天文台顺利召开，中国科学院副院长丁仲礼作为理事长出席了会议。

会议分别由两位副理事长——中国科学院前沿科学与教育局局长许瑞明、国际合作局副局长曹京华主持。国家天文台副台长薛随建、南美天文中心主任王仲和首席科学家黄家声分别向理事会汇报了南美天文中心总体情况、建设进展和科研进展。第一届理事会成员由相关院领导、中科院各天文台台长以及大学天文机构的相关负责人组成。理事会成员对南美天文中心所取得的成绩给予了积极的肯定，并为解决目前工作中所遇到的困难与挑战给予了切实的指导和建议。 Continue reading

Thanks to the tremendous efforts of colleagues from both countries of Chile and China, the 3rd China-Chile astronomy workshop formally started on Sep 9, 2013. It says long distance sometimes does work!

CASSACA

中科院 南美天文中心 (智利)

Camino El Observatorio #1515
Las Condes, Santiago, Chile
Phone: (56-2) 977 1120
E-Mail: zwang1@yahoo.com
Web: http://cassaca.bao.ac.cn

China-Chile Postdoctoral Fellowship in Astronomy and Astrophysics 2013

The China-Chile Joint Center for Astronomy (CCJCA) is a new initiative by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and CONICYT of Chile to promote mutual collaborations between the two countries. To provide support for young astronomers in their early stages of research career, a China-CONICYT Postdoctoral Fellowship opportunity will be initiated in 2014. Applications for a temporary implementation of this Fellowship in 2013 are now being solicited by CCJCA with the expectation to start the first round of selection before the 2014 launch. Qualified candidates must have their Ph.D. degree on or before the start of their fellowship, which can be anytime between now and March 2014. All areas of research in astronomy and astrophysics will be considered, but preferential considerations will be given to applicants with proposed research activities involving collaborations between the Chinese and Chilean astronomy communities. Alternatively, we encourage potential applicants to check out some of the on-going research programs that are listed [in this page] and contact the prospective sponsors accordingly. Continue reading

Professor Leopoldo Infante (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile) visited NAOC and delivered a talk in the morning of Jun 6, 2013.

Professor Leopoldo Infante is currently director of the Centre for Astro-Engineering at Universidad Católica de Chile. He received his PhD of Physics/Astronomy from the University of Victoria in 1995. He was the Director of Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Astronomy and Astrophysics Department from 2000 to 2006. His research areas are birth and evolution of structures in the universe stellar populations. Continue reading

中国科学院南美天文研究中心／中智天文联合研究中心（简称中智中心）是中科院实施发展中国家科教合作拓展工程的一个海外项目。中心为中国科学院与智 利国家科委合作搭建的以智利为中心、辐射南美其他国家的天文平台。中智中心的工作面向全国天文界开放，意图建立中智双边科学研究团队，利用智利的先进观测 设备和优秀的天文观测台址，为我国开展南半球前沿天文观测研究和天文技术方法研究提供有利条件，建设实测天文的人才梯队。

　　中心于2013年2月正式成为挂靠于国家天文台的非法人单元，并将于2013年9月在智利圣地亚哥正式挂牌运行，首批由中智中心资助的长期访问学者也将于近期赴智开展工作。为促进中智双方的学术交流与了解，进一步推动与落实中智合作，中心拟于2013年9月9至11日在智利Vina del Mar举办第三届中智天文研讨会。

　　Vina del Mar是智利中部太平洋沿岸城市，位于瓦尔帕莱索东北郊，人口28.6万，建于1875年。南美著名的游览城市之一，西班牙语意即“海边葡萄园”。广种花木，以“花园城”闻名。

　　中智中心诚邀关注中智天文合作的同仁参加本次会议并提供报告。由于赴智利签证手续比较繁复，提请各位同仁注意在7月5日前报名。

一、会务事项

　　1、SOC & LOC (待定)

　　2、主办单位

· 中国科学院南美天文中心／中智天文联合研究中心

· 智利天文学会（SOCHIAS)

　　3、时间：2013年9月9日—11日（8日报到）

地点：Vina del Mar, 智利（住宿与会场具体地点待定）

　　4、食宿／资助：本次会议食宿自理。中心将为部分年轻优秀学者提供部分差旅与食宿资助，请报名时注明是否申请中心资助，并简要说明申请理由（不超过500字）。

　　5、报名截至日期：2013年7月5日

二、注册方式

请将相关信息（姓名，联系方式，报告题目等）填入附表并发送到 shmwu@bao.ac.cn

联系人：吴淑梅

　　地址：中智天文中心，国家天文台，北京市朝阳区大屯路甲20号，100012。

　　电话：15801542600

Email：shmwu@bao.ac.cn

中国科学院南美天文中心

中国－智利天文联合研究中心