the workshop “Science with Llama” takes place in Salta from yesterday until September 8, a framework in which project scientists, engineers and technicians from the company Invap SE exchange ideas, experiences and research perspectives related to the radio telescope that will be installed in La Puna Salta.
“Llama is a scientific project, a concrete installation of the first level. It is a success that the Province has had the strategic vision to develop and transform Salta into a pole of attraction for installations of scientific projects in the field of astronomy and astrophysics at an international level”, said the secretary of Technological Scientific Articulation of the Nation, John Paul Peace.
Jump, window to the universe
The national official was this Tuesday, together with the Minister of Education, Science and Technology of Salta, Matias Canepaat the launch of the “Science with Llama” workshop, which has been held since yesterday at the Usina Cultural.
“With the passage of time it is necessary to reformulate the scientific objectives of the radio telescope, which was conceived more than ten or twelve years ago, it is evident that today the objectives and the technology are not the same and much more interesting things can be done from an observatory like Llama”, he expressed.
For this reason, he considered the workshop being held “very important and interesting”, because “it generates a lot of enthusiasm, especially in the young scientific community, who see Llama as a unique opportunity of the highest international level” that will allow “answering questions about the origin of the universe, the processes of creation of galaxies, the physics of black holes and a lot of mysteries”.
Then, he pointed out that, together with the provincial government, from the National Ministry of Science and Technology, “we developed the idea of a consortium that we named: Jump, window to the universe”.
? The “Science with LLAMA” workshop began in Salta
? ➡ https://t.co/ZI9fIajbfX pic.twitter.com/60xYrXT8JZ
— Undersecretary of Science and Technology of Salta (@CienciaTecSalta) September 6, 2022
The objective is “to install the idea that Salta has unique characteristics to become a window to observe phenomena of the universe that can only be seen from here, because for that very sophisticated facilities are needed at height”.
“The Llama observatory is going to be at an altitude of 4,850 meters and there is another site in the same province of Salta (Qubic), in the Macon hillnear Tolar Grande, where there are also high-altitude observatories, at 4,800 meters,” explained Paz.
The official noted that “Salta Ventana al Universo is a consortium that will allow the provision of shared use infrastructure”such as electricity to operate instruments, communications and roads.
Likewise, he announced that “the tender launched by the National Energy Secretariat for the construction of a solar generation plant that will be in Alto de Chorrillos and that will feed energy to Llama, Qubic and some other facility was approved. future scientist.
In addition, it is hoped that Salta Window to the Universe can help “scientists to be trained here in Salta and stay to work in the astronomical facilities, and that the people who visit Salta know what is being done in astronomy, astrophysics, what discoveries there are and what are the objectives of these facilities”.
“For that, together with the province we conceived the idea of an interpretation and popularization center,” he specified, adding that “it will be in a building located 50 meters from the main square of Salta, which will be recycled by the Construir Science, of the Ministry of Science and Technology”.
For his part, Cánepa indicated that “this project has enormous significance for Salta. Having in the Puna of Salta a pole for the development of astronomy with a large-scale international collaboration is very important for us, not only because of the research itself. itself and what it implies for the area, but also for the dissemination of Science and the awakening of scientific vocations”.
“In addition, it will allow top-level scientific institutions from different parts of the world to be linked with our university,” he said, and recognized the action and decision of the Minister of Science and Technology of the Nation, Daniel Filmus, and his team, “who reactivated this project”.
Large Latin American Millimeter Array (Llama) is an astronomical project consisting of a powerful telescope that will be installed in Abra Alto Chorrillos, at 4,825 meters above sea level, in the highlands of Salta, while Qubic is another observatory project that will work in that region of Salta.
Leading scientists from the United Kingdom, Taiwan, Japan, Mexico, Canada, France, the United States, Spain and Argentina participate in the meeting.
