The transformational project STELLAR – 2020-2023 ends with a final international conference in the city of Plovdiv from July 6-8. The project partners will participate in it: the Institute of Astronomy with National Academy of Sciences – BAS and the Technical University in Sofia, the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS) and the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON). Representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science and the Technical University – Varna will also participate in the forum.
Topics of the three-day forum include an overview of LOFAR technology and science, and related technical aspects, as well as a presentation of the National Science Infrastructure Roadmap 2020-2027. A special highlight of the program is the construction of the first Bulgarian station of the pan- European distributed low-frequency radio telescope LOFAR, which is expected to be operational in 2025, not far from the Rozhen National Astronomical Observatory.
The subject of discussions during the conference will be the STELLAR project, under the “Horizon 2020” Programme, and the achievements within its framework of activities for training the next generation of Bulgarian radio astronomers with a view to the future sustainable development of the
LOFAR BG station. The participants will also discuss the development of curricula in radio astronomy, space weather and radio communication engineering in order to achieve a multiplying effect for the Bulgarian astronomy and engineering communities.