An unique PhD program in Space Weather and Solar Physics, established by eight European universities (and one company), has just received European funding of three million euros.
The University of Coimbra (UC), a member of the Cluster, is the national academic representative in this consortium. In the statement released by the institution, Teresa Barata, researcher at the Earth and Space Research Center of FCTUC (Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Coimbra) and also the person responsible for coordinating the project in Portugal, says that the UC has already a vast array of solar and magnetic observations and reveals the satisfaction with this important step:
For about eight years, our research has focused on Space Weather and its impact on society. This is a recent research area, mainly in Portugal, and this project is of great importance to us, not only because we will have funding to have young researchers attending a UC PhD program, but it also allows us, as researchers, to integrate a team of scientists of recognized international merit.
In addition to training in the PhD program, FCTUC will also be responsible for the “development of new methods for analyzing solar activity, which will allow monitoring the activity of the Sun that could benefit certain economic sectors”, adds Teresa Barata in the statement.
A Portuguese company is also present in the consortium – Present Technologies – and the remaining entities are:
- Helsinki University (Finland)
- Turku University (Finland)
- Eotvos Lorand University (Hungary)
- University of Leuven (Belgium)
- Di Roma Tor Vergata University (Italy)
- Marie Curie University (Poland)
- Academy of Athens (Greece)
This unique PhD program in Space Weather, in Europe, exists within the scope of the SWANET project – Space Weather Awareness Training Network – which won three million euros in funding through the H2020 program (Marie Sklodowska-Curie Innovative Training Networks).