FP6 funding to boost European Astronomy
A new European astronomy project, RadioNet, financed under the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6), will build bridges and improve communication between European astronomers. This Integrated Infrastructure Initiative, which was awarded 12 million euro of Community funding over five years, brings together all 20 of Europe's leading radioastronomy facilities to build on existing collaboration and significantly enhance the quality and quantity of science currently produced by European astronomers. 'RadioNet is a new vision for radio astronomy designed to bring together a broad group of institutes to collaborate widely in coordinated research and related activities,' explained Professor Philip Diamond from the University of Manchester. 'Astronomers will quickly see the benefits of this in the shape of greater access to those telescopes that they may not be familiar with, in improvements to the instrumentation of these telescopes and in a more coherent approach to future challenges.' The objectives of RadioNet are to create an integrated radio astronomy network providing European scientists with access to world-class facilities along with a research and development plan aimed at supporting and enhancing these facilities; the development of a networking series which will ensure close collaboration in engineering, software, user support and science; and the training of next generation users - both astronomers and engineers.