VISITING COMMITTEE REVIEW

From December 17 to December 21 2007 an international committee composed by the following Professors: Pepi Fabbiamo (Chair), Jochen Greiner, and Artie Hatzes has reviewed the activities of the INAF research structures in Sicily: Oss. Astrofisico di Catania, Oss. Astronomico di Palermo, IASF-Palermo.
The committee visited in order the Oss. Astrofisico di Catania, the Oss. Astronomico di Palermo and the IASF-Palermo.
The Palermo section of the visit was organized according to the following schedule:

DECEMBER 18
Afternoon:
Palermo - Observatory
6:30 - 7:00pm - meeting with OAPA Director

DECEMBER 19

Palermo Observatory
Morning:
9:00 - 9:45 - Director's presentation
9:45 - 10:15 - Discussion of Director's presentation
10:15 - 11:30 - staff presentations (see below)
11:30 - 11:45 - coffee break
11:45 - 12:45 - staff presentations (see below)
Afternoon:
12:45 - 3:00pm - tour of the facilities and lunch, return to Palazzo dei Normanni
3:00 - 3:45 - Discussion with senior staff
3:45 - 4:15 - Discussion with Junior staff
4:15 - 4:45 - Discussion with postdocs and students
4:45 - 5:15 - break
5:15 - 5:45 - Discussion with women scientists
5:45- 7:00 - reserved for confidential meetings with staff (at staff's request)

DECEMBER 20

IASF/PA

DECEMBER 21
9:00 – 10:00 - meeting with OAPA Director

The visiting committee members were given the OAPA 2004-2007 Status Report prepared according to Director of Structure Department indications as well as some additional requests from the Visiting committee members. This report can be found here.

STAFF PRESENTATIONS:  
  • S. SCIORTINO
"An Overview of the INAF, Osservatorio Astronomico di Palermo Giuseppe S. Vaiana "
  • G. MICELA (on behalf of the stellar group)
"Stellar systems and Populations in our Galaxy"
  • F. BOCCHINO
"Supernova Remnants @ OAPa"
  • S. ORLANDO
"Plasma Physics: HPC Modeling and Diagnostics"
  • A. COLLURA
"X-Ray Instrumentation for Astronomy"
  • A. CIARAVELLA
"The Astrobiology Research Activity at INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Palermo"
   
VISIT TO THE PALERMO SCIENTIFIC COMPUTATIONAL POLE OF CONSORZIO COMETA

VISIT TO THE XACT FACILITY OF THE INAF-OAPA