INAF - NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR ASTROPHYSICS
The National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF) is the leading
Italian institution in the field of astronomy and astrophysics.
INAF is a public research body, established by law in 1999 (Legislative
Decree no. 296 of July 23, 1999) in order to coordinate research
activities in astrophysics through a network of 12 astrophysical
and astronomical observatories .
The Italian government has recently started a reform process
of the whole national research system and this reform involves
INAF too. In particular, Legislative Decree no. 138 of June
4, 2003, states the transfer of the following research institutes
from the National Research Council (CNR) to INAF:
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Cosmic Physics and Space Astrophysics Institute
(IASF); |
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Institute for Interplanetary Space Physics
(IFSI); |
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Institute of Radioastronomy (IRA) |
INAF, consequently, widens its interests and fields of activity
including space astrophysics and radioastronomy.
The law defines mission, activities, statutory bodies, organizational
and functioning principles and criteria with the purpose of
promoting and linking operating structures of excellence,
preventing duplication of similar institutional subjects,
guaranteeing the maximum level of flexibility, autonomy and
effectiveness.
INAF's primary aims:
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support to the basis research in astrophysics
and astronomy; |
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development of innovative technology for
space and ground instruments; |
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participation in international projects,
also for the realization of innovative facilities (e.g.
Large Binocular Telescope - LBT and Very Large Telescope
Survey - VST); |
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promotion of the training and the technical-professional
advancement of Italian researchers through scholarships
and research grants; |
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public outreach |
The sphere of INAF's tasks includes the study of the universe
through astronomical observations, experiments and theories,
with the aim of understanding the structure, composition and
evolution of celestial objects.
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Research structures
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10 Astronomical observatories: Torino, Brera
(Milano), Trieste, Padova, Bologna,Teramo, Roma, Capodimonte
(Napoli), Palermo, Cagliari.
2 Astrophysical Observatories: Arcetri (Firenze), Catania.
3 Institutes: Cosmic Physics and Space Astrophysics Institute
(IASF); Institute for Interplanetary Space Physics (IFSI);
Institute of Radioastronomy (IRA).
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National Facilities
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TNG: Telescopio Nazionale Galileo, La Palma
(Islands Canarie, Spagna)
LBT,Large Binocular Telescope, Mount Graham , Arizona
(USA).
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Staff
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992 people of which 315 permanent research
staff, 217 post-doc, fellows, etc. For effect of the current
reform, people working in the 3 institutes has to be added:
about 450, of which 302 researchers. |
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Web site
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www.inaf.it |
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The
European Researcher's Mobility Portal 
