191
• To try to be different from well-established summer schools while learning
from their successes
• To make the IAC and its Observatories known to astrophysicists of
the future
With these baselines we began by studying the lay of the land and building
on the experience of previous years. As a matter of fact, when preparing each
new school, we get the organizers of the previous school together with those
organizing the next one in order carry out a detailed critique of the last school
with a view to assessing what improvements might be introduced. With this
procedure, we maintain a permanently updated protocol of action.
We soon began to make progress; for example, by having the lectures published by Cambridge University Press, a leading publisher in the scientific
world. These books form a series that constitutes an up-to-date panorama of
topics of the day imparted by leaders in the field. The books occupy a place on
the shelves of all specialized libraries. So as to keep the topics as fresh as possible, lecturers are urged to come to the school with their chapters already
drafted so that we can get the edited proceedings manuscript to the publisher
as quickly as possible.
With a view to fostering contacts, we have always tried to organize matters
to ensure strong interaction between lecturers and students. Students are
encouraged to make presentations of their research by giving a brief talk or a
poster. The lecturers discuss these presentations during a session dedicated to
the students’ work.
Invariably included in the programme are visits to IAC headquarters, Teide
Observatory, and Roque de los Muchachos Observatory. It is tight schedule,
but time is set aside, apart from the traditional closing dinner, for relaxation
and the opportunity to sample the delights of the Canaries. Our own doctoral
students, who are invited free of charge to the school, act as hosts. We want
the impression the students carry away with them to be a lasting one for both
the work accomplished and the friendly atmosphere.
We take every opportunity to acquaint the participants with cultural aspects
of Canarian society. Also, one of the school lecturers is invited to give a public
talk at the Tenerife Museum of Science and the Cosmos in La Laguna. We try
to promote the Canaries with visits to typical local venues, such as wine cellars, and various social events.
One of our aims is to get students from developed countries to intermingle
with those from countries where research is less advanced, and there have
been cases in which research collaborations have arisen from such encounters.
Roughly half of the students are given grants. The winter schools are
19 Training Future Generations…
• To try to be different from well-established summer schools while learning
from their successes
• To make the IAC and its Observatories known to astrophysicists of
the future
With these baselines we began by studying the lay of the land and building
on the experience of previous years. As a matter of fact, when preparing each
new school, we get the organizers of the previous school together with those
organizing the next one in order carry out a detailed critique of the last school
with a view to assessing what improvements might be introduced. With this
procedure, we maintain a permanently updated protocol of action.
We soon began to make progress; for example, by having the lectures published by Cambridge University Press, a leading publisher in the scientific
world. These books form a series that constitutes an up-to-date panorama of
topics of the day imparted by leaders in the field. The books occupy a place on
the shelves of all specialized libraries. So as to keep the topics as fresh as possible, lecturers are urged to come to the school with their chapters already
drafted so that we can get the edited proceedings manuscript to the publisher
as quickly as possible.
With a view to fostering contacts, we have always tried to organize matters
to ensure strong interaction between lecturers and students. Students are
encouraged to make presentations of their research by giving a brief talk or a
poster. The lecturers discuss these presentations during a session dedicated to
the students’ work.
Invariably included in the programme are visits to IAC headquarters, Teide
Observatory, and Roque de los Muchachos Observatory. It is tight schedule,
but time is set aside, apart from the traditional closing dinner, for relaxation
and the opportunity to sample the delights of the Canaries. Our own doctoral
students, who are invited free of charge to the school, act as hosts. We want
the impression the students carry away with them to be a lasting one for both
the work accomplished and the friendly atmosphere.
We take every opportunity to acquaint the participants with cultural aspects
of Canarian society. Also, one of the school lecturers is invited to give a public
talk at the Tenerife Museum of Science and the Cosmos in La Laguna. We try
to promote the Canaries with visits to typical local venues, such as wine cellars, and various social events.
One of our aims is to get students from developed countries to intermingle
with those from countries where research is less advanced, and there have
been cases in which research collaborations have arisen from such encounters.
Roughly half of the students are given grants. The winter schools are
19 Training Future Generations…