On 10th October 2016, Mr. Illugi Gunnarsson, Minister of Education, Science and Culture and Mr. Sun Shuxian Vice Administrator of the State Oceanic Administration, will lay the cornerstone of the Joint China-Iceland Aurora Observatory (CIAO).
This ceremony and reception will take place in the CIAO building at Kárhóll, Þingeyjarsveit, from 17:00-19:00.
The Aurora Observatory is a scientific cooperation between Icelandic and Chinese research institutions. The aim of this cooperation is to further the scientific understanding on solar-terrestrial interaction and space weather by conducting polar upper atmosphere observations, such as auroras, geomagnetic field variations and other related phenomena, and outreach to the public.
The states have already signed an Agreement, the Icelandic Centre for Research (RANNIS) on behalf of Iceland and Polar Research Insitute of China on behalf of Chinese scientists. RANNIS coordinates and promotes Icelandic participation in collaborative international projects in science and technology. PRIC conducts comprehensive studies and outreach, operates scientific and logistic infrastructures and promotes international cooperation in the polar regions.
It is expected that Chinese scientists and other internaional visiting scientists will be doing research at the observatory and staying at the research centre for some period at at time. The joint centre for aurora observations will undoubtedly strenghten the already existing aurora observations done in Iceland and internationally. It will add to research in some areas such as in the field of spectrum analysis. The partnership with Chinese scientists can open for the possibility of cooperation in other fields of Arctic science, particularly in the field of science and natural sciences, such as biology and climate research.
RANNIS will coordinate Icelandic scientific participation and PRIC will coordinate Chinese scientific participation. All observation data will be made available and open to international scientific community.
More information about the project
