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An Opportunity for Ireland to Build a LOFAR Radio Telescope and Join the

European LOFAR Network

Big Science meets Big Data

Prof.  Peter  Gallagher  Trinity  College  Dublin  

www.lofar.ie

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LOFAR in Germany

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Low  Frequency  Array  (LOFAR)  

   €150  million  invested  in  50  LOFAR  radio  telescopes  by      Netherlands,  France,  Germany,  Sweden,  and  UK        Research  in  astrophysics,  meteorology,  agriculture,  and  ICT        Brings  together  educators,  researchers  and  industry          Stepping  stone  to  EU’s  €1.5  billion  Square  Kilometre  Array  

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International LOFAR Network

Proposed

Existing

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LOFAR Science

Stars and Planets

Space Weather

The Universe

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Potential for Nobel Prize

LOFAR will reveal the structure of Universe soon after the Big Bang for the first time – a potential Nobel Prize

LOFAR invented by an Irishman, Prof. George Miley

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All-­‐Ireland  I-­‐LOFAR  Consor9um  

•  Trinity  College  Dublin  •  University  College  Cork  •  NUI  Galway  •  Dublin  InsQtute  for  Advanced  Studies  •  Dublin  City  University  •  Armagh  Observatory  •  Queen’s  University  Belfast  •  University  College  Cork  •  NUI  Maynooth  •  University  College  Dublin  •  Cork  InsQtute  of  Technology  •  Dublin  InsQtute  of  Technology  

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Big Science meets Big Data

IBM supercomputer at LOFAR core Just awarded €36 million by Dutch for SKA

Intune Networks Ltd. (Dublin) Examplar high-speed data network

Skytek Ltd. (Dublin) Large-scale data processing software

Analog Devices Ltd. (Limerick) Analog to digital converters

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I-­‐LOFAR  and  Birr  Castle        Legacy  in  global  science        Ideal  locaQon  for  I-­‐LOFAR  

   Investment  in  the  midlands      

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3rd Earl of Rosse

M51 Whirlpool “Nebula”

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I-LOFAR and Birr Technology Centre

Upgraded broadband for Birr Town and Birr Technology Centre

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LOFAR in the News

Solar observatory flares into life The CALLISTO antenna at Trinity College Dublin's Rosse Solar-Terrestrial Observatory in Birr Castle Demesne.

Desmond to invest in radio telescope for Birr Mr Desmond met a group of Irish scientists last Friday to discuss the building of a state-of-the-art radio telescope at Birr Castle, Co Offaly.

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I-LOFAR Costs

€150 million to build International LOFAR Network €1.5 million to purchase and install LOFAR station in Birr €1.5 billion opportunity for Ireland in Square Kilometer Array I-LOFAR is <1% of Irish science budget for a huge impact on

Irish science, universities, companies, and the midlands.

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Progress to date

•  €150k from Denis O’Brien, Dermot Desmond and Joe Hogan

•  €200k US Office of Aerospace R&D proposal in preparation

•  LOFAR fundraising event at Space Expo in TCD event (June 7)

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I-LOFAR: International Big Science for Low Cost