Department of Space Physics became an associate member of the Virtual Alpine Observatory group

The Virtual Alpine Observatory association, freely translatable as Virtual Alpine Observatory (VAO), was founded in 2012 as a network of European high-altitude research stations located in the Alps and similar mountains. Currently, ten countries are members of the association (Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Georgia, Italy, Norway, Slovenia and Switzerland). This cross-border and interdisciplinary collaboration allows solving scientific problems related to space physics, atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere and cryosphere systems, as well as the possible environmental impacts on health. More information about the activities can be found on the official website of this association https://www.vao.bayern.de/.

On October 26, 2023, Department of Space Physics of the Institute of Experimental Physics SAS was accepted as an associate member of this group at the VAO management meeting, thanks to the initiative of RNDr. Šimon Mackovjak, PhD.. This department operates cosmic ray observatory on Lomnický štít in High Tatras. “We expect that thanks to our admission to VAO, we will strengthen our international cooperation in the field of cosmic radiation research through measurements at high-altitude observatories, and we will also be able to jointly solve some common challenges“, says Ing. Ján Kubančák, PhD., who represented the IEP SAS at the VAO management meeting.

Cooperation will enable easier exchange of data and experience between VAO members, mutual expert assistance, a joint procedure in the preparation of projects of European importance and a more diverse training of future scientific and technical workers for high-altitude observatories. Membership in VAO will thus be an important step for the further development of cosmic physics research on Lomnický štít.