History of IAFE

The Institute of Astronomy and Space Physics (IAFE) was created by the CONICET Board of Directors at its meeting on December 29, 1969. It was born from a restructuring of the National Center for Cosmic Radiation (CNRC), which had financial support from the CNEA and the facilities provided by the Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences of the UBA (FCEyN-UBA) with the aim of:

Since 2005, with the framework agreement signed by the President of CONICET, Dr. Eduardo Charreau, and the Rector of the UBA, Dr. Guillermo Jaim Etcheverry, the IAFE belongs to the growing number of research institutes with shared management between both institutions.

Today, IAFE is a thriving Institute with a well-earned international reputation, with almost 100 members, including researchers, doctoral and post-doctoral fellows, undergraduate students writing their undergraduate theses, as well as members of the Support Staff.

Conduct scientific research in the field of Astronomy and Space Physics
Provide assistance and advice to other institutions interested in the disciplines that it cultivates
Contribute to the training of researchers, technicians and the development of teaching in these same disciplines
Disseminate information about their specific field, through approved means and procedures
Maintain scientific relations with similar national, foreign and international institutions

The IAFE was founded by CNRC staff, members of the Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences of the UBA and a group of astronomers from the Faculty of Astronomical and Geophysical Sciences of the National University of La Plata. This last group included the first director of the IAFE, Dr. Jorge Sahade, a distinguished astronomer of international renown who had directed the Astronomical Observatory of La Plata and was later dean of the Faculty of Exact Sciences of the National University of La Plata. Dr. Sahade served as Director of the IAFE from its founding until 1974. Between 1974 and 1976, Engineer Máximo Pupareli temporarily assumed the position of Director of the Institute. In 1976, Mr. Horacio Ghielmetti, former Director of the CNRC, one of the initiators of the study of cosmic rays in the country along with Dr. Juan Roederer, assumed the position of Director of the Institute. Mr. Ghielmetti remained as Director until his death in 1995. He was succeeded by Dr. Marta Rovira, who served as Director of the Institute until December 2004. Subsequently, Dr. Rafael Ferraro was appointed as Interim Director of the IAFE, serving in that capacity until August 2009. In September 2009, Dr. Gloria Dubner, appointed by competitive examination, took over as Director. In 2018, Dr. Daniel Gómez took over as Director of the Institute, also by competitive examination.

The lines of research currently being developed maintain the founding objectives of the Institute:

THE EARTH FROM SPACE
SUN, COOL STARS, AND PLANETARY SYSTEMS
INTERTSELLAR MEDIUM AND STELLAR EVOLUTION
GALAXIES AND THE UNIVERSE AT LARGE SCALE
ASTROPHYSICAL PLASMAS
QUANTUM DYNAMICS OF MATTER
THEORIES OF GRAVITATION, COSMOLOGY AND STRINGS

IAFE also carries out joint actions with the rest of the country’s astronomical institutions, with Faculties of Sciences of different Universities, and other organizations such as the National Atomic Energy Commission and the National Commission of Space Activities, as well as with various institutions abroad through agreements and exchanges. The research activity is complemented by a broad agenda of scientific dissemination aimed at high school students and the general public.