Project Profile: GraWIToN
GraWIToN is an initial training network funded by the European Commission under the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions for four years, beginning in February 2014.
The Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellows involved in the project come from institutions in France, Germany, Italy and the UK.
The project aims to train 13 PhD students in the research area of gravitational waves (GW).
Gravitational waves were produced as two black holes collided to produce a single massive spinning black hole 21 times the mass of the Sun.
This event confirms that pairs of black holes are quite common. The first detection of gravitational waves was made using the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) and the Virgo interferometer and announced on 11 February 2016. Predicted in Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity of 1915, representing a milestone in physics and astronomy, a second detection of GW has now been confirmed.
LIGO collaboration unites more than 1,000 scientists from 15 countries, with more than 90 universities and research institutions participating. In Europe, British, German, Spanish and Hungarian institutes and universities are members of the LIGO scientific collaboration.
Virgo collaboration unites another 250 scientists from five European countries, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and Hungary.
More than 450 European scientists are collaborating in the LIGO and Virgo teams.
The PhD students will participate in this research environment whilst being trained to use cutting-edge technologies in the GW detectors.
Astrophysics training, which is fundamental for a future researcher in this field, completes the multidisciplinary aspect of the project, which also aims to address management and outreaching skills. The young researchers will then acquire a doctorate degree and increased employment opportunities.
To find out more about the GraWIToN project, click here.
