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Home > Public Information > Public Releases > New Director of the Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes Announced |
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Dr Rubén Sánchez-Janssen has been announced as the new Director of the Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes (ING). Dr Sánchez-Janssen is an Astronomer and Project Scientist at STFC's UK Astronomy Technology Centre (UKATC), where he leads the development of scientific instrumentation and facilities for ground- and space-based astronomy from the ultraviolet to the near-infrared, with an emphasis on future missions. He specialises in galaxy evolution, with particular focus on low-mass galaxies and star-cluster systems in the nearby Universe.
Rubén is Project and Instrument Scientist for MOSAIC, the ELT's multi-object spectrograph. He also serves as Principal Investigator for the UK's ELT instrumentation programme, which oversees the development of HARMONI, METIS, ANDES, MOSAIC, and PCS. He further extends his contributions to the ELT's development as coordinator of the Sky Subtraction ELT Working Group. He serves on the Steering Committees and Science Teams for the Widefield Spectroscopic Telescope and VLT-CUBES and is a member of the WEAVE Science Team. Drawing from extensive observational experience, including his time as an ESO Fellow and VLT Support Astronomer, Rubén previously coordinated the Horizon 2020 OPTICON Technology & Innovation Network, fostering collaboration in astronomical technology development across Europe. He said: "I am thrilled to join the ING and look forward to working with its talented team and the partner communities. Building on Dr Balcells' vision, we will continue pushing forward to establish the observatory as a leading force in spectroscopic survey astronomy. I am truly excited about the scientific discoveries ahead of us." Professor Boris Gänsicke, chairman of the ING Board, said: "I am thrilled that Dr Rubén Sánchez-Janssen is joining the ING as their new director. Rubén has an outstanding track record in leading the development of astronomical instrumentation for both ground and space-based facilities. With the new multi-object spectrograph WEAVE and the high-resolution spectrograph HARPS-3 coming online, the ING will once again be at the forefront of astronomy. The ING Board and I are looking forward to working with Rubén and all the staff at ING in this exciting new era." Rubén will follow in the footsteps of the former ING Director Dr Marc Balcells who has begun a well-deserved retirement after 15 years in post. Dr Balcells, who remains involved with the WEAVE science programmes, said: "I am delighted with the appointment of Rubén Sánchez-Janssen as new ING Director. His extensive experience with large, international instrumentation programmes and his familiarity with the UK, Spanish and Dutch astronomy communities provide a fantastic foundation for the future exploitation of the new instruments at the ING telescopes." Rubén will start at the ING in May. Until then, Dr Don Carlos Abrams is acting Director of the ING.
The Willliam Herschel (WHT) and the Isaac Newton (INT) Telescopes are operated on the island of La Palma by the Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes (ING) in the Spanish Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC). The ING is funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC-UKRI) of the United Kingdom, the Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (NWO) of the Netherlands, and the IAC in Spain. IAC's contribution to the ING is funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.
New Director of the Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes announced, UKRI press release, 15th January 2025. Rubén Sánchez-Janssen, new director of the Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes, IAC press release, 14th January, 2025.
Javier Méndez |
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