Untitled - Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de l'Observatoire de Grenoble

equipments for these tasks, from dedicated design software to adapted laboratories and an integration hall.
The use of radio-submm and optical interferometers by LAOG researchers has brought an excellent knowledge
of interferometric data processing. This was the rationale for creating in Grenoble a center of expertise in this
field (in 2000), aimed at providing software tools for the optimum use of large optical interferometers. Other
laboratories joined the process which became in 2003 the J.-M. Mariotti Center (we owe to Mariotti, a colleague
of many at LAOG, a large part of the actual VLTI concept), labeled as a ”Groupement de Recherche” by CNRS.
9.3 Organization
GRIL, as other teams, has working meetings to discuss progress in R&D activities and instrumental development.
Because of the relation between the GRIL activities strategy and the politics of LAOG in terms of instrumental
projects, technical staff evolution and technical equipment, GRIL has a specific role in the laboratory in relation
with the instrumental research and instrumental development mid to long range prospective. To this end, it
schedules dedicated brain-storming meetings for discussions of this kind aimed at making propositions to the
laboratory. For short term questions, that frequently arise in R&D and instrumentation matters, a board made
of three GRIL representatives and the management allows cross-information and decision-making.
9.4 Related activities
• Teaching activities: Members of GRIL, even not ”maitre de conférences” or ”professeur” may be involved
in teaching duties in Grenoble universities (Université Joseph-Fourier, Institut National de Physique de
Grenoble, ...) related to their instrumental expertise.
• PhD education: through PhDs in the team, a number of young scientists have benefited from the combination
of instrumentation skills and astrophysical expertise practiced in GRIL; as a result, the team is
quite efficient in terms of participation in all aspects of large instruments development, from conceptual
and technical design to their optimized exploitation.
• Education: The LAOG has been the main organizer of the EuroWinter School of Les Houches Observing
with the Very Large Telescopes Interferometer.
• Special duties: one should point out that part of the Astronomers’ instrumental involvement is service
tasks rather than research ; this part takes place in the framework Observing Services of the astronomers
( Instruments for TGE like VLT or CFHT, JMMC). Moreover several members of GRIL insure science
administration duties at the national level (ASHRA, PNPS,...) and the European level (OPTICON).
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