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School Statements

School of Cosmic Physics Statements


Vision Statement

A premier-destination academic school, training scholars and conducting and leading advanced research within Ireland, Europe and globally in its areas of expertise.

Mission Statement

The School of Cosmic Physics promotes the use of Physics in increasing our knowledge and understanding of the world around us by:

  • being a leading international centre for studies of the Earth and the Universe;
  • providing a focus within Ireland for these areas of research;
  • facilitating Irish involvement in relevant international programmes;
  • providing specialised advanced training;
  • and by publishing and publicising advances in Cosmic Physics

Strategy Statement

During the second half of the first decade of the 21st century, the school will endeavour to be Excellent, Aligned, and Linked.

Excellent: in the science that we do and the training that we undertake,

Aligned: with Irish, EU and International initiatives, and

Linked: to Irish, EU and International partners.

Welcome to the School of Cosmic Physics, a Constituent school of the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies. The School was established in 1947 (Statutory Rules and Orders, 1947, no 77), and consists of two sections which are each led by a Senior Professor appointed by the President on the advice of Government:

The primary duty of the school is “the theoretical, observational and experimental investigation of the problems of cosmic physics, including astronomy and astrophysics, cosmic rays, plasma physics, geophysics, meteorology and oceanography”. The School is funded through an annual grant to the Institute from the Department of Education and has in recent years attracted substantial external funding from The European Union, Science Foundation Ireland, The Higher Education Authority and other sources.

The School provides research facilities for postdoctoral fellows as well as advanced postgraduate training and it awards a number of scholarships annually. The School is under the control of a Governing Board appointed by the President on the advice of Government.

In addition to its primary statutory obligation to conduct research ‘at the frontiers of knowledge’, the School is active in a number areas that directly impinge on the public. For example the expanded public open night program at Dunsink Observatory. The Geophysics Section has played a pioneering role in exploring the strategic and economic potential of the continental shelf off the coast of Ireland, and the Astronomy & Astrophysics has played a leading role in an EU programme to measure the cosmic ray radiation hazard for commercial aircraft flights.

The School’s research programme is defined by its rolling science strategy:

The work of the school is documented in detail in the annual reports:

Annual Report: 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999

At its meeting on 27th September 2006 the Governing Board of the School adopted the European Charter for Researchers.