The Institute for Astrophysics and Computational Sciences (IACS) was established in October 1996 to develop strong research and educational programs in the areas of astrophysics and computational sciences at The Catholic University of America, and promote closer cooperation between Catholic University and government agencies, particularly NASA. The ultimate goal is to enhance research, educational, and employment opportunities for Catholic University faculty, research staff, and students over what is typically offered in the academic environment. The IACS was founded within and maintains a close collaboration with the Department of Physics at Catholic University. More recently, IACS has been working on new research opportunities with the School of Engineering.
In 2011, CUA/IACS was awarded its first large cooperative agreement, the “Center for Excellence in the Physics of the Heliosphere and Sun (CEPHEUS I), with PI Professor and (then) IACS director Fred Bruhweiler. The coop consolidated research activities in NASA/GSFC’s Heliophysics Division. Subsequently, CUA/IACS was granted a 5-year no bid extension of the coop, known as CEPHEUS II, with Dr. Bob Robinson as PI. CEPHEUS II ran from 2016 to 2021.
Currently within IACS, there are two large NASA cooperative agreements:
- Partnership for Heliophysics and Space Environmental Research – PHaSER
- CUA PI – Dr. Bob Robinson
- CUA is the lead institution – partners include UMCP, UMBC, GMU, Howard U., AURA
- Evolved from previous coop – CEPHEUS
- Coop started July 2021 – ends (nominally) July 2026
- Center for Research and Exploration in Space Science & Technology II – CRESSTII
- CUA Associate Director: Dr. Tommy Wiklind
- UMCP is lead institution: partners are UMBC, CUA, Howard, SURA
- Started June 2017 – currently extended to June 2027
IACS also has a number of coop-independent researchers in both Physics and Engineering.
Image Credit: M. F. Corcoran; NASA & CUA