Welcome

Welcome to the Institute of Cosmos Sciences of the University of Barcelona.

The ICC is a university institute devoted to the research in fundamental aspects of the physical world, from its smallest parts (microcosmos) to its largest ones (macrocosmos). Topics such as cosmology, astrophysics, space science, fundamental structure of matter and more theoretical and speculative aspects are amply represented at the ICC.

The ICC is also an instrument to encourage the participation of UB researchers in the big scientific challenges in Physics and Astrophysics of the XXIth century and in the Catalan, Spanish and European large scientific infrastructures. Thus, we want to promote research with a high experimental and observational content.

The answer to these scientific challenges often needs a coordinated effort among different areas. For instance, understanding the structure of stars needs the effort of astrophysicists, nuclear physicists and particle physicists, and, in the case of the solar system, it also needs dedicated space missions.

Finding out the origin of the mysterious cosmic rays requires the combined work of experimental high energy physicists, astronomers and radioastronomers. To observe the neutrinos emission of a supernova and to understand the mechanisms of these spectacular explosions one needs to go to a subterranean laboratory and use particle physics sophisticated experimental techniques. We cannot find the nature of the universe dark matter without the knowledge of cosmology and theoretical physics, and the techniques of nuclear physics are essential to detect it directly and to measure its properties.

Progress in our knowledge of the Cosmos cannot be made from separate areas alone anymore. It is essential that a number of theoretical and experimental experts work together. To bring together these experts is the principal mission of the ICC.

The sophisticated techniques that we physicits and astrophysicits require in order to advance in the knowledge of the physical world necessitates instruments that are at the limit of what is technically feasible. This acts as a locomotive of progress in instrumentation and sooner or later translates into important technological returns and in knowledge transfer to the industry.

Many of these activities go beyond the possibilities of a normal university department. Science has become progressively more complex and bigger. If the UB wants to be a leading university she must establish research structures to make it possible. The ICC is born with this purpose and with the intention to become a leading center as befits the first academic institution of our Country.