Astrophysics Research Institute

{{Infobox university

|name = Astrophysics Research Institute

|image_name = Liverpool Science Park, Innovation Centre 2.JPG

|caption = Liverpool Science Park, the institute's current location

|image_size = 270px

|established = {{start date and age|1992}}

|type = Astronomy and Astrophysics

|director = Phil James

|city = Liverpool

|campus =

|colours =

university colours

{{color box|#000066}} Navy blue

{{color box|#BBDD33}} Lime green

faculty colours
(Faculty of Engineering and Technology)

|country = England

|affiliations = Liverpool John Moores University
Liverpool Telescope (LT)

|website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20121021232739/http://www.astro.ljmu.ac.uk/Main_Page www.astro.ljmu.ac.uk]

}}

The Astrophysics Research Institute (ARI) is an astronomy and astrophysics research institute in Merseyside, UK. Formed in 1992, it stood on the Twelve Quays site in Birkenhead from 1998 until June 2013 when it relocated to the Liverpool Science Park in Liverpool.{{cite web|url=http://www.ukspa.org.uk/news/member_news/content/3853/astrophysics_research_institute_joins_liverpool_science_park |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130707081939/http://www.ukspa.org.uk/news/member_news/content/3853/astrophysics_research_institute_joins_liverpool_science_park |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 July 2013 |title=Astrophysics Research Institute Joins Liverpool Science Park |accessdate=4 June 2013 |publisher=United Kingdom Science Park Association }}{{cite web |url= http://www.ljmu.ac.uk/NewsUpdate/viewarticle/803/All |title= Astrophysics is moving |accessdate= 7 June 2013 |date= 31 May 2013 |archive-date= 5 July 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130705145808/http://www.ljmu.ac.uk/NewsUpdate/viewarticle/803/All |url-status= live }} {{As of|2007|March|alt=It is}} in the top 1% of institutions in the field of space science as measured by total citations.{{cite web |url= http://www.in-cites.com/institutions/LivplJhnMoresU-AstrphyResIns.html |title= An interview with: Liverpool John Moores University, Astrophysics Research Institute |date= March 2007 |accessdate= 7 June 2013 |archive-date= 24 September 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150924034104/http://www.in-cites.com/institutions/LivplJhnMoresU-AstrphyResIns.html |url-status= live }}

{{As of|2018|April|alt=Currently}} there are over 90 staff members and research students working at the institute,{{cite web |url= http://www.astro.ljmu.ac.uk/people |title= Staff at the Astrophysics Research Institute |accessdate= 27 April 2018 |archive-date= 28 April 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180428011642/http://www.astro.ljmu.ac.uk/people |url-status= live }} which lies within the administration of the Liverpool John Moores University's Faculty of Engineering and Technology.{{cite web |url= https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/about-us/faculties/faculty-of-engineering-and-technology |title= LJMU Faculty of Engineering and Technology |accessdate= 27 April 2018 |archive-date= 1 July 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170701021626/https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/about-us/faculties/faculty-of-engineering-and-technology |url-status= live }}

Research

The research conducted at the Institute covers many areas of astronomy and astrophysics, such as supernovae, star formation and galaxy clusters. This work is funded by external organisations, such as the Science and Technology Facilities Council,{{cite web|url=http://www.stfc.ac.uk/gow/Sm/grls.asp?cx=01&sc=0&so=oa&in=166&nv=0102&dp=15843 |title=STFC Grants on the Web: Institution analysis |publisher=Stfc.ac.uk |date=15 October 2012 |accessdate=20 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319220439/http://www.stfc.ac.uk/GOW/Sm/grls.asp?cx=01&sc=0&so=oa&in=166&nv=0102&dp=15843 |archivedate=19 March 2012 }} and the Higher Education Funding Council for England.{{cite web |url=http://www.astro.ljmu.ac.uk/aboutari |title=Astrophysics Research Institute – Liverpool John Moores University |publisher=Astro.ljmu.ac.uk |accessdate=20 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150104103940/http://www.astro.ljmu.ac.uk/aboutari |archive-date=4 January 2015 |url-status=dead }} The institute also maintains the Liverpool Telescope which is located on the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands.{{cite web | url = http://telescope.livjm.ac.uk/ | title = Liverpool Telescope | accessdate = 3 March 2012 | archive-date = 4 February 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120204074456/http://telescope.livjm.ac.uk/ | url-status = live }}

Education

The institute {{As of|2016|September|alt=currently}} offers two undergraduate courses: a 3-year BSc (Hons) in Physics and Astronomy, as well as a 4-year MPhys (Hons) in Astrophysics. Both the undergraduate courses are taught as a joint degree by the Astrophysics Research Institute of Liverpool John Moores University and the Department of Physics at the University of Liverpool. The courses are accredited by the Institute of Physics.

Postgraduate courses are made available at PhD and Master's level, with two MSc courses taught via distance learning.{{cite web | url = http://www.astronomy.ac.uk/msc | title = Astrophysics MSc | accessdate = 23 September 2016 | archive-date = 24 September 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160924091342/http://www.astronomy.ac.uk/msc | url-status = live }}

Unaccredited short courses are also made available to those who do not have a scientific or mathematical background. The Astronomy by Distance Learning courses are taught by CD-ROM, DVD and website material without the need for classroom sessions. Each of the courses provides an introduction to astronomy as well as to specialist areas such as supernovae.{{cite web | url = http://www.astronomy.ac.uk/info/index | title = Courses | accessdate = 23 September 2016 | archive-date = 24 September 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160924022509/http://www.astronomy.ac.uk/info/index | url-status = live }}

Awards

In 2006, the institute received the "Queen's Anniversary Prize" for higher education in recognition for its development of the robotic telescope.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/4717744.stm |title=UK | England | Merseyside | Royal recognition for university |publisher=BBC News |date=15 February 2006 |accessdate=20 October 2012}} In 2007, the "Times Higher Education Supplement Award" for 'project of the year' was given for the use of the RINGO optical polarimeter at the Liverpool Telescope in measuring gamma-ray bursts. RINGO has since been decommissioned and an updated polarimeter named MOPTOP has since entered operation.{{cite web |url=http://telescope.livjm.ac.uk/News/Archive/index.php?sf=s20071205 |title=The Liverpool Telescope: News : Archive : s20071205 |publisher=Telescope.livjm.ac.uk |date=5 December 2007 |accessdate=20 October 2012 |archive-date=29 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121029164146/http://telescope.livjm.ac.uk/News/Archive/index.php?sf=s20071205 |url-status=live }}