Astrophysics Research Institute - John Moores University

Description

About The Astrophysics Research Institute

Overview

The Astrophysics Research Institute (ARI) is an astronomy research group comprising of 23 active research staff within the Faculty of Science of Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU). Since 1998 the ARI has been housed in purpose-built accommodation on the Twelve Quays site in Birkenhead overlooking the river Mersey. LJMU has won the 2005 Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education for the work of the ARI. This is one of the UK's most prestigious educational awards and part of the Honours system.
Liverpool John Moores University

LJMU is the largest University of Merseyside with 2,500 staff supporting more than 20,000 students on campus sites spread throughout the vibrant city of Liverpool - European capital of culture 2008. LJMU may reasonably claim to be one of the leading research-active modern universities in the UK. The University strategic plan (2003-2008) identifies research and scholarship as one of the four 'core business' processes. In the last Research Assessment (RAE 2001) LJMU achieved the highest rating 5* (indicative of international excellence) for Sports Science, building upon its 5 rating in 1996. In addition, the University achieved a rating of 5 in General Engineering and four areas of research attracted a rating of 4: Astrophysics, Other Professions & Subjects Allied To Medicine, History and English Language & Literature. The academic life of the University is organised into 6 faculties consisting of more than 600 research-active staff.
The Faculty of Science

The Faculty of Science comprises six academic areas: the ARI, the school of Biological and Earth Sciences, the School of Biomolecular Sciences, the School of Pharmacy and Chemistry, the School of Psychology and the School of Sports and Exercise Science. Making up the Faculty are over 3,800 full and part-time students together with 278 academic and support staff. Specialist facilities include the Sports Science Acclimatisation Chamber, the Analytical and Environmental Chemistry Unit, a fully equipped Forensic Science Laboratory, a driving simulator and the World's Largest Robotic Telescope. Research in the Faculty feeds into the teaching material within undergraduate and masters programmes. Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Molecular Biosciences, Astrophysics, Organismal Biosciences and Sport Science have all received `excellent' ratings in the Government teaching quality inspections. In addition, Sports Science makes LJMU the only new university to receive top ratings for both teaching and research.
The Astrophysics Research Institute

Priorities of the ARI

The primary strategic aim of the ARI is to develop a centre of excellence in astrophysics that is recognised internationally. Our largest project is the robotic 2m Liverpool Telescope, located on La Palma, Canary Islands and run as a national facility from Liverpool. The LT is on the revised PPARC roadmap and is already influencing the international research agenda as a stand-alone facility and as part of the wider RoboNet worldwide telescope network in the area of time-domain astrophysics. The ARI also prioritises high quality and innovative Learning & Teaching offering a wide range of study opportunities from the flexible Astronomy by Distance Learning courses to MPhys & BSc Degree programmes run as a joint venture (unique to UK Physics) with the Department of Physics at The University of Liverpool. We are also prioritising major new outreach initiatives through the ARI's National Schools Observatory and the visitors centre Spaceport, based at Seacombe Ferry, both of which represent excellent opportunities to further widen access to higher education. The Queen's Anniversary Prize attests to the astronomical excellence of the ARI's science, the delivery of innovative teaching programmes, the development of the LT and our enhancement of the public engagement in science.