Prof. Grzegorz Pietrzyński from the Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center, Polish Academy of Sciences has been awarded a highly competitive European Research Council (ERC) Proof of Concept grant for his project “Toward Autonomous Observatories” (AutObs), securing €150,000 to advance a transformative vision for the future of astronomical observation.
The ERC Proof of Concept scheme supports researchers who have already demonstrated excellence in frontier science with earlier ERC grants and now aim to explore the commercial or societal potential of their breakthrough ideas. AutObs was one of only 300 projects selected across 23 countries from among 879 proposals in the 2025 competition cycle.
The AutObs initiative aims to develop cutting-edge software capable of managing multiple telescopes and scientific instruments simultaneously in real time. Instead of astronomers manually selecting targets and controlling each instrument, the system will autonomously:
- assess sky conditions and weather in real time,
- prioritise scientific objectives,
- allocate the best telescope or instrument for each task,
- deliver fully calibrated data ready for analysis.
This novel approach can boost the efficiency of astronomical observations by up to 30%, significantly improve data quality, and reduce operational costs – addressing key challenges in contemporary astrophysics where vast datasets and complex scheduling demands are the norm.
A natural proving ground for this innovation is the Cerro Murphy Observatory in northern Chile, one of the world’s top sites for optical and infrared astronomy due to its altitude and exceptionally clear skies. Operated by Pietrzyński’s institution, the observatory will provide the real-world environment needed to refine and validate the autonomous control software.
Prof. Pietrzyński completed his physics studies and doctoral degree at the University of Warsaw and habilitation before receiving the title of professor of physical sciences in 2014. Over decades he has collaborated with leading research centres, including Princeton University and the European Southern Observatory, and spent 20 years at the Astronomical Observatory of the University of Warsaw. He has taught and conducted research across Europe and Asia, and his awards include the Prize of the Foundation for Polish Science and the Polish-French Science Prize named after Maria Skłodowska-Curie and Pierre Curie.
Congratulations to Prof. Pietrzyński for this remarkable achievement. His work not only highlights the strength of Polish science on the European stage but also points toward a future where intelligent observatories transform how we explore the cosmos.
The original content was published on the website: https://forumakademickie.pl/grant-erc-proof-of-concept-dla-prof-grzegorza-pietrzynskiego/
