From July 3rd to 13th, the Institute of Space Sciences (ICE-CSIC) celebrates its sixth edition of the Summer School, whose theme is The Life Cycle of Dust. This is the second year the centre holds a 2-week long Summer School. 

This year's Summer School takes place as a face-to-face event welcoming around 40 students from 14 different countries. They will have the opportunity to broaden their knowledge, network with researchers and use the experience acquired for their thesis, PhD or post-doc research in the future while enjoying two weeks of lectures and hands-on sessions.

Today, the School's organisers welcomed the students. First, the chairs of the 6th Summer School, researchers Francisca Kemper and Álvaro Sánchez-Monge, introduced  the context of the school regarding the study of dust, which is key to a better knowledge of the Interstellar Medium and the physical processes that take place in it. They also introduced the rest of the members of the Local and Scientific Organisation Committees: Noemí Cortés, Josep Miquel Girart and José María Torrelles.

After them, the ICE-CSIC director Diego F. Torres welcomed the students and introduced what we are –a Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) institute affiliated with the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC)– and what we do: cutting-edge theoretical modelling of what we study observationally, with instruments we help build. 

Besides the lectures, the summer school also comprises a social programme for the students and lecturers to interact in an informal way.  For instance, later this week, students will receive a guided-tour of the ALBA Synchrotron, a 3rd generation Synchrotron Light facility located in Cerdanyola del Vallès (Barcelona).