The astronomy sector has provided many breakthroughs thanks to its combination of observational innovations and astounding computer simulations, with Europe always at the forefront. However, to ensure that Europe maintains its lead there is a need to continue with advancements in simulation technology. These are considered essential for their success. The MSCA-funded LACEGAL project will build on the success of the Horizon 2020 RISE network. It will focus on supercomputer resources and on astronomy research. The project will also create bonds between collaborating international research centres and make full use of modern EU investments in this sector.
In particular, LACEGAL focuses on trying to address fundamental questions in Observational Cosmology:
what is the dark-matter and the dark-energy that dominate the evolution of the universe ?
•how galaxies acquire their form? what determines their properties ?
•how did our Milky Way form and how it relates to its stellar populations ?
LACEGAL research program is based on developing state-of-the-art cosmological simulations and analyze them alongside new galaxy surveys, such as DESI or Euclid, to answer these key questions.