This MC project is titled “Analysing the heavy element factories of the Universe: photometric and spectroscopic sample study of kilonovae (KNe)”. The project aims to address a question "What roles do KNe play in the production of heavy elements in the Universe?" By working at Oskar Klein Centre, I have access to Electromagnetic Counterparts of Gravitational Wave sources at the Very Large Telescope (ENGRAVE), which is a leading project set up with the explicit goal to follow-up and monitor gravitational wave electromagnetic counterparts. However, there is no KN found during the LIGO-Virgo O3 period and thus it is not possible to do a sample study of KNe, as mentioned as the potential risk in the project proposal. Hence this project naturally focuses on what other sources of heavy elements there are, with massive stars being another potential avenue, and supernovae (SNe) could provide another principle source of heavy elements in the Universe.
In order to study SNe, firstly we need to find them. Since April 2019, I co-lead one of the largest public surveys in the European Southern Observatory (ESO), advanced Public ESO Spectroscopic Survey of Transient Objects (ePESSTO+). This programme provides immediate public classifications and classification spectra for transients, mainly SNe. We report 1144 classifications that make a quarter of all transient classification in the years of 2020 and 2021 and leans towards exploring new exciting transient populations. I am very active on actions of open science to make observational alerts and data public reachable in real time. By making scientific data available, “you’re enabling a lot of new science by the community to go forward in a more efficient and powerful way.” says Kyle Cranmer, a professor at New York University (Meredith Fore, 2019). I have led 60 reports in Transient Name Server AstroNote, Astronomer’s Telegram and GRB Coordinates Network circulars. By working within sky surveys, I also have been involved in more than 1500 reports to announce newly discovered transient objects, in order to encourage the community to take further follow-up observations. Our society should be benefit from the spirit of open data like this.
I work within ENGRAVE collaboration. It is a new approach and a new attempt of many different transient communities (e.g. supernovae, gamma-ray bursts, active galactic nucleus, etc.) all working together to use ESO facilities with such big amount of telescope ToO time. There are 350 scientists within the collaboration. When looking into latest big scientific achievements, they are more often done by big groups instead of individuals. Big European wide collaborations are necessary in science as they are in society, economy and politics. A common European approach for, for example climate actions, would be much more effective than local actions. On the other hand, societies are very excited about the Cosmos and GWs. Knowing where the heavy elements come from, where the Gold comes from are important science topics, and societies are curious about the origin of the Universe.
