The EDUCATE centre

Excellence Centre on Dark Matter and Dark Energy

EDUCATE: Excellence Dark Universe Centre and Technology Enabler, with Professor Ariel Goobar as the main applicant, is granted nearly SEK 30 million. Co-applicants include Jon Gudmundsson, Timothy Linden, and Hiranya Peiris from the Department of Physics, as well as Christian Ohm from KTH Royal Institute of Technology. Other key individuals involved are Sara Strandberg, Jens Jasche, and Christophe Clement. The center will be organized within the Oskar Klein Centre, which is a joint venture between Stockholm University and KTH.

"Despite dark matter and dark energy constituting 95 percent of the cosmic composition, we still know nothing about their nature. The mystery of the universe's dark side is undoubtedly among the most fascinating scientific questions we face," says Ariel Goobar.

In the coming years, new sensitive particle detectors will be built, and groundbreaking astronomical observation programs will be carried out. The new generation of instruments requires advanced analysis techniques to handle the volume and complexity of the data. Therefore, a strong emphasis will be placed on developing new algorithms and machine learning techniques to optimize the acquisition of new knowledge.

There are plans to establish a dedicated branch of the doctoral program under the centre's auspices, enabling students to be trained and develop the necessary skills for the optimal utilization of upcoming observations.

"By hosting visits from leading international experts, we will be able to offer world-class education. We are also keen on interaction with representatives from the business sector, specifically high-tech companies. Our ambition is for the interaction with the industry to lead to cross-fertilization between cutting-edge basic research and the most advanced industrial applications," says Ariel Goobar.

Activities

The EDUCATE centre is currently pursuing three activities:

1. The organisation of three new courses (Data analysis with machine learning, Advanced Astroparticle Physics and Advanced Cosmology).
2. Recruitment of an assistant professor in data-intensive methods in fundamental physics, astrophysics and cosmology.
3. Establishing industry connection for interchange between the academy and industry concerning machine learning techniques.