Por Francisco S. N. Lobo (IA / FCUL).

It is in our nature to wonder. How does the Universe work? How did the first stars and galaxies form, and how did the building blocks of everything come to be? Are we alone in the Universe? These are some of the perplexing and fascinating questions, amongst many others, that researchers at the Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences (IA) delve upon. Indeed, the mission of the IA is to foster research with the highest impact in the field of astrophysics and space sciences. This is done by assuming international leadership in key areas of astrophysics and space sciences, through state-of-the-art research and leading participation in strategic international ground and space-based projects/missions. In this talk, I will explore the IA participation in strategic ESA and ESO projects, and the science behind them, that will lay out the space odyssey at IA for 2022 and beyond in an attempt to explore the questions outlined above.

Short bio: Francisco Lobo is a researcher at the Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences (IA) and Professor with Habilitation at the Department of Physics of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon (FCUL). He is the current coordinator of the IA, and the previous Leader of the IA-Cosmology Group. He completed his PhD from the University of Lisbon in 2005. His current research interests include: modified gravity; dark energy and dark matter models; black holes; cosmology; amongst other topics.