Access to the EVN via the EC's RadioNet Programme

The EVN is an "open" facility and encourages use of the network by astronomers not specialised in the VLBI technique. All scientists, whether or not affiliated to EVN consortium institutes, can obtain observing time on the EVN via the standard peer-review selection process.

All EVN users receive:

• EVN observations and absentee correlation of the data.
• JIVE Support Scientist Assistance - a JSS is assigned to each project. The JSS is available to directly support scheduling the observation, correlation of the data, and post-correlation analysis. Visitor support facilities at JIVE include four high-end workstations running the latest version of AIPS, Difmap, and other useful packages.

The members of the research team from eligible projects may also receive travel subsidies through the EC's RadioNet trans-national access (TNA) program. In the specific case of the EVN, "eligible" means in brief that:

• The PI is from an institute in a country of the EU or Associated States, with the exception of the Netherlands.
• The same criterion, but applied collectively to 50% or more of the individual members of the research team.
• The research team is defined by the co-authors listed on the observing proposal, and the association of researcher with institute remains fixed at that shown on the proposal.

The trans-national access support includes travel reimbursement for visits to JIVE or other EVN institues (other than a research member's own institute) in order to analyse and process EVN, EVN-MERLIN or global VLBI Data. The PI may select one member of the project team (from an institute in the EC or associated countries) to receive this travel support.

More detailed information about the RadioNet TNA program, its eligibility criteria, and requested feedback are available from the RadioNet web site at: RadioNet TNA web page.

How Do I Apply?

EVN Users who wish to take advantage of this programme should submit EVN Observing Proposals (see the EVN User Guide) in the usual way. If the Proposal is accepted by the EVN PC and scheduled then the user will gain automatic access to this support program. Users need not do anything further and will be notified once the experiment is placed on the EVN block schedule.

Requested TNA Acknowledgment

If you have a project that is eligible for support via the RadioNet TNA program, would you please include an acknowledgment in papers, conference proceedigs, etc. that result from the project:

This work has benefited from research funding from the European Community's sixth Framework Programme under RadioNet R113CT 2003 5058187.

Of course, there also remains the standard EVN acknowledgment:

The European VLBI Network is a joint facility of European, Chinese, South African and other radio astronomy institutes funded by their national research councils.

Further information on access to the EVN through the EC's RadioNet TNA program can be obtained from Bob Campbell.