About this Meeting:
This scientific meeting celebrates the distinguished career of Professor Diego García Lambas, whose work has significantly advanced cosmology and extragalactic astronomy, particularly in Argentina. His research on the large-scale structure of the universe and galaxy formation and evolution has opened new avenues for our understanding of the cosmos.
The event will gather colleagues, students, and collaborators to discuss developments in observational cosmology and galaxy formation; fields in which Diego has left an enduring legacy. Furthermore, the meeting will honor his commitment to training new generations of astronomers and his strategic vision for placing Argentina at the forefront of astronomical research.
Diego Rodolfo García Lambas
Diego Rodolfo García Lambas is a leading figure in contemporary Argentine astronomy, recognized for his significant contributions to scientific research, education, and institutional leadership.
Academic Background and Career
Born in San Juan in 1960, García Lambas earned degrees in Astronomy and Physics from the Institute of Mathematics, Astronomy, and Physics (IMAF), now FaMAF, at the National University of Córdoba (UNC). At the age of 26 , he completed his PhD in Astronomy at UNC in 1986. He conducted postdoctoral research at Princeton University under the advice of Professor James Peebles (Nobel Prize in Physics, 2019) and at the University of Oxford with Professor George Efstathiou.
Scientific Contributions
García Lambas specializes in the large-scale structure of the universe, a domain in which he has authored approximately 440 scientific publications, garnering over 10,000 citations. Among his recent contributions is the study of anomalies in the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB), such as the «Cold Spot,» potentially linked to nearby galaxies and significant for understanding Cosmology.
Additionally, Diego has also led international projects such as the Transient Optical Robotic Observatory of the South (TOROS), aimed at detecting optical counterparts to gravitational waves. He has participated in site characterization for major telescopes, including the European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT).
Educational and Institutional Leadership
He has supervised 17 doctoral theses and 30 undergraduate research projects, significantly contributing to the education of astronomers in Argentina. In addition to his role as a professor at the Astronomical Observatory of Córdoba, Diego simultaneously held a teaching position for 15 years in extragalactic astronomy at the National University of San Juan. Through this parallel engagement, he actively contributed to the training of human resources and the development of the astronomy program in that province, all while maintaining his teaching and research responsibilities in Córdoba. Over the course of several decades serving as Director of the Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Astronomy (IATE) and the Astronomical Observatory of Córdoba, he spearheaded the revitalization of the Bosque Alegre Astrophysical Station and the creation of the Macón Astronomical Center in Salta, thereby fostering the development of astronomical instrumentation in Argentina; a particularly challenging area given the high level of investment it demands in a country like Argentina, as well as a new astronomical facility in Susques, in the Province of Jujuy.
Awards and Recognitions
His distinctions include the Enrique Gaviola Award (2000) from the National Academy of Sciences, the José Luis Sérsic Award (2007) from the Argentine Astronomical Association, and the Honor Mention for Scientific Merit by the Argentine Senate (2017). He is also an Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Argentina and a Fellow of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation in the United States.