The ESMN training component was designed to meet the following
needs:
Space weather: the increasing global importance of the
influence of explosive events in the solar atmosphere on the
Earth's magnetosphere and of solar activity on the terrestrial
climate increases the need for young researchers that are
trained in gathering, analysing and interpreting solar
magnetism data.
Utilisation of European facilities: the Canary Island
telescopes and the SOHO mission are large investments that
have brought Europe to the forefront in the field. This
position is to be exploited and strengthened, the more so
since solar magnetism and space weather will constitute a
field of intense world-wide endeavour also after the project
duration.
Job perspectives: the Network schools young researchers
in techniques that are highly valuable also outside solar
physics or space weather applications, gaining much experience
in high-speed data acquisition, large-volume data handling,
sophisticated analysis techniques, and more generally in
complex problem solving including numerical simulations at the
forefront of computational physics. Such researchers are an
asset to Europe's high-technology economy.
The ESMN training program encompasssed extensive Fellow training in
solar physics research at each partner, 30 Fellowships in total. It
additionally contained the following specific elements:
Optical observing technology: optical solar telescopes,
secondary optics including adaptive optics, polarimetry
technology, fast-readout CCD technology, and large-volume data
acquisition.
Observing strategies: through sharing in the joint
observing campaigns including the pre- and post-campaign
planning and evaluation.
Data reduction and analysis techniques: training in
sophisticated computer methods to handle large amounts of
data, often involving large-volume electronic transfer.
ESMN schools. Six postdoctoral schools were
organised by th ESMN, respectively on radiation hydrodynamics,
spectropolarimetry, and solar magnetism and space
weather.
Advanced seminars. Fellows located at the university
partners took part in the advanced seminars run at these
institutions.
Postdoc exchanges.
The ESMN established frequent Fellow exchange between
partners, and also between partner telescopes.
International meetings. The ESMN made all Fellows
attend Network meetings at least once a year, and made them
participate in other meetings of interest such as solar
physics Euroconferences.
Presentation training.
All ESMN Fellows were required to represent
the ESMN and to present their own work frequently at international
meetings, and described their work in ESMN context including
formal EC reporting and reviewing.
Multidisciplinarity. Most ESMN Fellows received
extensive training in advanced computing and computer system
management, in particular in handling large data rates and
data volumes.
Training at industry. The ESMN exploited
its linkages to industry in its Fellow training.