Astronomy has entered the era of Big Data with the advent of next-generation ground-based and space-borne instruments able to carry out all-sky surveys from gamma-rays to radio bands. In this landscape,Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a key resource, as it enables the efficient analysis and interpretation of vast amounts of complex astronomical data that traditional methods struggle to handle. By leveraging Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL)techniques, AI can accelerate discoveries, uncover hidden patterns, and extract meaningful insights from the massive amount of data produced by modern telescopes, simulations, and space missions.
Over the last decade, INAF has been deeply involved in and has made significant investments in the design and development of large astronomical projects, such as SKA and precursors, CTA, Euclid, Vera-Rubin, ELT, Gaia, and others. In this context, promoting and enhancing AI skills within the INAF community is essential not only for addressing the data analysis, scientific and technological challenges that arise in these projects but also for strengthening INAF’s role in these international collaborations.
Indeed, during the visits that USC8 conducted in recent months to various INAF sites, a strong interest in AI techniques emerged from the community. This interest led us to propose a new thematic group dedicated to this topic.
The group was formed following a kickoff round table held on July 12, 2024, during the ML4ASTRO2where interested INAF researchers gathered to discuss ideas and proposals regarding the group’s objectives and development.
Objectives
The primary goal of the “AI in Astronomy” thematic group is to facilitate the sharing of knowledge, experiences and best practices, provide support, and promote collaboration among INAF researchers who are currently using or plan to use ML/DL techniques in their research. Additionally, the group aims to foster synergies between various astrophysical topics where a specific ML/DL approach could serve as a connecting link.
By pooling their expertise, the group aims to help members identify suitable solutions for specific problems, and tackle the challenges of applying AI models in astronomy – from data preparation and preprocessing to model development, training, testing, optimization, and deployment.
The group can also encourage synergies between various INAF sites for various scopes, including for example:
collaborative development of software or datasets;
investigating emerging technologies;
producing joint publications;
organizing periodic workshops, schools, and conferences to promote knowledge sharing and training within the community;
building a critical mass to prepare proposals for EU and national grants, or INAF projects (e.g. Large, Technology, or Data Analysis grants);
discussing and advocating for recruitment opportunities, career paths, and progression – from PhD to staff positions – within INAF for AI specialists and data analysts.
Contact info
Everyone interested, including those who are not experts in the field, is more than welcome to join the group, either as participants or as organizers of initiatives and events.
To join the group or for further information, please contact us at the following mail address: usc8-ai@inaf.it
These additional mailing lists are also available:
Group coordinators: usc8-ai-mgt@inaf.it
WG Projects: usc8-ai-projects@inaf.it
WG Training: usc8-ai-training@inaf.it
WG Outreach: usc8-ai-outreach@inaf.it
Group promoters
Simone Riggi (INAF-OACT)
Giuliano Taffoni (INAF-OATS)
Group coordinator
Simone Riggi (INAF-OACT)
Group members
| Affiliation | Local Coordinator | Members |
| INAF OATS | N/A | Giuliano Taffoni |
| INAF OACT | Simone Riggi | Simone RiggiFederico IncardonaCristobal BordiuUgo BeccianiFilomena BufanoEva SciaccaFrancesco SchilliròThomas CecconelloMauro ImbroscianoMarco Sortino Farida FarsianGiuseppe RomeoGiorgia VitanzaAlfio Concetto Giuffrida Gaetano ScandariatoMassimiliano Belluso |
| UNICT | N/A | Giuseppe PuglisiAndrei MesingerMaria Letizia PumoStefano Pio Cosentino |
| INAF OAB | N/A | Marco Landoni |
| INAF OAA | Fabio Rossi | Alessio Turchi Guido Agapito Giuseppe Germano Sacco Fabio RossiFrancesco Belfiore Aleksandra AvdeevaLuca OlmiMarina Vela NunezMarco XomperoAlessandro MarconiMatteo MenessiniMaria TsantakiPietro FerraiuoloStefano Zibetti |
| IRA Bo | Tatiana Muraveva | Nicolò AntoniettiChiara StuardiClaudio Gheller Andrea GiannettiFrancesco FioriTiziana TrombettiCarlo BuriganaMatteo Stagni |
| INAF OAS | Nicolò Parmiggiani Ambra Di Piano Andrea BulgarelliCristiano Fanelli Lorenzo MontiTatiana MuravevaStefano EttoriValentina FiorettiDaniela VerganiMassimo MeneghettiSandra CaddeoAdam AndrewsGiovanni De CesareGiulia Stratta | |
| INAF OAPa | N/A | Giovanni Peres |
| INAF IASF-Pa | N/A | Antonio Pagliaro Francesco InturrisiAntonino D’AìFabio PintoreAnna AnzaloneAntonio Tutone |
| INAF IASF-Mi | Mario Pasquato | Lorenzo Piga Eleonora Villa Susanna Bisogni Adriana GargiuloCarmelita CarboneMario PasquatoPiero TrevisanGiustina VietriLucio Chiappetti |
| INAF OACn | Ylenia Maruccia | Ylenia MarucciaStefano CavuotiGiuseppe Riccio Giuseppe Angora Giuseppe Sarracino Aiswarya Unni |
| UNINA | N/A | Nicola NapolitanoMassimo Brescia |
| INAF OAC | Alessandro Cabras | Alessandro CabrasAndrea CabrioluAndrea PossentiElise EgronMarco MarongiuMatteo TruduSergio Poppi |
| INAF OA Abruzzo | Stefano Di Frischia | Stefano Di FrischiaSimone SacquegnaElisa Portaluri |
| INAF IAPS | Edoardo Giancarli | Edoardo Giancarli Alessandro AronicaMaria Babakhanyan Stone |
| INAF Lecce | Romolo Politi |
WP “Projects”
WP Coordinator: TBD
| Affiliation | Members |
| INAF OACT | Simone RiggiGiuseppe RomeoEva SciaccaMauro ImbroscianoGaetano ScandariatoFilomena Bufano |
| UNICT | Andrei MesingerMaria Letizia Pumo |
| INAF OAA | Alessio Turchi Luca OlmiMarina Vela NunezMarco XomperoAlessandro MarconiFabio RossiGiuseppe Germano Sacco Maria TsantakiStefano Zibetti |
| IRA Bo | Matteo StagniAndrea GiannettiNicolò AntoniettiFrancesco FioriTiziana TrombettiCarlo Burigana |
| INAF OAS | Cristiano Fanelli Stefano EttoriValentina FiorettiDaniela VerganiLorenzo MontiMassimo MeneghettiNicolò Parmiggiani Adam AndrewsMicol Bolzonella (TBC)Felice Cusano (TBC) |
| INAF IASF-Pa | Antonio TutoneAntonino D’AìFabio Pintore |
| INAF IASF-Mi | Carmelita CarboneAdriana GargiuloGiustina VietriEleonora VillaLucio Chiappetti |
| INAF OACn | Aiswarya UnniGiuseppe Riccio Giuseppe Sarracino |
| UNINA | Massimo Brescia |
| INAF OAC | Andrea CabrioluSergio PoppiAndrea PossentiElise EgronMatteo Trudu |
| INAF OA Abruzzo | Stefano Di FrischiaSimone SacquegnaElisa Portaluri |
WP “Training”
WP Coordinator: TBD
| Affiliation | Members |
| INAF OACT | Simone RiggiCristobal BordiuMauro ImbroscianoGiorgia VitanzaFilomena Bufano |
| UNICT | Andrei MesingerMaria Letizia Pumo |
| INAF OAA | Aleksandra AvdeevaAlessio Turchi Marina Vela NunezMatteo MenessiniPietro Ferraiuolo |
| IRA Bo | Andrea GiannettiChiara Stuardi |
| INAF IASF-Pa | Francesco Inturrisi |
| INAF OACn | Ylenia Maruccia |
| INAF OAC | Marco Marongiu |
| INAF IAPS | Alessandro Aronica |
WP “Outreach”
WP Coordinator: Ylenia Maruccia
| Affiliation | Membri |
| INAF OACT | Cristobal BordiuAlfio Concetto Giuffrida |
| UNICT | Stefano Pio Cosentino |
| INAF OAA | Aleksandra Avdeeva |
| IRA Bo | Chiara Stuardi |
| INAF OAS | Sandra Caddeo |
| INAF IASF-Pa | Antonio Pagliaro Anna AnzaloneRodolfo Canestrari (TBC) |
| INAF OACn | Ylenia Maruccia |
| INAF OAC | Sergio Poppi |
| INAF OA Abruzzo | Simone Sacquegna |