Ten ALMA professionals will deliver oral presentations at SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation 2026, one of the leading international conferences dedicated to the development and operation of astronomical telescopes and instrumentation. Of the 16 papers submitted by members of the observatory, ten were selected for oral presentations—the highest number ever achieved by ALMA at this event.

The conference will take place July 5–10 in Copenhagen, Denmark, and will bring together researchers, engineers, and specialists from around the world to share technological advances, solutions, challenges, and experiences related to the design, construction, and operation of astronomical observatories and instruments. The event features 13 technical sessions covering a range of topics, from telescope design and operation to software, digital infrastructure, and scientific instrumentation.

ALMA’s participation will mark a milestone for the observatory. Of the 16 proposals submitted by members of its team, ten were selected for oral presentations—the highest number ever achieved by ALMA at this event. The contributions were accepted in five of the thirteen thematic sessions, covering areas such as observatory operations, modeling, systems engineering and project management, software and digital infrastructure, ground-based telescopes, and radio astronomy technologies.

For Jorge Ibsen, Head of the ALMA Department of Computing, who also co-chairs SPIE’s Software and Cyberinfrastructure conference, this event represents a unique opportunity for knowledge exchange among observatories around the world.

“SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation is a global forum that allows those of us who work at observatories to share experiences, learn from other professionals, and discover new solutions to common challenges,” he explains.

The selection of ten projects reflects the breadth of experience gained by the ALMA teams in various areas of operations, engineering, and technological development, as well as their contribution to the international astronomical community.

The ALMA delegation will consist of Joaquín García, Theodoros Nakos, Celia Verdugo, Juande Santander-Vela, Carla Crovari, José Luis Ortiz, Matías González, Fabiola Norambuena, Álvaro González, and Francisca Solís.

“Participating in SPIE is a great opportunity to continue learning and to share some of the experience I’ve gained at ALMA. Although this will be my first presentation at a conference of this caliber, I am very excited about the chance to exchange knowledge with professionals from around the world,” says Joaquín García, Front-Line Software Support Engineer.

For her part, Carla Crovari, JAO Development Project Manager, says she is “very excited to participate in SPIE and share some of the work we do at ALMA. “My presentation highlights how collaboration between projects and teams from different regions is key to the progress of the Wideband Sensitivity Upgrade (WSU) program.”

As part of the preparation, an internal workshop will be held on June 26, during which participants will rehearse their presentations and receive feedback from other ALMA team members.The event will also provide an opportunity to share with the observatory community some of the knowledge and innovations that will be presented in Copenhagen.