In the world's driest desert, water is a critical resource. At ALMA, every drop has a long and carefully planned journey, from its source to its reuse. Behind this process is the team led by Donald Tait, Contracts and Facilities Group (CFG) Manager, along with shift supervisors Pablo Pistoia and Alfredo Krain, who ensure that the supply works day...
In an environment as dynamic as ALMA, where multiple critical activities occur in parallel, the Planning & Coordination area plays a key role in ensuring that everything runs safely, smoothly, and in line with the observatory's priorities. The team, made up of Stefan Gairing and Octavio Hernández, both Planner/Coordinator of Operation and Maintenance, acts as a meeting point between...
This year was particularly special for ALMA: we exceeded 4,300 hours of observation, we were able to observe the interstellar comet 3I/Atlas, we monitored stellar activity in Proxima and Alpha Centauri, while continuing to make progress on the Wideband Sensitivity Upgrade (WSU). To bid farewell to the year and celebrate these achievements, we gathered at the End of Year...
The Performance & Development Dialogue (PDD) is an invitation to take a moment to pause: look back on the year, have an honest conversation, and plan for what's next. More than just a task, it's a chance to strengthen the relationship between each person and their manager, build trust, and align expectations with clarity. A good PDD starts with...
On November 27, a new edition of All-Hands was held, where the ALMA community reviewed the scientific, operational, and organizational milestones of recent months with a view to 2026. “It is essential to recognize the observatory's achievements, especially because they are the reason why ALMA works so well and why we continue to be at the forefront of astronomy...
Since its creation in 2012, the Permanent Power Supply (PPS) team —part of the Infrastructure Maintenance Group (IMG)— has been responsible for generating and distributing power throughout the observatory. “Electricity is the heart of ALMA, so this team — and the entire engineering group — strives to ensure that the supply is of the highest quality and as stable...