Nota de prensa

Andreas Kaufer será el próximo Director General de ESO

27 de Octubre de 2025

El Consejo del Observatorio Europeo Austral (ESO) nombró a Andreas Kaufer como el nuevo director general de la organización. Kaufer, quien actualmente se desempeña como director de operaciones de ESO, asumirá el cargo en septiembre de 2026, sucediendo a Xavier Barcons, quien continuará en funciones hasta fines de agosto de ese año.

El Consejo del Observatorio Europeo Austral (ESO) nombró a Andreas Kaufer como el nuevo director general de la organización. Kaufer, quien actualmente se desempeña como director de operaciones de ESO, asumirá el cargo en septiembre de 2026, sucediendo a Xavier Barcons, quien continuará en funciones hasta fines de agosto de ese año.

El presidente del Consejo de ESO, Tom Ray, destacó: “Nos complace anunciar que Andreas Kaufer ha aceptado el cargo de Director General de ESO. Tras haber liderado las operaciones de la organización durante más de 17 años, cuenta con la experiencia ideal para conducir a ESO en los próximos años, un período en el que veremos la finalización del Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) y la búsqueda del nuevo proyecto de vanguardia de ESO”.

Ray agregó: “Agradezco profundamente a Xavier Barcons por su incansable liderazgo desde septiembre de 2017 y por continuar guiando la organización en los próximos meses. Bajo su dirección, ESO ha avanzado de manera significativa en una gran variedad de proyectos, en especial en la construcción del ELT, enfrentando con éxito numerosos desafíos.

Nacido en Heidelberg, Alemania, Andreas Kaufer obtuvo su doctorado en Astronomía en la Universidad de Heidelberg en 1996. Posteriormente, trabajó en el Observatorio Estatal de Heidelberg, donde construyó instrumentos astronómicos y desarrolló investigaciones en los campos de las atmósferas variables de estrellas masivas y la evolución química de las galaxias.

Kaufer se incorporó a ESO en 1999, contribuyendo al inicio de operaciones del entonces recién construido Very Large Telescope (VLT). En 2006 fue nombrado director del Observatorio La Silla Paranal, y desde 2008 se desempeña como director de operaciones de ESO, cargo en el que supervisa las operaciones integrales de los observatorios de ESO en Chile y del segmento europeo de las operaciones del Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA).

El actual Director General, Xavier Barcons, señaló: “Me alegra profundamente que el Consejo de ESO haya elegido a Andreas Kaufer para liderar la organización en los próximos años. Haber trabajado estrechamente con él durante mi gestión me permite afirmar que es un líder capaz, confiable, visionario y humilde, profundamente comprometido con esta institución. No tengo dudas de que guiará a ESO con éxito a través de los desafíos y logros que se avecinan.

Por su parte, Andreas Kaufer expresó: “Es un gran honor asumir la dirección de ESO tras la excelente gestión de Xavier. Mi compromiso es mantener a ESO a la vanguardia de la tecnología, garantizar la finalización del ELT y proteger los sitios únicos en Chile que hacen todo esto posible. También espero con entusiasmo participar en la definición del próximo nuevo proyecto de vanguardia de ESO y seguir trabajando junto al equipo excepcional de la organización, tanto en Chile como en Alemania, en los años venideros.”

Contactos

Bárbara Ferreira
ESO Media Manager
Garching bei München, Germany
Teléfono: +49 89 3200 6670
Celular: +49 151 241 664 00
Correo electrónico: press@eso.org

Francisco Rodríguez (Contacto para medios de comunicación en Chile)
Red de Difusión Científica de ESO y European Southern Observatory
Teléfono: +56-2-463-3151
Correo electrónico: eson-chile@eso.org

Connect with ESO on social media

Esta es una traducción de la nota de prensa de ESO eso2517.

Acerca de la nota de prensa

Nota de prensa No.:eso2517es-cl
Nombre:ESO Director General
Tipo:Unspecified : People : Scientist

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Andreas Kaufer at Paranal
Andreas Kaufer at Paranal
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