AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS (CSIC)
The Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) is the largest public research performing organisation (RPO) in Spain, the fourth most relevant public institution in the European Union, and the sixth in the word. Attached to the Ministry of Science and Innovation, with independent legal personality, the CSIC plays a key role in scientific and technological policy in Spain and around the world. It counts with more than 13,000 employees, of whom 4,345 are research staff, distributed in 121 research institutes, of which 52 are co-owned with Spanish universities or research institutions. The Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (IAA) is one of the largest CSIC institutes, with over 200 members, devoted to basic research in Astrophysics. The IAA was awarded with the Centre of Excellence Severo Ochoa distinction in 2018 and 2023, an accreditation from the State Plan for Scientific and Technical Research and Innovation of Spain that recognizes the centres that carry out cutting-edge science basic research and are among the best in the world in their area. The Solar System department has worldwide leadership in modelling the atmospheres and surfaces of planets and minor bodies, analysis of polarimetric images of the Sun, and remote sensing of planetary atmospheres. Regarding terrestrial and planetary atmospheres, IAA has a long experience in middle atmosphere research with particular focus on solar-induced variability impacts on composition and dynamics. They have contributed to the analysis of satellite-borne remote sensing data since the 80s and are playing a leading role in the definition of solar forcing recommendations for the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP) since CMIP6.