Year One: Building the Rules for Telescopes that Think
Canary Global Foundation — Annual Update, April 2026 A moment that is coming. Somewhere in the next decade, a telescope will see something it was not expecting. A signal. A spectrum. A chemical signature that doesn’t fit. At that moment, the most important question will not be what did we find? It will be: can […]
Living Sky Observatory Enters Initial Operational Phase
Canary Global Foundation (CGF) has initiated the first operational phase of the Living Sky Observatory (LSO), its flagship program focused on advancing AI-enabled scientific operations for astronomical observatories. The program begins in partnership with Light Bridges at the Two-Meter Twin Telescope (TTT) in Tenerife, where CGF is supporting the development and validation of new approaches […]
CANA-QKD Consortium Agreement Approved (Eurostars Project 9796)
Canary Global Foundation (CGF) has joined the CANA-QKD consortium, a Eurostars-supported project advancing quantum communications between the Canary Islands and Canada. The consortium agreement formalizes collaboration between Light Bridges (Spain), QEYnet (Canada), and CGF (United States) to develop and validate a satellite-to-ground Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) link using the Two-Meter Twin Telescope (TTT) at the […]
Supporting Scientific Collaboration: Local Volume Mapper Meeting in Tenerife
Canary Global Foundation (CGF) supported the Local Volume Mapper (LVM) community through sponsorship of a scientific meeting held in Tenerife, bringing together researchers working on one of the most ambitious mapping efforts of the nearby universe. The Local Volume Mapper, part of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), is focused on creating detailed, spatially resolved […]
ICEX Vives Program Supports International Fellows at Canary Global
Canary Global Foundation (CGF) hosted three visiting fellows through the ICEX Vives program of the Spanish government, supporting international collaboration between CGF, Light Bridges, and the University of San Francisco. The ICEX Vives initiative is designed to promote the internationalization of Spanish talent by placing early-career professionals in global organizations. Through this program, CGF welcomed […]
Expanding Access: Collaboration with Bolivia Enables New Pathways to Telescope Time
Canary Global Foundation (CGF) advanced its commitment to global access in astronomy through collaboration with partners in Bolivia, supporting participation in observational programs at the Two-Meter Twin Telescope (TTT). Through this collaboration, researchers and students gained structured access to telescope time, data, and scientific workflows, enabling direct participation in active research rather than passive learning. […]
Launching “Life & Meaning in the Cosmos” Program
Canary Global Foundation (CGF), in partnership with the University of San Francisco, has launched Life & Meaning in the Cosmos, a new interdisciplinary initiative within the Mission: Exoplanets program. The program is implemented at USF, where it serves as a foundation for an emerging interdisciplinary educational model that connects scientific discovery with broader societal reflection. […]
Supporting Global Participation: Microgrants Enable Access to Tenerife Winter School
Canary Global Foundation (CGF) supported a cohort of international students through a targeted microgrants initiative, enabling participation in an advanced astrophysics winter school in Tenerife. The program provided financial support for travel and attendance, allowing students to engage directly with active research environments and observatory-linked training. Participants were exposed to real data workflows, modern astronomical […]
ELF and SELF Presented at STARMUS Festival 2025 in La Palma
In April 2025, the ExoLife Finder (ELF) mission and its prototype, SELF (Small ExoLife Finder), were presented at the STARMUS Festival in La Palma — a global gathering of scientists, astronauts, and innovators. Canary Global Foundation (CGF) participated in the event alongside collaborators and members of the ELF scientific community, contributing to discussions on the […]
ELF and SELF debuted at STARMUS La Palma — with Jill Tarter, Rafael Rebolo, and Jeff Kuhn sharing why this project will transform the search for life
STARMUS: ELF Takes Center Stage at STARMUS Festival 2025 The telescope that will change history stood at the heart of the world’s most important science and art festival: STARMUS. The LIOM project showcased its technological jewel: the ExoLife Finder (ELF) and its prototype, SELF — the most advanced tools ever conceived to search for life […]
