Urszula Kubiczek, Centre for Communication and Marketing: You currently work at the European Space Agency. Can you tell us more about your role and what it involves?
Professor Michele Armano: I work as a scientific performance specialist within the LISA team at ESA. Our role in the LISA project is quite central: we act as a bridge between the science team and the industry partners responsible for building and delivering satellites. We ensure that experiment design and modelling remain within budget and technical boundaries and align with expectations and scientific goals. It’s not a static job, we’re constantly interacting with industrial partners, analysing data, refining models, always closely tied to the feedback of the representatives of the scientific community. While it may sound complex, it is incredibly rewarding and, honestly, a lot of fun.
What were the most important lessons learnt from the LISA Pathfinder mission and how are they shaping future missions?
LISA Pathfinder was a great success. Once the systems were activated, we saw that the signal quality was beyond our expectations. But Pathfinder was a prototype, a stepping stone toward the full LISA constellation I now work on and that is expected to launch in about ten years. The most valuable lesson? Never underestimate the power of nature or the challenges of achieving extreme precision in space. Creating sensors of such kind is a great scientific and engineering feat, but the technology of Pathfinder proved so robust that we are incorporating it almost unchanged into the full LISA mission. If we can replicate the Pathfinder performance, we are confident that we will achieve all the scientific goals.
What are the current scientific or technological challenges in your field?
There are many, which is part of what makes space science so special. Space is an incredible laboratory, better in many ways than ground facilities. One major challenge though is noise management, to isolate meaningful signals, like gravitational waves, from instrumental intrinsic features. Another is dealing with the complexity of overlapping signals: sometimes we cannot single out one event clearly, so we extract scientific information statistically. These challenges push us to develop even more precise and innovative technologies, and this is exactly what makes space such a fascinating laboratory: it offers conditions we simply cannot replicate on Earth.
How did your collaboration with AGH University begin and how does it support your research?
It all started with an invitation from academic colleagues in Krakow, and since I have always had a strong passion for teaching, I accepted it with enthusiasm. I love teaching. It is more than a duty for me. Interacting with students enriches my daily work, which is often deeply technical and solitary. Teaching balances that. I have found AGH University to be a vibrant academic environment, filled with skilled researchers. One area I am particularly excited about here is data analysis, especially in relation to Earth observation.
Can you share an example of how AGH University has contributed to your research?
A good example is the MXene in LEO project of a wearable wristband from biocompatible materials that will be tested in space by astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski. The AGH University team proved to be highly flexible and professional. ESA set some very specific requirements, and the team at the AGH University Space Technology Centre adapted their labs, their project vision and deliverables to meet those criteria. The result? The mission is now scheduled to launch, and those materials will be tested in orbit. AGH University has proven itself as more than a teaching institution: it is a top-class research hub.
What course are you currently teaching at AGH University and what do you find most rewarding about teaching it?
This semester, I teach Orbital Mechanics and Mission Analysis. It is a fundamental course for anyone entering the space field. It can be taught at different levels and with varying degrees of technicality, but it is essential to any space curriculum. What I find most rewarding is seeing how engaged students become if you truly do your job as a professor. It is not about delivering monolithic lectures on topics they can simply read in books. I genuinely believe there is no such thing as a bad student – only bad professors.
Are there any career milestones you are particularly proud of?
Certainly. Working on LISA Pathfinder was a career highlight. As part of that effort, we measured the gravitational constant in space and even proposed experiments to test alternative gravity theories, ultimately not carried out due to mission constraints. Nevertheless, the analysis that led to the measurement is something I am deeply proud of. It is part of a broader effort to deepen our knowledge of gravity, arguably the least understood of the fundamental forces.
Looking ahead, what trends could reshape space physics in the coming decade?
Without a doubt, artificial intelligence will be transformative. It is already entering all areas of scientific analysis and data processing. I also see the rise of commercial space as a major development. And I do not see that as a threat – on the contrary. These initiatives do not necessarily compete with government space programmes; in fact, they can complement them. Of course, if space creates value, we must use it ethically and responsibly.
What advice would you give to young scientists entering physics or space science?
Love what you do. Passion is essential in science. Stay curious, stay open. Learn to collaborate not only with people in your own field. That is what makes you a more versatile scientist.
What motivates you in your daily work?
Science, particularly physics, is unique in that we can test the limits of our knowledge. Space experiments require a stronger design effort than those on Earth: you need to be rigorous, mistakes are costly and sometimes irreversible. You cannot fix a satellite as easily as you can step into your laboratory. It is a responsibility, especially when public funds are involved. That responsibility forces us to be accurate, and it is what keeps me going every day. Precision and accuracy are keywords in 21st century space physics, even more than before.
Finally, what would you say, in your native Italian, to encourage students to study science and consider coming to AGH University?
I would say, “studiate tutto quello che potete, perché questo tempo non torna indietro. Venite a dare un’occhiata all’AGH: è un luogo eccezionale per studiare.” (in Italian)
[ENG: “Study as much as you can, because this time will not come back. Come and see AGH University: it is an exceptional place for studying.”]
Beautifully said. Grazie mille for your time and for this insightful conversation.
Thank you. It has been a pleasure.
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