1. NUVA Mission NUVA will map and review the instrumental performance of existing and near future capabilities in the UV on a global scale. It will assess the future needs and develop a perspective for the future on a European basis. Professor Ana I Gómez de Castro NUVA chair Instituto de Astronomía y Geodesia Universidad Complutense de Madrid Plaza de Ciencias 3 Madrid, E28040 Spain Telephone: +34 91 3944578 Email: aig@mat.ucm.es Dr. John K. Davies OPTICON Project Scientist UK Astronomy Technology Centre, Blackford Hill Edinburgh, EH9 3HJ United Kingdom Telephone: +44 (0)131 668 8348 E-mail: jkd@roe.ac.uk Web: www.astro-opticon.org Contacts OPTICON - The Optical Infrared Coordination Network for Astronomy UV Astrophysics Network: NUVA OPTICON is funded by the European Commission under Contract RII3-CT-2004-001566 The Network for UltraViolet Astrophysics (NUVA) is a structuring activity within the OPTical Infrared COordination network for Astronomy (OPTICON). The objectives of the NUVA network are to identify needs and to develop an action plan to structure the community of European astronomers interested in making use of observations in the ultraviolet regime. Such structuring is necessary to ensure that the capability to study the planets and the Universe in this important spectral region is sustained over the next decades. NUVA will bring together interested parties to plan and execute a strategic plan for UV astronomy in Europe. Looking to the Future The participants in NUVA have realized with great concern that no firm plans exist to maintain an Ultraviolet observing capability for astrophysics for the future. This is despite the fact that the range of important astrophysical issues in astrophysics which require observations in the Ultraviolet domain is increasing with our understanding of both the detailed structure of stars and star formation, as well as the large scale population of the Universe with baryon structures on all scales. The availability of UV observational capabilities is especially problematic since this region can only be studied from space. “The rationale for UV/FUV/EUV spectroscopy is the diagnostic richness of these wavebands that cover almost ALL the resonance lines of ALL elements, covering plasmas from the coolest regimes (10-1000K) up to the hot (105K) regime. It also covers the electronic transitions of the most important molecules, thus addressing the widest range of science conceivable”. Structuring the UV Community Only concerted efforts by a well coordinated community will be sufficient to persuade space agencies to develop new observational capabilities in the UV. Key astrophysical problems that require UV observations Chemical evolution of the Universe during 80% of its lifetime (from the formation of the first galaxies until now) The formation of planetary systems and the characterization of planets. Wide European Approach with Global Impact Although NUVA has been created with a strong European base, the network will encourage the participation of astronomers from other geopolitical areas. The challenges facing the UV community are the same all over the world.