ONTHEFRINGE is a series of four schools designed to train young astronomers in optical interferometry. Optical interferometry is a new technology enabling observations with angular resolution an order of magnitude larger than the largest single telescopes available at visible and infrared wavelengths. Optical interferometry is the only technology allowing the systematic direct detection and characterization of Earthlike planets orbiting other stars. Therefore it plays a key role in ESAs long-range plan through the Darwin mission, and in NASA's Origins program via TPF-I. On the ground Europe has achieved leadership with the ESO Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI). Interferometry from the ground will play a central role in:
- understanding the lifecycles of stars in the Milky Way,
- the discovery and characterization of planets orbiting stars in the solar neighborhood, and
- the understanding of the energy conversion mechanisms in Active Galactic Nuclei.
- two data reduction schools were young astronomers will learn the essentials to become proficient users of the VLTI;
- two thematic schools where optical interferometry is presented in context with other very high angular resolution techniques in key astrophysical areas of European leadership (AGNs and Circumstellar disks and planets).