The RCfTA is a well-integrated part of the School of Physics. The RCfTA provides a significant fraction of the younger research staff in the School, and plays an important role in establishing an active and stimulating research environment and in the training of postgraduate students. The RCfTA has particularly close ties with the academic departments that were included in the original ARC proposal for an Astrophysics Research Centre. Together the RCfTA, the Astrophysics Department, the Chatterton Astronomy Department and the Sir Frank Packer Theoretical Physics Department comprise the Institute of Astronomy, which holds regular Journal Club meetings and has issued a prospectus outlining the opportunities for postgraduate work in astrophysics in the School.
