Abstract: The Institute of Astrofisica de Canarias is a public research organization with a mission to produce advances in our knowledge of the Universe.   At the Observatories of the Institute there are more than 40 telescopes in operation with the participation of more than  20 countries.  Among these research facilities, it is remarkable the Gran Telescopio Canarias, the largest diameter optica/infrared  telescope in the world and the Cherenkov Telescope Array, the most advanced ground-based infrastructure for gamma-ray astronomy which consists of  at least 4 telescopes of 23 m (one already built and the other 3 under construction).  In the advanced design phase, there are other outstanding projects like the European Solar Telescope or the New Robotic Telescope, both planned as the most powerful of their class.  I will review major scientific results achieved in the last four decades of activity of the Institute and some  future challenges in the study of the Universe.

Short bio: Rafael Rebolo is the director of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias since 2013. Research Professor of Spain’s Science Research Council (CSIC), he has headed several research groups at the IAC. Rebolo graduated in Physical Sciences at the University of Granada in 1984 and obtained his doctorate in Astrophysics in 1987 at the University of La Laguna. He has been a researcher at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias since 1984, of which he was Subdirector from 1997 to 1999. He has been a member of CSIC since 1988 and has held the title of Research Professor in Physical Sciences since 1998. Among his other distinctions are the Premio Iberdrola de Ciencia y Tecnología (2000), the Premio Rey Jaime I de Investigación (2001) and the Premio Canarias de Investigación e Innovación (2002); he has also received an honorary doctorate  from the Polytechnic University of Cartagena (2008).