ELSA and Gaia: Four years of fruitful collaboration

Abstract:
ELSA (European Leadership in Space Astrometry) is a four-year, EU-funded Research Training Network ending in September 2010. It has employed 10 postgraduate students and 5 postdocs for 2-3 years and financed a number of workshops, training events and topical meetings, culminating in the present symposium. The primary goal of ELSA is to train young scientists in the context of the Gaia project while contributing to the scientific preparations for the mission. The organization, aims and history of ELSA are outlined.