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Announcements of Upcoming Meetings
Notice that this list is not meant to be all-inclusive, but concentrates on meetings of potential interest to X-ray, gamma-ray, cosmic-ray, and gravitational astrophysicists. The HEASARC also maintains a list of upcoming high-energy astrophysics summer schools, a list of on-line proceedings of high-energy astrophysics meetings, as well as a list of on-line proceedings of high-energy astrophysics summer schools.
Updates, corrections, and/or suggestions about meetings should be sent to the HEASARC Help Desk.
High Energy Astrophysics
The landscape of time domain and multi-messenger astrophysics (TDAMM) is undergoing a rapid transformation. Chandra’s unprecedented angular and spectral resolutions offer unique diagnostic tools that have driven breakthroughs in time domain astronomy, and which are poised to continue driving valuable future discoveries.
In this workshop, we will explore exciting time domain science enabled by Chandra across various timescales, such as investigating supernova explosions and their remnants, characterizing X-ray counterparts to gravitational wave merger events, identifying new Galactic and extragalactic transients, discerning the structure of relativistic jets, uncovering stellar populations, monitoring stellar variability, studying end points of stellar evolution, detecting X-rays from tidal disruption events, and enabling studies of accretion in extreme regimes.
We will highlight Chandra’s unique science capabilities, such as localizing X-ray transients to arcsecond positions, long-term monitoring to very low flux levels, grating spectroscopy of bright transients, and monitoring rapid decay in transients. The workshop will also emphasize the critical role that Chandra plays in joint investigations with current and upcoming multi-wavelength and multi-messenger astronomical facilities.
As part of the workshop, we will explore ways in which Chandra can continue to best serve the evolving interests of the TDAMM community, including the possibility of community target-of-opportunity (TOO) programs, and other strategies to bolster the already-robust Chandra TOO program.
Invited Speakers:
Javier Garcia (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center); Ehud Behar (Technion – Israel Institute of Technology); Tyler Holland-Ashford (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center) ; Wen-fai Fong (Northwestern University) ; Peter G. Jonker (Radbound University); Nayana AJ (University of California, Berkeley); Andrew Mummery (Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton); Riccardo Arcodia (Black Hole Initiative at Harvard University); Claudio Ricci (University of Geneva); Daniel Kocevski (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center)
Invited speakers will cover various topics including black holes, neutron stars, X-ray binaries, stellar physics and exoplanets, supernova remnants and planetary nebulae, Gamma-ray bursts, fast X-ray transients, supernovae and fast blue optical transients, active galactic nuclei, quasi-periodic eruptions, and tidal disruption events.
Please note that the last chance for contributing poster abstract submissions for the Chandra science workshop, “Chandra's Dynamic Universe,” is Thursday, June 18, 2026.
All abstracts submitted by this deadline will be considered for poster presentations.
Please submit your poster abstracts at this link .
Preceding the workshop is the first Chandra/CIAO Hack Day on Monday, August 17, 2026. Please bring your Chandra/CIAO data analysis questions, scripts, notebooks, or new analysis ideas to discuss with CXC experts.
Please register for the CIAO Hack Day by August 7, 2026 using this form .
Local Organizing Committee
- Thomas Connor (CfA/CXC)
- Jason Conry (CfA/CXC)
- Tara Gokas (CfA/CXC)
- Amruta Jaodand (Chair; CfA/CXC)
- Rodolfo Montez (CfA/CXC)
- Padmanabhan Ramadurai (CfA/CXC)
- Aldo Solares (CfA/CXC)
- Evan Tingle (CfA/CXC)
For additional questions, please see the meeting website or email to cxcworkshop[AT]cfa[DOT]harvard[DOT]edu.
Tidal Disruption Events and Nuclear Transients in Crete vol. 2 will be held in Heraklion, Crete, Greece on 24-28 August 2026. The conference will be in person at the city center of Heraklion. The aim is to bring together theorists and observers broadly working in the field of Tidal Disruption Events and Nuclear Transients.
The main scientific themes of the conference are:
- Accretion disk and outflow formation
- Multiwavelength/multimessenger emission and polarization
- Radio outflows and jets
- Variable AGN, Bowen flares, and Ambiguous Nuclear Transients
- Host galaxy environments, population studies, and event rates
- Repeating TDEs and Quasi-Periodic Eruptions
Scientific organizing committee:
Kate Alexander; Iair Arcavi; Panos Charalampopoulos; Decker French; Ioannis Liodakis; Brenna Mockler; Nick Stone
Local organizing committee:
Alberto Floris; Dimitris Langis; Ioannis Liodakis;
For additional questions, please see the conference website.
Join us in Geneva for the 2026 POSYDON School and learn how to use POSYDON, a state-of-the-art binary population synthesis code now in its second version. This four-day workshop is designed to help participants incorporate POSYDON effectively into their own research.
Through a series of hands-on labs, we will explore astrophysical scenarios such as mass-transfer stability, supernovae, binary black-hole populations, and more, showcasing how POSYDON can advance your research goals. Participation is limited to 25 attendees to keep the school highly interactive and discussion-driven.
For additional questions, please see the conference website.
The discovery of gravitational waves has opened an entirely new observational window on the Universe, and eccentric systems represent one of the most exciting frontiers. While most detected binaries to date are consistent with circular inspirals, there is mounting evidence that eccentricity may already be present in current events, with claims ranging from high-mass and low-mass black hole binaries to neutron star–black hole systems. Understanding, modeling, and interpreting eccentric sources is both timely and urgent.
The workshop will bring together experts in theory, numerical relativity, data analysis, and astrophysics, as well as younger researchers entering these fields. We aim to create a collaborative environment where participants can share results, exchange ideas, and identify the next key steps.
This workshop is supported by:
- The National Technical University of Athens
- The Ionian University
- The Municipality of Corfu
- The Regional Government of the Ionian Islands (Periphery of the Ionian Islands)
For additional questions, please see the conference website.
The meeting "The many tones of accretion" is dedicated to the memory of Tomaso Belloni, whose pioneering work on X-ray timing, spectral states, and variability in compact accreting systems has fundamentally shaped the field. The conference will bring together the high-energy astrophysics community to discuss recent advances in accretion physics, variability, and jet formation in X-ray binaries and related compact objects, while also looking ahead to future directions.
Scientific topics will include:
- Accretion foundation and open problems
- States and transitions, black holes and neutron stars
- Variability, lags, QPOs, timing techniques and methods
- Spectral modelling
- Accretion/ejection connection, Accretion/Winds connection
- Multi-wavelength variability and Radio/X-ray/optical IR correlation
- Accretion across the mass range
- ULXs, AGN, CV
- X-ray, optical, radio polarimetry
- Observational challenges and advances in X-ray missions, legacy and future developments
For additional questions, please see the conference website.
The 21th Heidelberg Summer School will take place September 14-18, 2026, in the "Mathematikon", more specifically in the Institute for Computer Science, IWR, address "Im Neuenheimer Feld 205" (or "INF 205"), seminar rooms A-C (ground floor).
Application deadline is June 30, 2026, 23:59 CET.
Organization:
IMPRS for Astronomy and Cosmic Physics at the University of Heidelberg (IMPRS-HD):
Max Planck Institute for Astronomy (MPIA); Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics (MPIK); Center for Astronomy of Heidelberg University, ZAH (Astronomisches Rechen-Institut, ARI; Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, ITA; Landessternwarte Koenigstuhl, LSW); and the Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies (HITS).
Scientific organizing committee:
Michela Mapelli (ITA), Friedrich Roepke (HITS), Fabian Schneider (HITS)
School lecturers:
Floor Brookgaarden (UC San Diego)
Shanika Galaudage (Northwestern University)
Mike Lau (Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies)
Laurent Mahy (Royal Observatory of Belgium)
Pablo Marchant (Ghent University)
Scope of the School:
We are pleased to announce the IMPRS summer school Cosmic Multiplicity: Evolution and Fate of Binary Stars, to be held at Heidelberg University.
Binary and multiple stellar systems are fundamental drivers of modern astrophysics. Their evolution shapes a broad range of astrophysical phenomena, including supernovae, X-ray binaries, compact-object mergers, chemically peculiar stars, and gravitational-wave sources. Understanding the complex interplay between stellar evolution, dynamical interactions, and hydrodynamics in these systems is therefore essential for interpreting observations across the electromagnetic and gravitational-wave spectrum.
This summer school will bring together students and early-career researchers with leading experts in the field to explore the current frontiers of binary and multiple star astrophysics. Particular emphasis will be placed on the connection between observations, theoretical modelling, and numerical simulations, including high-performance computing approaches that are increasingly central to the field.
The school will cover topics including:
- Observations of binary and multiple stars
- Binary and multiple star evolution
- Dynamical phases of binary stars such as stellar mergers and common-envelope events
- Population synthesis of binary and multiple stars
- Gravitational-wave astronomy with binary and multiple stars
The programme will feature dedicated lecture series by leading experts, hands-on sessions introducing modern computational and analysis techniques, and additional topical talks highlighting recent developments in the field. Participants will gain practical experience with numerical tools and computational workflows commonly used in stellar astrophysics and computational astrophysics.
The scientific programme will address key open questions in the field, including:
- How do binary interactions shape the evolution and final fate of stars?
- What physical processes govern common-envelope evolution and stellar mergers?
- How are compact binaries formed and driven to merger?
- What are the progenitors of gravitational-wave events observed by current and future detectors?
- How can large-scale simulations and population synthesis connect theoretical models to observed stellar populations and transient events?
The school aims to provide participants with both a broad overview and practical insight into the theoretical, computational, and observational aspects of stellar multiplicity and its astrophysical consequences.
School format
The school has four main components spread throughout the week
- A series of structured lectures given by the five lecturers.
- Problem-solving sessions based on the topics given in the lectures.
- Presentations by local experts to open specific scientific problems.
- A social program to enable and encourage scientific interaction between students, lecturers and speakers.
Further information / registration
- Here you can find more information about application, directions \& accomodation
- Here is a link to the program (coming soon)
- Here is a link to the list of participants (coming soon)
- Please download and distribute the school poster as A2 pdf, or A3 pdf, or A2 jpg, or A3 jpg (coming soon)
For additional questions, please see the conference website.
WE-Heraeus-eas workshop for early career researchers in astronomy:
REGISTRATION is open until 30 May.
HERA 2026 – Black Holes at Different Flavours brings together early career researchers and leading experts to explore the rich and evolving landscape of black hole physics. From theoretical foundations to cutting-edge observations, the workshop creates a space for deep discussion, fresh ideas, and new collaborations.
With speakers including Roger Blandford, Monika Mościbrodzka, Vladimir Karas, Samaya Nissanke, and Marek Abramowicz, participants will have a unique opportunity to engage directly with researchers who shape our understanding of accretion physics, relativistic jets, gravitational waves, and strong-gravity astrophysics.
Join us for a week of scientific intensity, open discussion, and inspiration — where the next generation of black hole research begins.
Note: Up to forty (40) successful applicants will have all stay-related costs, including lodging and living costs, fully covered.
Invited Speakers: TBA
For additional questions, please see the conference website.
Cosmic rays are a key ingredient in many fields of astrophysics and in particular in star formation and astrochemistry. However, despite their great relevance our understanding is still relatively incomplete. Thanks to the data provided by the current infrared, radio and (sub)millimetre telescopes (e.g., JWST, VLA, LOFAR, MeerKAT, ALMA, NOEMA, IRAM 30m, Yebes, APEX, Effelsberg), we have now the opportunity of attaining a comprehensive knowledge about the role of cosmic rays in the physics and chemistry of the interstellar medium, hence about the processes leading to star and planet formation. To properly interpret this vast amount of information, the development of theoretical models, simulations and laboratory experiments, are mandatory. Therefore, this conference aims to allow the interplay between observations, theory, models, simulations, and laboratory, by bringing together experts in all these disciplines. We will share ideas, and we will discuss in dedicated sessions about present results, and about the challenges of the field in the future, thanks to the advent of new powerful facilities such as SKA, ALMA WSU, next generation VLA and ELT.
Specific science topics include:
- Role of cosmic rays in star and planet formation
- Cosmic-ray signatures in different environments
- Impact of cosmic rays on the formation of interstellar molecules: observations, models, and laboratory experiments
- Cosmic-ray factories: local acceleration in protostellar sources
Scientific Organizing Committee
Marco Padovani (co-chair) - INAF-Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri, Italy; Víctor M. Rivilla (co-chair) - Centro de Astrobiología (CAB, CSIC-INTA), Spain; Lucia Armillotta - Università degli Studi di Firenze, Italy; Daniele Galli - INAF-Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri, Italy; Barbara Michela Giuliano - Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE), Germany; Evangelia Ntormousi - Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa, Italy
Local Organizing Committee
Evangelia Ntormousi - Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa, Italy; Patrizia Braschi - INAF-Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri, Italy; Marco Padovani - INAF-Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri, Italy; Víctor M. Rivilla - Centro de Astrobiología (CAB, CSIC-INTA), Spain
For additional questions, please see the conference website.
This is the 8th in our series of Kathmandu meetings, with the previous conferences taking place in 2002, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2013, 2016, and 2022.
Topics & Invited speakers:
- Black hole mergers: Michela Mapelli (Heidelberg, Germany) & Tassos Fragos (Geneva, Switzerland)
- The spin controversy: Davide Gerosa (Milan, Italy) & Chris Reynolds (College Park, USA)
- X-ray polarization: Juri Poutanen (Turku, Finland) & Jakub Podgorný (Prague, Czechia)
- Jets from black-hole binaries: Pikky Atri (Dwingeloo, The Netherlands) & Krzysztof Nalewajko (Warsaw, Poland)
- Extended TeV emission: Liu Ruoyu (Nanjing, China) & Tsvi Piran (Jerusalem, Israel)
- Collapsars: Ore Gottlieb (New-York, USA) & Chris Fryer (Los Alamos, USA)
- Ultraluminous sources with black holes: Matt Middleton (Southampton, UK) & Chris Fragile (Charleston, USA)
Main organizers:
Greg Marcel(University of Turku, Turku, Finland); Andrzej Zdziarski (Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center, Warsaw, Poland)
For additional questions, please see the conference website.
The INTernational Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory (INTEGRAL) has been crucial in our understanding of astrophysical phenomena over a wide energy and temporal range. Its unique capabilities in terms of combined sensitivity, energy coverage, energy resolution, and sky coverage at once, led to the discovery of many classes of previously unknown astrophysical objects and the elucidation of poorly understood transient celestial sources. The mission's long life has allowed for very long observations that have permitted the detection of elusive signals from faint gamma-ray line emissions, a unique INTEGRAL asset. The availability of telemetry on ground within seconds from photon detection together with the high duty cycle have permitted the discovery and characterization of rare transient events, which have made INTEGRAL a cornerstone in the new era of time-domain and multi-messenger astronomy. This has fostered collaborations and synergies with current and future missions that will enhance INTEGRAL's legacy of twenty-two years of publicly available science data that will continue to provide a wealth of scientific information to be explored in supporting new questions, new missions, and new perspectives on astrophysical phenomena.
For additional questions, please see the conference website.
The 12th event, YAGN26, will be held in presence at the Universidad de Sevilla on October 26-28, 2026.
If you are interested in giving a talk, please fill this form by May 31, 2026. The speakers will be selected in June 2026. For any inquiries, please send an e-mail to yagn2026[AT]gmail[DOT]com.
SOC:
Matteo Bonetti (Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca), Pedro R. Capelo (Universität Zürich), Alessandra De Rosa (Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziali), Mar Mezcua (Institut de Ciències de l'Espai), Andrea Negri (Universidad de Sevilla) and Jose Oñorbe (Universidad de Sevilla).
For additional questions, please see the conference website.
The Joint Space-Science Institute (JSI), a partnership between the University of Maryland and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, will hold the 2026 JSI Workshop A NICER Legacy: Neutron Stars, Black Holes, and Time-Domain Astronomy on November 2-4, 2026. The workshop will be held at the Royal Sonesta Hotel, located in the Baltimore Inner Harbor, Baltimore, MD.
This conference will present many aspects of the discoveries and legacy of NASA’s Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) mission. Topics to be discussed include:
- Neutron star radii and implications
- Variable galactic nuclei
- Outbursting stellar-mass black hole binaries
- Magnetars and accreting neutron stars
- Synergies and the future
*** SAVE THE DATES *** More details TBA soon.
For additional questions, please see the workshop website.
The global landscape of high-energy astrophysics has been fundamentally transformed by the recent wealth of polarimetric data from missions such as NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE), which have provided the first direct constraints on the magnetic field structures and emission geometries of accreting systems. However, while the Indian research community possesses significant expertise in traditional X-ray spectroscopy and timing, there remains a critical pedagogical and theoretical bottleneck regarding the physics of polarized radiation. This conference at IUCAA aims to bridge this gap by providing young researchers and university faculty with a rigorous introduction to the underlying theory of X-ray polarization, specifically focusing on General Relativistic (GR) ray-tracing, the nuances of Comptonization in various coronal geometries, and the role of X-ray reflection from the inner disk.
By fostering this theoretical foundation, the conference will empower a new generation of Indian astrophysicists to move beyond empirical data fitting and actively lead the international effort in decoding the complex signatures of strong gravity and accretion dynamics around stellar-mass black holes and neutron stars. The timing of this meeting is particularly critical given the upcoming Chinese eXTP mission, which promises unprecedented effective area and advanced polarimetric capabilities, alongside ongoing synergies with missions like Japan's XRISM.
This conference aims to bring together international and domestic astronomers with expertise in high-energy polarimetry to address the core physical mechanisms of accreting systems. Due to the fundamental differences in the nature of these compact objects, the accretion and emission mechanisms are exceptionally diverse and rich. The primary scientific focus will encompass accreting stellar-mass black holes, neutron stars, and white dwarfs, alongside X-ray pulsars and magnetars.
The conference will feature invited review talks, contributed talks and poster sessions covering the full breadth of modern polarimetry of accreting systems Participation is open to all researchers with relevant interests.
The conference spans stellar-mass black holes, radio-quiet AGN, and white dwarfs & transients on one side, and low-magnetic-field neutron stars, X-ray pulsars, magnetars, and instrumentation & future scope : covering the full range of compact-object polarimetry from observation to instrument design.
- Stellar-mass Black Holes: X-ray binary coronal geometry, jet polarization and accretion disc emission mechanisms.
- NS: Low-magnetic-field Neutron Stars: Z/atoll sources and thermal surface emission polarimetry.
- X-ray Pulsars & Magnetars: Accreting pulsars, magnetar bursts and QED vacuum birefringence signatures.
- Radio-quiet AGN: Corona and disc-wind polarimetry probing the innermost regions of active galactic nuclei.
- White Dwarfs & Transients: Cataclysmic variables and transient sources across optical to X-ray polarimetry.
- Instrumentation & Future Scope: Next-generation polarimeters, mission concepts and analysis techniques beyond IXPE.
*** SAVE THE DATE ***
Relativistic jets from active galactic nuclei are among the Universe’s most extreme particle accelerators. Blazars, with jets pointed toward Earth, show dramatic multiwavelength variability and gamma-ray flares, offering unique insights into particle acceleration, jet dynamics, and magnetic field structure. Yet key processes, such as jet formation, the location of high-energy emission, and the mechanisms driving flares, remain poorly understood. This symposium brings together theorists, observers, and instrument scientists to address these challenges, focusing on universal jet physics across systems, including jet launching and collimation, particle acceleration, magnetic-field evolution, multi-band flaring and polarisation signatures, and multimessenger links involving neutrinos. Comparative insights from other jetted sources, such as GRBs, TDEs, and Galactic accreting systems, will broaden the scientific perspective. Building on the progress surrounding the African Millimetre Telescope in Namibia and the continued success of H.E.S.S., MAGIC, VERITAS, MeerKAT, EHT, SALT, and Fermi, and the upcoming SKA, Vera C. Rubin Observatory, CTAO, and ASTRI Mini-Array, this meeting will advance multimessenger studies, foster international collaboration, and engage early-career researchers and the growing African astronomy community.
The IAUS 413 will focus on recent studies in these fields and potential future prospects and synergies among them. During this meeting, the topics we will discuss include:
- Universal dynamics & modelling: Identify fundamental processes of jet formation, composition, and acceleration across AGN, GRBs, and XRBs by employing advanced RMHD and PIC simulations to unify observed universal jet behaviours.
- Emission & localisation: Characterise high-energy emission zones within relativistic outflows by analysing jet structure and magnetic-field evolution across diverse accretion and power regimes, from Galactic sources to the most distant quasars.
- Multimessenger synergy: Evaluate the physical connections between flaring activity, neutrino production, and candidate multimessenger sources to build integrated theoretical frameworks for jet phenomena across all mass scales.
- Polarimetry & variability: Utilise multi-band flares, multiwavelength variability, and polarisation signatures as high-fidelity probes to decode internal jet physics and particle acceleration mechanisms in X-ray Binaries and AGN.
- Comparative astrophysics & scaling laws: Conduct cross-system studies (TDEs, AGN, and Galactic XRBs) to determine if particle acceleration and energy dissipation mechanisms are truly scale-invariant or fundamentally altered by the local environment.
Details
The 2027 IAUS413 will be held between January 18th – 22nd, 2027, in Windhoek, Namibia, making it the 5th African country ever to host such an event. The abstract submission/travel grant application deadline is July 15th and the registration deadline August 15th 2026. For more information, contact the organisers via gfpara[AT]utu[DOT]fi
SOC Members
Chairs: Georgios F. Paraschos (FINCA/MRO/MPIfR), Elina Lindfors (Univ. of Turku), Michael Backes (UNAM)
Athira Bharathan (North-West Univ.), Hayley Bignall (Manly Astro.), Markus Böttcher (North-West Univ.), Elisabete de Gouveia Dal Pino (Univ. São Paulo), Charles Gammie (Univ. Urbana-Champaign), Daryl Haggard (McGill Univ.), Michael Johnson (Harvard CfA), Dongjin Kim (CSIRO), Sthabile Kolwa (Univ. South Africa), Shoko Koyama (Niigata Univ.), Ioannis Liodakis (FORTH), Yosuke Mizuno (Shanghai Jiao Tong Univ.), Rodrigo Nemmen (Univ. São Paulo), Erin O’Sullivan (Univ. of Uppsala)
Confirmed Invited Speakers
TBA
For additional questions, please see the conference website.
We are on the cusp of significant advancements to our understanding of the origins and early growth of massive black holes with current and near-future electromagnetic observations by JWST and other upcoming missions which will be complemented by gravitational wave detections with LISA in the coming decade. The focus of this conference is on recent advancements in both observations and theory on the origin, growth and dynamics of MBHs in the early Universe.
Topics of interest:
- Observations and predicted properties of AGN and their hosts at early times
- Constraining MBH formation mechanisms with multimessenger observations at low and high redshift
- Predictions for MBH seed masses from low redshift observations of dwarf galaxies
- Challenges (both theoretical and observational) to observing and interpreting data on early MBHs
- MBH-galaxy co-evolution and feedback in the early universe
- Dynamics of MBHs and MBH binaries in the early Universe
- How can we connect current and near-future E-M observations to future GW detections to do astrophysics?
- Understanding the environment of high redshift MBHs and AGN and how it affects their early evolution
Invited Speakers:
Erini Lambrides (University of Maryland, NASA); Raffaella Schneider (Sapienza Università di Roma); Elena Rossi (Leiden Observatory); Melanie Habouzit (Université de Genève); Michele Perna (Centro de Astrobiología/INTA-CSIC); Alessandro Lupi (University of Insubria); Anna-Christina Eilers (MIT)
For additional questions, please see the conference website.
*** SAVE THE DATE ***
The XRISM project office is pleased to announce the 2nd XRISM International Conference, to be held June 1-4, 2027, in Detroit, Michigan, USA. This conference will build on the success of the XRISM International Conference 2025, which took place in Kyoto, Japan, in October 2025.
Conference topics will include:
- Formation of the largest structures in the Universe
- Chemical evolution of the Universe
- Active galactic nuclei and their environments
- Endpoints of stellar evolution
- Accretion and outflow in compact objects
- New physics with high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy
- XRISM for multi-wavelength/multi-messenger astronomy
The conference website is available at https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/xrism2027/. More information including important dates, hotel booking information, registration procedure, abstract submission, etc., will be available shortly. Attached is the conference poster.
Direct flights are available into DTW airport from virtually all major US cities, many European cities, and a few cities in Asia, including Tokyo. Detroit offers a vibrant cultural scene, and the historic Westin Book Cadillac hotel in downtown Detroit will serve as both the conference venue and hotel. Detroit is the home to the Tigers of Major League Baseball, and Comerica Park is only a few blocks from the hotel. For those looking to come early or stay a few days after, the Movement Music Festival will be held the weekend preceding the conference from May 29-31, and the Detroit Grand Prix will take place the weekend following the conference from June 4-6th.
We look forward to seeing you there. Save the date!
On behalf of the Scientific Organizing Committee:
Brian Williams, NASA GSFC (chair); Hiroya Yamaguchi, ISAS/JAXA (co-chair); Priyanka Chakraborty, Univ. Arkansas; Michael Koss, Eureka Scientific; Brian McNamara, Univ. Waterloo; Kazuhiro Nakazawa, Nagoya Univ.; Hirofumi Noda, Tohoku Univ.; Daniel Patnaude, CfA; Ciro Pinto, INAF; Helen Russell, Univ. Nottingham; Megumi Shidatsu, Ehime Univ.
To subscribe to the mailing list for announcements relevant to the XRISM community and this conference, send an email with 'subscribe' in the subject to xrism-announcements-join@lists.nasa.gov
For additional questions, please see the conference website.
White dwarf binaries are fundamental astrophysical probes. They serve as ideal laboratories for testing models of binary evolution, which also govern the formation of gravitational wave sources. Their final fate is closely linked to thermonuclear transients, including Type Ia Supernovae (SNe Ia). Furthermore, through nova eruptions and SN Ia explosions, white dwarf binaries inject energy and enriched material into the interstellar medium, driving star formation and shaping the chemical evolution of our Galaxy.
Upcoming Gaia data releases, new wide-area multi-object spectroscopic facilities (4MOST, DESI, WEAVE, and SDSS-V), and deep time-domain surveys like LSST will identify hundreds of thousands of new white dwarf binaries. In addition, several new ESO facilities will offer transformational capabilities, ranging from the upgrade of the VLTI (with GPAO+LGS) to SOXS, MOONS, CUBES and the upcoming first light of the ELT.
In light of this order-of-magnitude increase in observational data, it is important and timely to stimulate collaborations among diverse research communities working on the observations, theoretical modelling, and population statistics of these binaries.
This workshop aims to bring together scientists from complementary sub-fields of white dwarf binaries to define the future trajectory of this rapidly evolving field and foster discussion within the following key areas:
- Galactic archaeology: white dwarfs in wide binaries are excellent probes of star formation and evolution. The white dwarf cooling rate provides precise age determinations, enabling us to correlate stellar age with properties (such as activity, rotation, and metallicity) derived from companion stars.
- Binary evolution: the development of evolutionary models is currently limited by a lack of observational constraints on common envelope efficiency and a comprehensive theoretical framework for angular momentum losses. Thanks to their large numbers, proximity, and brightness, white dwarf binaries provide a powerful laboratory to constrain these fundamental mechanisms
- SN Ia progenitors: while several pathways have been proposed (e.g., single-degenerate, double-degenerate, double-detonation), it remains unclear which specific configurations yield successful explosions and whether multiple pathways coexist.
- Multi-messenger sources: short-period (<2 hour) white dwarf binaries form a key multi-messenger population, as they are also the most numerous gravitational wave sources in LISA’s millihertz band. At the lowest frequencies, they form an unresolved gravitational wave foreground. Detailed population studies are therefore crucial for constraining their numbers and interpreting LISA data.
The workshop will take place at ESO Headquarters in Garching near Munich.
Registration fees apply.
For additional questions, please see the conference website.
The final conference of the EXCOSM project "Large-scale structure of the Universe: from galaxies to cosmology" will take place 30 August – 3 September 2027 in the Estonian National Museum, Tartu, Estonia. Key topics of the conference will consist of the theory, simulations, and observations of the cosmic web, and cosmic web and galaxies as new analytical frameworks, astronomical surveys and simulation data enable using statistical inference to push forward our understanding about the formation and evolution of galaxies.
For additional questions, please see the conference website.
Other Astronomy, Physics and Space Sciences Meetings
Massively multiplexed spectroscopy is now entering a new era, with both expanded deep and wide survey capabilities that enable an unbiased complement to targeted spectroscopic campaigns, all while mitigating cosmic variance. The elimination of selection effects and ability to carry out efficient surveys of statistical samples across large cosmic volumes provides critical context for more detailed, but sample-size limited analyses. Current and upcoming capabilities span a large parameter space: Wide-Field Slitless Spectroscopy (WFSS) with HST and JWST provides sensitive, spatially-resolved rest-frame optical and near-infrared coverage through the epoch of reionization over moderate areas. Additionally (as of Cycle 5), JWST also provides rest-frame mid-infrared WFSS up through cosmic noon with MIRI. These modes will address open questions in galaxy evolution through detailed study of rare populations and statistical samples. At the same time, missions like Euclid and soon Roman will provide integrated WFSS over thousands of square degrees, ensuring our galaxy studies are free from cosmic variance and expanding our diagnostic power to address large-scale structure formation and cosmology.
This workshop aims to facilitate maximizing the science return of current and future WFSS capabilities by uniting discussion in key science areas with that of practical considerations, including current challenges in WFSS calibration and analysis as well as tools available to the community. Through tutorials, demos, talks, posters, and discussions, we aim to address the following:
1. Current, upcoming, and future WFSS capabilities are poised to revolutionize our exploration of the universe. Where will the major paradigm shifts occur? What can we achieve now, what will soon become possible, and how should we approach the next generation of capabilities? Crucially, how does WFSS integrate into the broader landscape of astronomical tools? What collaborations with space- and ground-based observations are essential?
2. With current and upcoming facilities, WFSS will observe large statistical samples of galaxies with high spatial resolution; however, taking advantage of this capability is challenging. What are the high priority science cases for spatially-resolved WFSS and how do we address the challenge in reconstructing spatial information from slitless observations?
3. In the era of Euclid and Roman, how can statistical galaxy studies and large-scale structure science advance? What are the key priorities, expected challenges, and connections to cosmology? How do these surveys complement detailed, targeted observations with HST and JWST?
4. Time-domain astronomy is entering a new era with Rubin. What discoveries will large-scale time-domain surveys enable, from transients to AGN variability? What science is within reach now, what lies on the horizon, and how can we best connect Rubin’s capabilities with space-based WFSS observations to maximize scientific return?
This Workshop aims to explore these topics in the context of what we have and what we need in terms of WFSS capabilities, tools, and resources for the community.
Attendance and Call for Abstracts: This workshop will be in-person at the Space Telescope Science Institute (Muller Building, Bahcall Auditorium) in Baltimore, MD, USA. Limited virtual participation will be enabled via Webex and Slack. Abstract submissions for contributed talks and tutorials are invited from in-person participants. Poster submissions will be in a digital format and can be contributed by either in-person or virtual participants. Multiple submissions in different categories are welcome. We also invite submissions for review talks. All presentations are contributed.
CHAIRS and SOC (in alphabetical order)
STScI Chairs: Stacey Alberts, Gaël Noirot, Andreea Petric, Russell Ryan, Lou Strolger
SOC: Vicente Estrada Carpenter (Arizona State University), Pat Côté (National Research Council Canada), Arianna S. Long (University of Washington), Sangeeta Malhotra (NASA), Jasleen Matharu (Max Planck Institute for Astronomy), Vihang Mehta (Infrared Processing and Analysis Center), Nor Pirzkal (STScI), Barry Rothberg (US Naval Observatory), Tommaso Treu (University of California, Los Angeles), Vivian U (Infrared Processing and Analysis Center), Yun Wang (Infrared Processing and Analysis Center)
LOC (in alphabetical order)
Annie Giman (JHU), Sherita Hanna (STScI), Andreea Petric (STScI), Victory Ramnarine (STScI), Russell Ryan (STScI). Swetha Sankar (JHU), Shemiah Smith (STScI), Brittany Vanderhoof (STScI)
For additional questions, please see the conference website.
Our understanding of the origin of the Universe, of its evolution and the physical laws that govern its behavior, as well as on the different states of matter that makes up its evolutionary stage, reached in recent years levels never before imagined. This is due mainly to the new and recent discoveries in astronomy and relativistic astrophysics as well as to experiments on particle and nuclear physics that made the traditional boundaries of knowledge on physics to be overcome. As a result we have presently a new understanding about the Universe in its two extreme domains, the very large and the very small: the recognition of the deep connections that exist between quarks and the cosmos.
The intimate relationship between quarks and cosmos has motivated the organization of the series of international events known by the acronym IWARA – International Workshop on Astronomy and Relativistic Astrophysics.
The event is the 12th in a series of meetings gathering scientists working on astroparticle physics, cosmology, gravitation, nuclear physics, and related fields. As in previous years, the IWARA 2026 meeting sessions will consist of exclusively in person invited and contributed talks, poster sessions, and will cover recent developments in the following topics:
- New phenomena and new states of matter in the Universe
- General relativity, gravitation, cosmology
- New directions for general relativity: past, present and future of general relativity
- FRW cosmologies
- Cosmic microwave background radiation
- First Stars, hypernovae, and faint supernovae in the early Universe
- Quantum gravity and quantum cosmology
- Gravity and the unification of fundamental interactions
- Supersymmetry and Inflation
- String theory
- White dwarfs, neutron stars and pulsars
- Black hole physics and astrophysics
- Gamma-ray emission in the Universe
- High energy cosmic rays
- Gravitational waves
- Dark energy and dark matter
- Strange matter and strange stars
- Antimatter in the Universe
- High-energy cosmic neutrinos
- Blazars
- Quantum chromodynamics, nuclear and particle physics and new states of matter in the Universe.
- Heavy ion collisions and the formation of the quark-gluon plasma in heavy ion collisions and in the first instants of the Universe
- Strong magnetic fields in the Universe, strong magnetic fields in compact stars and in galaxies, ultra-strong magnetic fields in neutron star mergers, quark stars and magnetars, strong magnetic fields and the cosmic microwave background
- Laboratories, observatories, telescopes and other experimental and observational facilities that will define the future directions of astrophysics, astronomy, cosmology, nuclear and astroparticle physics as well as the future of physics at the energy frontiers, and topics related to these.
The event will be organized by Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM).
During the IWARA2026 event, the Sandoval Vallarta Prize will be awarded to the top five student contributions of the poster session.
For additional questions, please see the symposium website.
The workshop will take place at the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Heidelberg on November 9 - 13, 2026. This will be the second meeting in the series, following the "NBIA Radiative Transfer in Astrophysics" workshop held at the Niels Bohr International Academy in June 2022. As with its predecessor, the meeting is designed to be highly interdisciplinary, with a focus on non-LTE and non-equilibrium radiative transfer, as well as 3D radiation hydrodynamics. We will address a wide range of astrophysical environments, including atmospheres of low-mass and massive stars, exoplanetary atmospheres, black hole accretion disks, tidal disruption events, kilonovae, and supernovae.This year, in light of the rapidly increasing quality and quantity of observational data (e.g., Galactic spectroscopic surveys, Gaia, LSST, JWST, among others), we would like to place particular emphasis on the application of these methods to pressing astrophysical problems. We aim to explore how 3D NLTE models can provide a fresh and innovative perspective on astrophysical diagnostics and chemical composition of these objects, paving the way to the exploitation of ground-based extremely large telescopes and next-generation space facilities, like Nancy Grace Roman, Habitable Worlds Observatory, and ULTRASAT.
Workshop Topics
- Stellar Atmospheres
- Exoplanetary Atmospheres
- Accretion Discs
- Tidal Disruption Events
- Supernovae
- Kilonovae
Venue and Organizational Aspects
The workshop will take place at the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Heidelberg, Germany. The lectures will take place in the House of Astronomy (https://www.haus-der-astronomie.de/en) next to MPIA. MPIA will provide infrastructure in the form of discussion rooms to facilitate collaborations and discussions in smaller groups. A social dinner for all participants will be organized during the workshop. We will charge a registration fee of 200 Euro. Limited support, in the form of fee waivers, may be provided to junior students in exceptional circumstances. Those who wish to apply for a fee waiver will need to submit a justification and a support letter. Those who wish to apply for a fee waiver will need to submit a justification and a support letter. For students and postdocs this letter needs to be sent by their advisor. Request for financial support should be sent by email to Maria Bergemann with email subject: "Illuminating the Cosmos 2026 - Request for support".
SOC
Maria Bergemann (MPIA, NBIA), Chair; Melina Bersten (La Plata University); Shane Davis (University of Virginia); Luca Fossati (Space Research Institute Graz); Anders Jerkstrand (Stockholm University), Co-Chair; Martin Pessah (NBIA), Co-Chair; Jon Sundqvist (KU Leuven)
For additional questions, please see the conference website.
Coordinators: Greg Bryan, Christoph Pfrommer, Mateusz Ruszkowski, and Ellen Zweibel
Scientific Advisors: Eve Ostriker, Eliot Quataert, and Volker Springel
Cosmic rays (CRs)—the most energetic particles in the Universe—have recently emerged as an essential agent shaping diverse astrophysical systems. Interactions between CRs and plasma exhibit parallels across the interstellar (ISM), circumgalactic (CGM), and intracluster (ICM) media. Advancing our understanding of these key but incompletely understood processes, particularly CR transport, is essential for assessing the impact of CRs across these environments.
This program will strengthen connections between distinct scientific communities studying CRs across scales — from the solar wind to galaxy clusters — with an emphasis on CR-plasma interactions. Although these communities are grounded in shared physical principles, they have largely evolved in parallel. The program will promote dialogue between these groups to deepen understanding of CRs' role in shaping diverse astrophysical systems.
The program will examine the following themes:
- CRs in turbulent plasmas: How do CR-driven instabilities, wave damping, and intermittent turbulence regulate CR transport?
- CRs in the ISM: How do supernovae accelerate CRs, and how do CRs shape ISM chemistry and star formation?
- CR feedback in galaxies and clusters: How do CRs from supernovae and black hole jets drive galactic winds and shape the CGM and ICM?
- Astrophysical tests of CR transport: How can modeling of individual objects (supernovae, star clusters, radio filaments, galaxies) constrain CR physics?
- Solar energetic particles: How do we model and constrain particle acceleration and solar wind-ISM interactions?
- Laboratory tests: How can laser plasma experiments inform CR propagation and acceleration models?
For additional questions, please see the conference website.
Despite constituting the majority of matter in the Universe, dark matter remains one of the most fundamental open problems in modern physics. Dark matter plays a central role in structure formation, galaxy evolution, and cosmology, with compelling evidence arising from galaxy rotation curves, gravitational lensing, cosmic microwave background anisotropies, and large-scale structure
measurements.
Over the past decades, major progress has been achieved through the combined efforts of observations, numerical simulations, and experimental searches. Galaxies, large-scale structure, and particle-physics experiments now provide complementary constraints on the nature of the dark sector. At the same time, direct and indirect detection experiments have yet to identify the underlying particle nature, while small-scale tensions and emerging observational discrepancies challenge aspects of the standard cosmological paradigm.
In this rapidly evolving context, new interdisciplinary approaches are required. This focused workshop aims to bring together experts from cosmology, galaxy evolution, particle physics, and data science to foster dialogue across traditionally separated communities. Particular emphasis will be placed on the interplay between observations, simulations, and experiments, as well as on the growing role of data-driven methodologies such as machine learning and simulation-based inference.
This workshop seeks to address the key questions listed in the following.
- How accurately can we map the dark matter distribution in the Universe?
- Do galaxies confirm ΛCDM predictions?
- Is the high redshift Universe presenting new challenges for ΛCDM?
- Are detection strategies targeting the correct parameter space?
- Are alternative models required?
- How can modern data science accelerate discovery?
The scientific program will be structured around some focused themes, corresponding to dedicated discussion sessions.
- Mapping the Invisible Universe
- Galaxies as Dark Matter Laboratories
- Hunting the Dark Particle
- Beyond the Standard Paradigm
- Data, AI, and the Future
Designed as a highly interactive and discussion-driven workshop, the format will prioritize scientific exchange and collaboration over traditional conference-style presentations within a small, invitation-only group of participants.
For any questions regarding the conference, please send an email to carlo.cannarozzo@nyu.edu with the subject line “Lighting up the Dark – Question” .
Organizers
Scientific Organising Committee
Carlo Cannarozzo (chair, New York University Abu Dhabi); Andrea Macciò (co-chair, New York University Abu Dhabi); Gianfranco Bertone (University of Amsterdam); Dimitrios Kantzas (New York University Abu Dhabi); Claudia Lagos (University of Western Australia); Jeremy Jin Leong Lim (Hong Kong University); Lina Necib (Massachusetts Institute of Technology); Aldo Rodriguez-Puebla (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México); Francisco Villaescusa (Flatiron Institute)
Local Organising Committee
Leen Alrawas (New York University Abu Dhabi); Bianca Arkeen (New York University Abu Dhabi); Carlo Cannarozzo (chair, New York University Abu Dhabi); Gabriella Deconi (Sexten Center for Astrophysics Riccardo Giacconi); Dimitrios Kantzas (New York University Abu Dhabi); Andrea Macciò (co-chair, New York University Abu Dhabi); Mandy Mudhar (New York University Abu Dhabi)
For additional questions, please see the conference website.
Nearby low-metallicity galaxies provide a crucial laboratory for understanding the interstellar medium, star formation, and feedback under conditions approaching those of the early Universe. Nowadays, modern facilities, such as the JWST, are also shinning a new light onto distant low-metallicity systems. This conference will bring together theorists and observers to discuss the following outstanding questions.
- How do ISM structure, phase balance, cooling, and dust properties evolve with metallicity, and how do these properties regulate star formation, including the roles of molecular hydrogen, CO-dark gas, and low-metallicity photodissociation regions?
- What is the impact of feedback from supernovae, stellar winds, to more extreme sources such as Population III stars, X-ray binaries, and intermediate-mass black holes?
- How can nearby dwarf galaxies inform high-redshift diagnostics and outline strategies for future facilities to detect and characterise faint, metal-poor galaxies and their circumgalactic environments?
Scientific Organizing Committee (SOC)
Angela ADAMO (Stockholm University, Sweden); Guido DE MARCHI (ESA, Noordwijk, Netherlands); Frédéric GALLIANO (CEA Paris-Saclay, France; chair); Deidre HUNTER (Lowell Observatory, USA); Rémy INDEBETOUW (University of Virginia, Charlottesville & NRAO, USA); Suzanne MADDEN (CEA Paris-Saclay, France; chair); Daniel SCHAERER (Université de Genève, Switzerland); Elizabeth TARANTINO (STScI, Baltimore, USA)
For additional questions, please see the website.
The study of high-redshift galaxies and their supermassive black holes is experiencing a revolution, driven by a new generation of observatories that resolve the gas, dust, stars, and kinematics of galaxies from the earliest epochs of the Universe — some at redshifts of z = 12–14. With the first years of synergistic ALMA–JWST science now behind us, this symposium brings together the global community to take stock of recent discoveries and chart the path forward.
Supermassive black holes at cosmic dawn
JWST has confirmed quasars powered by SMBHs at z > 6, some exceeding 10⁹ M☉, challenging current formation models. Host galaxies show stellar masses of 10⁹–10¹¹ M☉ and star formation rates up to 1000 M☉/yr, with evidence that SMBHs may grow faster than their hosts at high redshift. VLTI/GRAVITY and its upcoming GRAVITY+ upgrade will probe SMBH environments at parsec scales out to z = 7, providing mass determinations highly complementary to ALMA and JWST data.
Little Red Dots and the early galaxy population
One of JWST's most intriguing discoveries, Little Red Dots (LRDs) are a population of compact galaxies existing 0.6–1.6 billion years after the Big Bang — blue in the UV and red in the optical, lacking X-ray detections and displaying flat infrared spectra. They likely represent either very dusty high-redshift galaxies or dust-enshrouded AGN, and comparing them with simulations and semi-analytic models will be key to placing them within our cosmological paradigm.
Cold gas, dust, and star formation across cosmic time
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, ALMA has transformed our view of cold gas and dust in high-redshift galaxies. Three ALMA Large Programs — ALPINE, REBELS, and CRISTAL — have revealed extended [CII] halos, substantial dust contributing ≳ 30% of the cosmic star formation density up to z ~ 7, and complex morpho-kinematics with only a minority of systems showing rotationally supported disks. New programs including CHAMPS, CONDOR, and PHOENIX are expected to present fresh results at the time of the conference.
Morphology, kinematics, and galaxy assembly
Combined ALMA and JWST observations open an unprecedented window into morpho-kinematic studies of cold and warm gas at z > 4. At these redshifts, accretion is expected to be more chaotic and radial transport timescales shorter, with significant implications for SMBH feedback. Resolved studies of disk properties, dense massive star clusters, and gas motions are revealing the physical mechanisms that shaped galaxies during their formative stages, offering key tests for models of galaxy formation and assembly.
Star clusters and SMBH formation pathways
Observations from JWST, ALMA, Gaia, HST, and Euclid confirm that star formation is an inherently clumpy and clustered process. N-body simulations of dense Nuclear Star Clusters (NSCs) demonstrate that stellar runaway collisions can produce very massive objects (10⁴–10⁶ M☉), a process potentially enhanced by gas-driven dynamical friction and accretion. This pathway is increasingly recognized as a viable channel for early SMBH formation, with growing support from local-Universe observational comparisons.
Theory, simulations, and the road to the ELT
Substantial theoretical effort is dedicated to modeling quasar feedback, chemical enrichment, and early structure formation — with results increasingly confronted against detailed JWST and ALMA data. The ELT, with first light planned for 2028, will deliver near-infrared angular resolutions of ~10 mas using adaptive optics, surpassing JWST and rivaling ALMA in some bands. This symposium is a timely moment to synthesize current results and develop programs for the ELT. Dedicated time will also be given to ALMA2040, a planned upgrade offering 5–10× better line sensitivity and 3–5× finer angular resolution.
Outreach program
The symposium will be accompanied by public talks and presentations aimed at educational institutions in Punta Arenas and Puerto Natales, covering general astronomy outreach as well as highlights from the conference themes — including the discovery of high-redshift galaxies and supermassive black holes with Chilean telescopes.
Key topics:
- Current state of black hole formation seed scenarios and their predictions for JWST, ALMA and GRAVITY
- Future prospects to characterize supermassive black holes and probe their formation scenarios with JWST, ALMA, and VLT/GRAVITY
- Multiwavelength observations of high-z galaxies and supermassive black holes
- Black hole growth and their feedback in the high-z Universe, including Eddington-limited & super-Eddington accretion
- Co-evolution of supermassive black holes and their host galaxies
- Impact of feedback from supermassive black hole and stellar driven outflows in high-z galaxies and their impact on their evolution
- Properties of massive stellar clusters in high-z galaxies and their impact on the multi-phase interstellar medium.
Scientific Organizing Committee (SOC)
Manuel Aravena, Universidad Diego Portales, Chile; Caitlin Casey, University of Texas at Austin, USA; Andrés Escala, Universidad de Chile, Chile; Rodrigo Herrera-Camus, Universidad de Concepción, Chile (co-chair); Hanae Inami, Hiroshima University, Japan; Claudia Lagos, University of Western Australia, Australia; Dominik Schleicher, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy (co-chair); Raffaella Schneider, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy; Taro Shimizu, MPE, Germany; Dominika Wylezalek, Heidelberg University, Germany
Local Organizing Committee (LOC)
Manuel Aravena, Universidad Diego Portales, Chile; Andrés Escala, Universidad de Chile, Chile (co-chair); Rodrigo Herrera-Camus, Universidad de Concepción, Chile (co-chair); Jorge Gonzalez Lopez, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile
More coming soon
For additional questions, please see the conference website.