News Archive
09 June: Detailed programme online
The detailed programme is online
09 May 2008: Opening of the discussion forum
The discussion forum is now open. Please follow this link to comment on the ASTRONET Infrastructure Roadmap (PDF) prior to its presentation at the Liverpool Symposium. Your views will be taken into account and the forum will remain open until 4 July 2008.
06 May 2008: Draft Report Release & Third announcement
Dear colleagues,
It is with pleasure that we announce the public release of the first draft ASTRONET Infrastructure Roadmap.
The document is now available for download here and at the ASTRONET website http://www.astronet-eu.org/IMG/pdf/Astronet_Infrastructure_Roadmap.pdf.
A web-based discussion forum, where you will be able to express your views and comments, will open by the end of this week. For up-to-date information see the Discussion Forum page.
If you would like to attend the Symposium but haven't registered yet, we would like to invite you to do so at: http://www.ljmu.ac.uk/conferences/93776.asp.
Over 200 people have registered already and our capacity is limited to 400 people. Please register early in order to avoid disappointment.
We are also pleased to inform that the StayBridges Suites Hotel is block-booked until 15 May for the dates of this conference. This is a brand new hotel immediately next to the Arena and Convention Centre Liverpool, where the symposium will be hosted.
To book a room at this hotel, please call +44 (0)800 988 4663 and ask for the Astronet Symposium and the group code AST. The negotiated rate is 109 GBP, including tax, breakfast and internet access. This is valid until May 15th. Thereafter, reservations will be taken on a space and rate availability basis.
Information on other hotels in the vicinity of the Arena and Convention Centre can be found on the Hotel Information page. June will be a busy month in Liverpool with the capital of culture celebrations in full swing, and with a number of other conferences taking place in the same venue and in same period of time, you are well advised not to leave your accommodation booking until the last minute.
11 April 2008: Conference Poster Available
The conference poster is now available for download (JPG, PDF). Please print and post it on your notice board. If you would like to receive the full-sized hardcopy please email us your institute's address.
02 April 2008: Second announcement
Registration is now open for the ASTRONET Infrastructure Roadmap Symposium to be held in Liverpool, U.K. on the dates of 16-19 June 2008.
Further information can be obtained at: http://www.astro.livjm.ac.uk/~airs2008/
IMPORTANT DEADLINES
- Application for financial support: 30 April 2008
- Abstract Submission: 23 May 2008
- Registration: 29 May 2008
REGISTRATION
Registration for the symposium can be made online through the following website: http://www.ljmu.ac.uk/conferences/93776.asp
Registration is free of charge and covers the cost of the venue, coffee breaks and lunches, and the conference dinner and other social events.
The number of participants will be capped at 400, so please register early to avoid disappointment.
ABSTRACTS
This meeting will focus specifically on the first draft of the ASTRONET Infrastructure Roadmap, which will be made publicly available by the beginning of May 2008. We now invite short contributions on facilities and infrastructures within the following themes related to the Infrastructure Roadmap:
- High energy astrophysics, astroparticle physics and gravitational waves
- UVOIR and radio/mm facilities
- Solar telescopes, solar system missions, laboratory studies
- Theory, computing facilities and networks, Virtual Observatory
- Education, recruitment and training, public outreach, industrial links
The principal aim of this call is to obtain feedback on the ASTRONET Infrastructure Roadmap prior to its final publication in the Autumn of 2008.
In order to submit an abstract you must register in the first instance. You will then receive an email with further instructions.
ACCOMMODATION
Please book your accommodation as soon as possible after you have registered. We are aware of at least one other large conference is being held in the exact same venue and period of time. Thus, demand for accommodation in the immediate vicinity of the Arena and Convention Centre (ACC) Liverpool will almost certainly be very high. Leaving your booking until late may result in a longer journey to the ACC Liverpool each day.
29 November 2007: First announcement
Dear colleagues,
As you may know, the EU-funded ASTRONET project is developing a Roadmap for European astronomy covering the period 2010-2025. The process is well underway and the first complete draft will be released in the Spring of 2008. It is now our pleasure to announce the opportunity for you to contribute to this important initiative.
This symposium, to be held in Liverpool on 16-19 June 2008, is being organised as part of a wide consultation process, which started with the constitution of five thematic Panels and a Working Group drawn from the astronomical community. Since March 2007, this team of experts has been preparing a comprehensive, prioritised, pan-European plan, detailing those facilities that will be necessary to deliver the ASTRONET Science Vision, and addressing also other important aspects such as education, training and public awareness.
The following five sub-panels were charged by the ASTRONET board to address specific areas of infrastructure:
- Panel A: High energy astrophysics, astroparticle physics and gravitational waves
- Panel B: UVOIR and radio/mm, including survey instruments
- Panel C: Solar telescopes, "in situ" (solar system) missions, laboratory studies
- Panel D: Theory, computing facilities and networks, Virtual Observatory
- Panel E: Education, recruitment and training, public outreach
The Infrastructure Roadmap Working Group (IRWG) is responsible for synthesising the conclusions of the Panels into one overarching Roadmap document, and is composed of the chairs and co-chairs of the panels and several members at large. Full membership of the IRWG and the panels is available at http://www.astronet-eu.org/-Infrastructure-Roadmap-.
The first draft roadmap document will be widely distributed to the European astronomical community at large ahead of the Symposium, and a web-based discussion forum will be opened in parallel to give everyone the opportunity to express their views.
After this stage, the Liverpool Symposium will provide a live forum for the community to debate the draft recommendations formulated by the IRWG. Ample time for discussion is foreseen, in the form of both plenary and specialised, parallel sessions where the individual projects may be presented and the conclusions of each panel will be debated.
After the Symposium, the IRWG will consider the outcomes of this wide consultation process to formulate the final roadmap that will be publicly released in the Autumn of 2008.
We urge you to take part in these discussions, for your contribution is essential. All of the European astronomical community is invited to participate, including observers, theorists, instrument developers and engineers, educators and communicators.
Specific information about the Symposium, including a very preliminary programme, is available at http://www.astro.livjm.ac.uk/~airs2008. The registration will open in early 2008, meanwhile you will be able to register your interest and sign up for an email alert. Please note that there will be no registration fee.
The IRWG acts as the Scientific Organising Committee for the Symposium.
Finally, you are advised to book your accommodation as early as possible. Please see our Hotel Information page.