The University of Calabria will host the international workshop on ‘Particle acceleration and transport: from the Sun to extragalactic sources’ on November 12-16, 2018.
Abstract submission and registration are now open at http://astroplasmas.unical.it/workshop2018/

Deadlines:
Contributing talks abstract submission: September 16th, 2018

Main Topics:
-Observations of energetic particles in the solar, heliospheric, galactic and extragalactic environments
-Properties of cosmic ray transport and acceleration from in-situ and remote observations
-Solar flares, Crab flares, flaring phenomena in astrophysics
-Shock acceleration: problems and advances
-Particle acceleration in magnetic reconnection, including the relativistic regimes
-Particle acceleration in accretion flows and relativistic jets
-Transport and acceleration in non-linear regimes
-Magnetic turbulence in astrophysical plasmas: properties from large to small scales and effects on particle transport
-Theoretical models and numerical simulations of particle transport and acceleration

SOC:

Silvia Perri (Chair, Università della Calabria, Rende, Italy)
Elena Amato (co-chair, INAF, Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri, Italy)
Gianfranco Brunetti (IRA-INAF, Bologna, Italy)
Andrei Bykov (Ioffe Institute, St. Petersburg, Russia)
Silvia Dalla (University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK)
Horst Fichtner (Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany)
Natasha Jeffrey (University of Glasgow, UK)
William H. Matthaeus (University of Delaware, USA)
Reinout J. van Weeren (Leiden University, The Netherlands)
Gaetano Zimbardo (Università della Calabria, Rende, Italy)

For further info visit http://astroplasmas.unical.it/workshop2018/

Contact: workshopunical2018@gmail.com

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Scientific Rationale: The infrared is the key wavelength regime for understanding the formation and early evolution of galaxies, stars and planetary systems. These wavelengths probe the obscured Universe from Cosmic Dawn to proto-planetary disks tracing both the dust and the dominant atomic, ionic and molecular cooling lines. When studied together, dust continuum and lines allow us to trace the chemical enrichment of the gas in the Universe and the physical processes which determine the evolution from the primordial gas to habitable exoplanets. In particular, the infrared is host to a series of molecular bio-markers that can be used to characterize the atmospheres of exoplanets. Only in the IR can we follow the water trail in the Universe, from distant galaxies down to the solar system.

Building on the success of the previous far-IR missions (IRAS, ISO, Spitzer, Herschel and Planck) and their importance for the European astronomical community, the goal of this workshop is to bring together the community in order to home in on the most pressing questions a next-generation far-IR facility (such as the Origins Space Telescope) would be able to tackle. The Workshop will focus on the following themes:

• The rise of metals and dust
• Cosmic Dawn and the adolescent Universe
• The Starburst-AGN connection: finding the hidden supermassive black holes
• Stars and ISM: the baryonic cycle
• Astrochemistry
• The Solar System & protoplanetary disks
• Characterization of Exoplanets

The Origins Space Telescope (OST) is one of four NASA 2020 Decadal survey missions currently under study. OST will carry a suite of instruments covering the 6 to 600 microns and with its cooled telescope (down to 4K) will deliver superb imaging and spectroscopic capabilities including far infrared polarimetry. The aim of the Workshop is to bring together -primarily but not exclusively- European scientists interested in the OST to discuss potential science projects.

The format: The Workshop will consist of invited talks from the OST team introducing the capabilities of the instruments and the main OST science areas, as well as, contributed talks from the community. We ask interested participants to consult the OST webpages (accessible through the Workshop page) and come prepared to discuss their science projects, posters are also welcome. The audience is limited to 100 people.

Place of the Workshop: it will be held in the Physics Department, University of Oxford, UK, during September 4-7, 2018. There will be a small registration fee (~80 GBP) to cover coffee breaks and lunches.

Registration is now open: https://www.ost-meeting.com/registration
Abstract submission: https://www.ost-meeting.com/abstract
Abstracts will be accepted until August 1st 2018

Organizers
D. Rigopoulou (Univ. of Oxford, co-Chair), S. Aalto (Chalmers Univ. Of Technology, co-Chair), A. Cooray (UC Irvine), E. De Beck (Chalmers Univ. of Technology), M. Gerin (Paris Observatory), M. Griffin (Univ. of Cardiff), F. Helmich (SRON), M. Meixner (Space Telescope Science Institute), M. Wiedner (Paris Observatory), P. Hartogh (Max-Planck for Solar System Research)

Contact: oxford_ost@physics.ox.ac.uk

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Registration at www2.hao.ucar.edu/Workshop/ModelCoupling-2018

HAO is hosting a workshop focusing on model coupling and data driven numerical simulations with the goal to improve the realism of modeling active region flux emergence and work towards simulating realistic solar eruptive events. Significant progress has been made in recent years in both of these areas. Near surface layer radiation MHD simulations of active region formation driven by lower boundary condition of emerging flux from a solar convective dynamo simulation are able to model sunspot and active region formation with realistic properties of the observed solar active regions. Methods of using observed time sequences of vector magnetograms to drive simulations of realistic solar eruptive events in the corona are being explored and developed.  This workshop will bring together modelers and observers working in these areas to review recent results, discuss methodologies and future directions.  The following are some of the questions to be addressed:

1. What are the challenges of modeling realistic active region formation? How can model coupling be used to bridge the wide range of temporal and spatial scales (from global scale dynamo generation of active region flux to near surface layer fine scale evolution of sunspot formation) and the different physical regimes the problem encompasses?
2. How coupled models and simulations can help us interpret surface observations of active region evolution in terms of the subsurface structure of emerging flux, and deriving the boundary driving condition for coronal models of solar eruption?
3. Are photospheric observations of vector magnetic field evolution adequate to drive MHD models to be able to realistically model the magnetic field evolution of eruptive events? What additional observational data can be used?
4. Many current CME simulations use ad-hoc boundary-driving to numerically construct a pre-eruptive coronal configuration and trigger its eruption. What are the adequate boundary conditions for such simulations, especially for the imposed electric fields? How can information derived from vector magnetic data or flux-emergence simulations be used to further increase their realism?

All interested in this area of research are welcome to participate in this workshop and present their work. The format of the workshop will be informal oral presentations and open discussion sessions. We hope to have useful and effective discussions on the above topics during the workshop. Some travel support is available for graduate student participants. Here is the workshop webpage where registration, hotel reservation, and application for travel support are open:www2.hao.ucar.edu/Workshop/ModelCoupling-2018

Important deadlines:

• Financial Support Application Deadline (closed): Sunday, April 15, 2018
• Meeting Registration (with title of talk) Deadline: Friday, June 1, 2018

Workshop SOC:

Matthias Rempel (HAO/NCAR);

Yuhong Fan (HAO/NCAR); Chaowei Jiang (Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, China); Maria Kazachenko (SSL/UC Berkeley, CU/NSO); Mark Cheung (LMSAL); Mark Linton (NRL); Tibor Török (PSI)

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This is the last reminder that the BUKS2018 abstract submission deadline is Friday June 1st, 2018.

BUKS2018 Workshop on “Waves and Instabilities in the Solar Atmosphere: Confronting the Current State-of-the-Art” will take place in La Laguna, Tenerife (Spain) from 4 to 7 September 2018, organised by the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC).

The aim is to create a forum for discussion and exchange of ideas on recent results regarding observations, data analysis and theoretical/numerical modelling of waves, oscillations, associated instabilities and seismology of the solar atmosphere. Emphasis is given to the exploitation of present and future facilities, instruments and observational bands; the development and application of modern data analysis methods; and confrontation with state of the art modelling.

A few review talks will introduce the relevant topics, highlighting recent progress and unresolved questions. Recent results will be covered by contributed talks and posters.  Ample time will be available for discussions.

All researchers active in the field are welcome to attend. Graduate students and early-career postdocs are particularly encouraged to participate and present their research work.

Invited Reviews: Michael Ruderman, Marco Stangalini, Shahin Jafarzadeh

Invited Speakers: Clara Froment, Bo Li, Norbert Magyar, Tanmoy Samanta, Roberto Soler, Qinmin Zhang

Important dates

• March 15, 2018: Registration and abstract submission open

June 1, 2018: Abstract submission closes

• June 30, 2018: Notification of acceptance of contributions

• July 15, 2018: Deadline for payment of the registration fee

August 1, 2018: Deadline for hotel reservation with special rates

Contact and further information: buks2018@iac.es. More information at www.iac.es/congreso/BUKS2018/

Manuel Luna and Iñigo Arregui

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Announcing The Polar Perspectives 2018 Workshop
September 25 – 27, 2018
NCAR/HAO: Boulder CO.

Website; www2.hao.ucar.edu/PolarPerspectives2018

Workshop Charge: To explore the scientific breakthroughs made possible by repeated or sustained observations of the Sun’s polar regions, and to consider the technologies and orbital dynamics required to achieve measurements at the desired vantages.

Workshop Objective: Develop a science portfolio for a solar polar mission, present and discuss options on a baseline, and extended, suite of instrumentation, and develop a number of conceptual orbits available with existing launch capacity.

Workshop Motivation: For the first time in human history, our technology allows us to observe all longitudes of the solar atmosphere. The combined imaging data from SOHO, STEREO, and SDO have demonstrated some of the rotationally driven processes on our Star. They present a tantalizing glimpse of the Sun’s polar evolution when the data are pieced together, despite limitations arising the fact that all of these spacecraft are observing the poles from vantages close to the ecliptic plane. For decades, observations of high solar latitudes have been used as critical precursor input for predictions of decadal-scale solar activity. Many solar high-latitude phenomena—including polar coronal holes, polar crown filaments, and the Sun’s torsional oscillations—indicate a limiting latitude around 55 degrees (in each hemisphere) that apparently divides high- vs. low-latitude dynamical evolution. A polar view would directly reveal the Sun’s global-scale dynamics, investigate the sources of the fast solar wind, and witness the full lifetime of structures in the solar atmosphere from birth to death, including a Sun-to-Earth view of coronal mass ejections.

In this workshop we will take inventory of the science that might be accomplished by a solar polar mission. We will discuss mission architecture, maturity of required compact instrumentation, and technological limitations placed on any concept mission by currently available launch capacity and/or spacecraft propulsion systems.

An important precedent was set by the Ulysses mission, which obtained groundbreaking polar in-situ observations. Beyond this, numerous feasibility investigations of solar polar missions have already been undertaken. A key element of the workshop will be to capture the “lessons learned” from these past activities and to use them to effectively move forward in designing future solar polar missions.… continue to the full article

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RAS National Astronomy Meeting 2019
Lancaster University 
30th June – 4th July 2019

We are pleased to announce that the Royal Astronomical Society’s 2019 National Astronomy Meeting will be held on the campus of Lancaster University. The meeting includes the UK Solar Physics and Magnetosphere Ionosphere and Solar-Terrestrial communities and will run from Sunday 30th June to Thursday 4th July. The programme will include scientific sessions covering a broad range of topics and a varied social programme. Please save the dates.

Isobel Hook and Jim Wild 
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Dear Members,

We invite you to submit a short abstract to Session 3 at the Fifteenth European Space Weather Workshop, November 5-9, 2018 in Leuven, Belgium. This Session will focus on identifying advancements and opportunities toward improved national and global resilience for space weather events. The Session also provides the opportunity for presenters to showcase advances in research, observations, or analyses that can inform and enhance actions to improve resilience to the effects of space weather events. We are also interested in national level efforts to improve capacity, coordination and resilience as well as those that seek to strengthen international partnerships and frameworks. Examples include national strategies, legislative developments, risk registers, coordinated research programs, and policy-level discussions in the UN and elsewhere. It is also a chance for presenters to identify opportunities for additional research and collaboration to enhance resilience to the effects of space weather events.

Deadline for submissions is 18 May, 2018.

Additional background and submission details are available here: http://www.stce.be/esww15/program/sessions.php

Thank you for your consideration,
Seth and Chris.

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The European Space Weather Week (ESWW15 www.stce.be/esww15/), this year takes place from 5 – 9 November in Leuven, Belgium. We warmly invite abstract submissions to our session entitled: “Unveiling Current Challenges in Space Weather Forecasting”. (www.stce.be/esww15/program/session_details.php?nr=6)

The ESWW15 meeting details can be found in the conference website where the necessary guide and links to the abstract submission page are also present.

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This is the second announcement for the Fall School on Solar Spectropolarimetry and Diagnostic Techniques, sponsored by the High Altitude Observatory (NCAR), the Advanced Study Program of NCAR and the National Solar Observatory. The school will take place in Estes Park (Colorado), from September 24 through October 5, 2018.

This two-week school will present a comprehensive overview of the field of solar spectropolarimetry and the tools and methods used for decoding the polarization of the solar spectrum. For details on the intended audience, the lecture contents, the class schedule and the inversion codes that will be used during the school, please visit: www2.hao.ucar.edu/spectropolarimetry

We will select 25 applicants through a competitive process to participate in the school. The duration of the school is two full weeks, and participants will receive partial-to-full support (depending on funding availability) for travel, accommodation and per diem. Instructions for the registration process can be found under “Application Materials” at www.asp.ucar.edu/spectropolarimetry The deadline for application is May 31, 2018.

We welcome applications from Solar Physicists from all walks of life (early- and not-so-early- career scientists and academics), however, graduate students and early career scientists in the field will be given priority.… continue to the full article

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BUKS2018 Workshop on “Waves and Instabilities in the Solar Atmosphere: Confronting the Current State-of-the-Art” will take place in La Laguna, Tenerife (Spain) from 4 to 7 September 2018, organised by the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC).

The aim is to create a forum for discussion and exchange of ideas on recent results regarding observations, data analysis and theoretical/numerical modelling of waves, oscillations, associated instabilities and seismology of the solar atmosphere. Emphasis is given to the exploitation of present and future facilities, instruments and observational bands; the development and application of modern data analysis methods; and confrontation with state of the art modelling.

A few review talks will introduce the relevant topics, highlighting recent progress and unresolved questions. Recent results will be covered by contributed talks and posters.  Ample time will be available for discussions.

All researchers active in the field are welcome to attend. Graduate students and early-career postdocs are particularly encouraged to participate and present their research work.

Important dates
March 15, 2018: Registration and abstract submission open
June 1, 2018: Abstract submission closes
June 30, 2018: Notification of acceptance of contributions
July 15, 2018: Deadline for payment of the registration fee
August 1, 2018: Deadline for hotel reservation with special rates

Contact and further information: buks2018@iac.es. More information at www.iac.es/congreso/BUKS2018/

Manuel Luna and Iñigo Arregui

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