Narrabri Synthesis Imaging Workshop
The 5th ATNF Synthesis Imaging Workshop was very successfully held at Narrabri during the week of 24 - 28 September. The number of attendees was larger than expected, and included 35 post-graduate students, 10 post-docs and a few undergraduates. There were about 30 speakers and other helpers in addition to this. In comparison to previous workshops, the group included a larger fraction of students who were predominantly interested in wavelengths other than radio.
This year we included two "practical sessions" and a site tour to complement the formal lectures and tutorials. During the practical sessions, the students were able to take part in activities which included observing, data analysis, working with a basic interferometer operating at 20 MHz, and using the ATCA antennas as single dishes at both millimetre and centimetre wavelengths. All the formal parts of the workshop were well rated by the students, with the practical sessions, in particular, being highly successful.
The workshop presentations and some tutorial and practical session material are now available on the web at http://www.atnf.csiro.au/whats_on/workshops.
The Narrabri staff out-did themselves in the local organisation and, unlike the workshop in 1998 (floods!), the weather was excellent. The students, in particular, enjoyed the workshop reception (camp oven meal and campfire) on the Monday, and an after dinner talk by Prof John Storey on "Radio Astrology'" on the Wednesday evening. Thanks are due to all the speakers and Narrabri staff for making this workshop very successful and enjoyable.
Prof John Storey in discussion with workshop participants.
Bushwalking at Sawn Rocks on Friday afternoon.
Bob Sault
(Bob.Sault@csiro.au)
Editors note: And thanks especially to Bob for an excellent workshop.