Federation Fellowship Astronomy Symposium 2004

and 9th Annual Charlene Heisler Workshop

November 22 - 23, 2004

In the new Duffield Lecture Theatre at
Mount Stromlo Observatory, Canberra.

Post-meeting wrap-up

Background
The Australian Government's prestigious Federation Fellowship program, administered by the Australian Research Council, started in 2002. There are currently 73 Federation Fellows, of whom three are researchers in the field of astronomy. The three Fellows, and the topics of their research programs, are as follows:

  • Prof. Mike Dopita (RSAA, ANU, 2002): The Epoch of Galaxy Formation, encompassing the physics of interstellar dust, star formation and chemical evolution in galaxies, and the interaction of growing massive black holes with their host galaxies.

  • Prof. Ron Ekers (ATNF, CSIRO, 2003): A Clearer View of the Evolving Universe, focusing on star formation in galaxies and the radio/far-infrared correlation, as well as RFI mitigation techniques.

  • Dr. Dick Manchester (ATNF, CSIRO, 2003): Precision Pulsar Timing and its Applications, including development of a pulsar timing array for gravitational wave detection.
This symposium will highlight recent research by these Fellows, their research groups, and others working in related fields. As the fields of interest of two of the Federation Fellows include Active and Starburst Galaxies, the symposium will be combined with the 9th Annual Charlene Heisler workshop.

Dates
The symposium will take place over two full days on Monday and Tuesday, 22 and 23 November 2004.

Venue
The symposium and workshop will be held in the renovated Duffield Lecture Theatre at Mount Stromlo Observatory (RSAA, ANU), Canberra. The Observatory is 20 minutes drive from the city centre: see the ACT map for general location and the route 5 map for the location with respect to Cotter Rd. While most participants will provide their own transport (free car parking is available), a shuttle service will make the following stops on Monday and Tuesday mornings: (1) University House at 8:50; (2) 50 Northbourne Ave, in front of the Private Bin Club, at 8:55; (3) The Statesman Hotel in Curtin at 9:15. If you have not already arranged pickup you must contact Peter Walshe (0417 480 518) to make sure there is room for you.

Registration
The deadline for registration had passed. A nominal registration fee of $30, to help cover the catering costs, will be payable at the time of the meeting (cash or credit card). Students are exempted from the registration fee if registered by the deadline. All attendees (including invited speakers and students) must register.

Invited Speakers
Mike Dopita (RSAA), Brad Gibson (Swinburne), Joss Bland-Hawthorn (AAO), Dick Manchester (ATNF), Yuri Levin (CITA), David McClelland (ANU), Ron Ekers (ATNF), Ilana Klamer (Sydney)

Meals, Events
Lunch and tea/coffee will be provided on Monday and Tuesday. For registered participants, there will be a subsidised symposium banquet on Monday evening at the University House, ANU campus. Registered guests may attend at a cost of $40 each.

Accommodation
Participants are asked to organise their own accommodation. We are told that the University House, Acton and the Best Western Embassy Hotel, Deakin, are both booked out now. The Statesman Hotel, Curtin still had vacancy last we checked. For budget accommodation you might consider Burgmann College at ANU which has a bed & breakfast rate of $55. Please see CitySearch for other possibilities.

Scientific Organising Committee
Lister Staveley-Smith (chair), Geoff Bicknell, George Hobbs, Andrew Melatos, Ralph Sutherland, Tony Wong.

Local Organising Committee
Frank Filardo, Ralph Sutherland (RSAA), Susanne Little, Tony Wong (ATNF)

Contact
email contact address FFSymp2004@csiro.au.

Sponsorship
This event is sponsored by the three astronomy Federation Fellows, who derive their funding from the ARC, with matching contributions from their host institutes, ANU and CSIRO.