Australia Telescope National Facility

S&A Colloquium: Ashna Gulati (University of Sydney)
2026-01-28 15:00 - 16:00 (Australia/Sydney) | Marsfield Lecture Theatre, 26 Pembroke Road, Marsfield, NSW, 2122, Australia
From Jets to Mergers: Multiwavelength Signatures of Synchrotron Transients

Abstract:

Synchrotron transients arise from some of the most energetic explosions in the Universe and trace the interaction of relativistic or sub-relativistic outflows with their surrounding environments. These interactions generate shocks that accelerate particles and amplify magnetic fields, producing broadband synchrotron emission. While the underlying emission mechanism is broadly similar across sources, differences in progenitor systems give rise to a wide range of outflow velocities, energies, and light-curve behaviours. Broadband observations are therefore a powerful tool for probing the physics of these extreme events, from compact object interactions to stellar explosions.

In this talk, I present results from three complementary approaches to studying synchrotron transients: targeted wide-field radio surveys, untargeted extreme transient searches, and rapid response follow-up. I discuss late-time ASKAP searches for radio afterglows from compact object mergers detected by LIGO–Virgo, the discovery and detailed characterisation of the luminous and long-lived extragalactic radio transient ASKAP J0055–2558, and a comprehensive radio-to-X-ray study of the exceptionally bright GRB 240825A. Together, these studies demonstrate how broadband observations enable robust constraints on relativistic outflows and establish radio surveys and electromagnetic follow-up as a critical tool for exploring the extreme transient Universe in the SKA era.

Please note that the event timezone is AEDT (UTC+11 hrs)
Join Event on Microsoft Teams
Location

Organiser

Event details
Download iCal
Category
Colloquia

Colearnium: Carmen Martinez Harris & Michael Cowley (QUT)
2026-01-29 12:00 - 12:30 (Australia/Sydney) | WA
A Framework for Preserving Indigenous Astronomy in SEQ

This week Carmen Martinez Harris & Michael Cowley will present on “A Framework for Preserving Indigenous Astronomy in SEQ“.

Please let me know if you’re willing to present at a future Co-learnium or have requests for specific talks, thanks!

Kind regards,

Stefan Duchesne

Teams meeting link below:
Teams Meeting
Organiser

Event details
Download iCal
Category
Colloquia

S&A Colloquium: Kovi Rose (University of Sydney)
2026-02-04 15:00 - 16:00 (Australia/Sydney) | Marsfield Lecture Theatre, 26 Pembroke Road, Marsfield, NSW, 2122, Australia
Probing the Timescales of Radio Variability: From Late-time Supernovae Re-Brightening to Long Period Transients

Abstract:

We have entered the age of big data in astrophysics and radio astronomy is no exception. Wide-field surveys with the Australian SKA Pathfinder (ASKAP) radio telescope are finding millions of radio-bright sources in the southern skies. In this talk I will speak about three recent discoveries and their implications on our understanding of stellar magnetism in fully convective stars, binary evolution in accreting systems, and the mass-loss history of supernova progenitors. The first comes from our detection of periodic bursts from an ultracool brown dwarf, the latest spectral type star ever found to produce radio emission. Second, we have found orbitally-modulated X-ray and radio pulses from a newly discovered long period transient. And finally, we are finding supernovae re-brightening years after their optical discovery, as the blast wave interacts with shells of circumstellar material. Finding and studying these rare transients is helping us explore astrophysical environments that cannot be studied on Earth.

Please note that the event timezone is AEDT (UTC+11 hrs)
Join Event on Microsoft Teams
Location

Organiser

Event details
Download iCal
Category
Colloquia

S&A Vacation Student Symposium
2026-02-05 00:00 - 23:59 (Australia/Sydney) | WA
One day symposium where undergraduate students will give a short talk on the project they have worked on over the summer

The symposium will be held in person at two locations and also online, commencing with an introductionfrom S&A Director, Dr Douglas Bock.Marsfield Lecture Theatre, NSW at 11:30 am AEDTKensington Auditorium, WA at 8:30 am AWSTLink to the program

Organiser

Event details
Download iCal

Colearnium: Tisham Dhar (CSIRO)
2026-02-12 12:00 - 12:30 (Australia/Sydney) | WA
Earth Observation and Helio physics foundation models

This week Tisham Dhar will present on “Earth Observation and Helio physics foundation models“.

Please let me know if you’re willing to present at a future co-learnium or have requests for specific talks, thanks!

Kind regards,

Stefan Duchesne

Teams meeting link below:
Teams Meeting
Organiser

Event details
Download iCal
Category
Colloquia

ATNF Futures 2030 Workshop
2026-02-18 10:00 - 2026-02-19 17:00 (Australia/Sydney) | Marsfield Lecture Theatre, 26 Pembroke Road, Marsfield, NSW, 2122, Australia
Overview

This workshop invites the Australian community to present science and technology ideas for the post-2030 era that deliver transformational advances with existing or upgraded facilities and new demonstrators in the SKA era.

Inyarrimanha Ilgari Bundara, our Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory is one of the best sites for radio astronomy observations in the world, and the ATNF should take advantage of its unique environment. With SKA-Mid and SKA-Low telescopes coming online towards the end of the decade for science verification and full operations, and DSA-2000 operating from the late 2020s, it is timely for the community to start planning for post-2030 science and technology pathways.

The ASKAP telescope was built to:

Help establish an observatory site for the SKA Observatory’s SKA-Low telescope, and

Demonstrate SKA survey science technologies.

Following the construction of ASKAP, CSIRO ran an open proposal process, and initiated the 5-year Science Survey Projects, which are still in progress.

The first two aims have been achieved, and the surveys are planned to be completed by the end of the decade.

We have supplied a document outlining a set of broad facility and technology concepts, and the boundary conditions for the discussion. An ASKAP upgrade path is one of the concepts provided for discussion:
Concept documentPDF450 KB
We will then invite abstracts for presentations that take one or more of these concepts and present a scientific and/or technology vision. These can be submitted via the registration form.

Aims of the Workshop

To canvas ideas on the unique and world-leading science that ATNF can do in the 2030s

To bring the Australian community into the conversation about the future of mid-high frequency radio astronomy

To generate new ideas and collaborations within Australia and internationally.

Location

In-person at Marsfield and online

Registration

Abstract submission has closed. Any abstracts proposed through the form will not be considered. Registration for in-person attendance has now closed. Online registration remains open.

Online registration
Online details will be provided closer to the date.

Organiser

Organising Committee:

Cathryn Trott

George Hobbs

Kelly Gourdji

Josh Preston Pritchard

Aidan Hotan

Nithya Thyagarajan

Keith Bannister

Event details
Download iCal

ColloquiaRegister

S&A Colloquium: Joe Grundy (Curtin University)
2026-02-25 12:00 - 13:00 (Australia/Sydney) | CSIRO – Kensington, Australian Resources Research Centre (ARRC), 26 Dick Perry Ave, Kensington, WA, 6101, Australia
Investigating the Complex Radio Spectra and Infrared-Radio Correlation in Nearby Starforming Galaxies

Abstract:

In my recently accepted thesis, I examined the radio continuum emission of galaxies to determine how the physical processes that occur within galaxies modify the radio spectral energy distribution and physical distribution of radio emission. I studied the resolved radio continuum emission of 27 nearby star forming galaxies with facilities including MWA, ASKAP, ATCA and ALMA to examine the impact of cosmic ray electron energy loss and radio continuum absorption mechanisms as well as cosmic ray transport on the radio spectral energy distribution and their relations to a galaxies physical properties. I have also examined the relationships between radio continuum emission and star formation through the infrared to radio correlation and how these relationships are affected by physical processes within galaxies. Overall I find that the radio continuum emission of star forming galaxies is much more complex than simple two component synchrotron and free-free power law emission with factors such as ionisation losses, synchrotron losses and free-free absorption impacting the radio emission differently in each galaxy depending on a galaxies size, star formation rate and gas properties. A thorough understanding of the links between the physical properties of a galaxy and its radio spectral energy distribution is vital to be able to better calibrate radio star formation rate measures in preparation for future broad-band, all-sky radio surveys with telescopes like the SKA.

Please note that the event timezone is AWST (UTC+8 hrs)
Join Event on Microsoft Teams
Location

Organiser

Event details
Download iCal
Category
Colloquia

Colearnium: Andrew Bolin (CSIRO)
2026-02-26 12:00 - 12:30 (Australia/Sydney) | WA
A peek inside Port Kembla Steelworks

This week Andrew Bolin will provide “A peek inside Port Kembla Steelworks“.

Please let me know if you’re willing to present at a future co-learnium or have requests for specific talks, thanks!

Kind regards,

Stefan Duchesne

Teams meeting link below:
Teams Meeting
Organiser

Event details
Download iCal
Category
Colloquia

Colearnium: Phil Edwards (CSIRO)
2026-03-05 12:00 - 12:30 (Australia/Sydney) | WA
What was the ATCA built for (and what has it actually done)?

This week Phil Edwards will tell us “What was the ATCA built for (and what has it actually done)?“.

Please let me know if you’re willing to present at a future co-learnium or have requests for specific talks, thanks!

Kind regards,

Stefan Duchesne

Teams meeting link below:
Teams Meeting
Organiser

Event details
Download iCal
Category
Colloquia

S&A Colloquium: Eric Burt (NASA/JPL, 2025 IEEE Distinguished Lecturer on Frequency Control)
2026-03-12 12:00 - 13:00 (Australia/Sydney) | Marsfield Lecture Theatre, 26 Pembroke Road, Marsfield, NSW, 2122, Australia
Frequency Standard Contributions to Limitations on the Signal-to-Noise Ratio of Very Long Baseline Interferometry Observations

Abstract:

Since its observation in 2019, the first image of a super-massive black hole using Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) between a network of Earth-based radio telescopes has generated much scientific and public interest, including the possible extension to include one or more space-based radio antennas in order to obtain higher image resolution. The VLBI technique assumes that each radio telescope has its own frequency standard or “clock,” and a key requirement for that frequency standard is that it have sufficient stability and precision to enable the phase-coherent combination of signals from the independent radio telescopes. For ground-based radio telescopes, the state-of-practice is to have a hydrogen maser co-located. The number of frequency standards that are both space-qualified and perform well enough for this type of VLBI is a small subset of those available on the ground. Among these, it will be necessary to determine what type of frequency standard performance is really required. In addition, given the high cost of launching instruments into space, it may be necessary to make difficult trade-offs between instrument size, and performance. To facilitate this trade space, we derive a metric that directly links frequency standard noise characteristics to the signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio as a function of averaging time for the central VLBI observable, known as the “visibility.” Using this metric, we find that among the existing space clock candidates, only an Ultra-Stable Oscillator (USO) and space hydrogen maser are potentially viable. Furthermore, a USO will only be effective for relatively short integration times for the high observational frequencies required, which are typically of order 100 GHz or higher. While a hydrogen maser can extend the averaging time, it is likely to have prohibitive size and cost for a space VLBI node. We also investigate emerging frequency standards, including optical clocks, and find that the best option may be the optical local oscillator used in an optical clock by itself without the atomic reference. This approach can greatly reduce size and complexity of the frequency standard by eliminating the atomic reference while providing a limit on VLBI visibility S/N significantly higher than what is possible with a hydrogen maser.

Please note that the event timezone is AEDT (UTC+11 hrs), and it will be held at Payne Scott room instead of the lecture theatre.
Join Event on Microsoft Teams
Location

Organiser

Event details
Download iCal
Category
Colloquia

ATUC Open Day
2026-03-19 09:00 - 17:00 (Australia/Perth) | Kensington Auditorium, 26 Dick Perry Avenue, Kensington, Western Australia, 6151, Australia
Overview

The ATUC Open Day on 19 March 2026 will be held in the Auditorium at Kensington. Remote attendance will be made available via Teams. All are welcome to attend.

If you, as a user (or potential user) of the ATNF, are aware of any issues that need to be raised at the next ATUC meeting, or would like to offer feedback on ATNF activities and facilities, you can do so via the ATUC Community Submission Form or by contacting any member of ATUC.

To participate in the ATUC Open Session, please register in advance using the button below. The registration deadline is 17:00 AWST on 5 March 2026.
Register
Location

Organiser

Event details
Download iCal
Category
Colloquia

S&A Colloquium: Luca Ighina (Harvard Center for Astrophysics)
2026-03-25 12:00 - 13:00 (Australia/Sydney) | CSIRO – Kensington, Australian Resources Research Centre (ARRC), 26 Dick Perry Ave, Kensington, WA, 6101, Australia
A New Radio Window on the Growth of the First Supermassive Black Holes

Abstract:

From reionizing the Universe to quenching star formation in massive galaxies, accreting supermassive black holes (SMBHs), or active galactic nuclei (AGN), are thought to play a pivotal role in early galaxy evolution. Growing observational evidence, including recent results from JWST, suggests that accreting black holes are both more abundant and more massive at than predicted by current theoretical models. In this talk I will present recent observational results on accreting black holes in the early Universe, with a particular focus on radio-powerful AGN. I will show how relativistic jets can play an important role in both the rapid assembly of very massive black holes and the regulation of star formation in their host galaxies in the early Universe.

While exciting, current studies focus on optically luminous AGN, which likely represent only the tip of the iceberg of the SMBH population at early cosmic times. Heavily obscured AGN, whose accretion signatures are hidden at optical and near-infrared wavelengths, are predicted to dominate the high-z AGN population, yet these sources remain largely unconstrained from an observational point of view. The synergy between next-generation radio and near-infrared wide-area surveys will soon open a new window on this elusive population. In particular, radio observations can reveal the presence of relativistic jets, and therefore ongoing black hole accretion, even in systems that are obscured at optical wavelengths. The combination of ASKAP/EMU and EUCLID-wide surveys will provide the deepest multi-wavelength view of the extra-Galactic southern sky, enabling the construction of the first large, unbiased census of accreting black holes at z>6. As an example of the power of this synergy, I will present a preliminary cross-match of EMU and Euclid over the EUCLID deep field South (∼25 deg2).

Please note that the event timezone is AWST (UTC+8 hrs)

Location

Organiser

Event details
Download iCal
Category
Colloquia

S&A Colloquium: Matt Miles (Vanderbilt University)
2026-03-26 12:00 - 13:00 (Australia/Sydney) | Marsfield Lecture Theatre, 26 Pembroke Road, Marsfield, NSW, 2122, Australia
All Models Are Wrong: Noise Modelling in Pulsar Timing

Abstract:

Pulsar timing arrays are only as good as the timing residuals they produce — and those residuals are only as clean as the method used to extract them. Traditional template-matching approaches measure pulse time-of-arrival (TOA) by fitting a single fixed or radio-frequency dependent template to observed profiles, but this leaves a critical vulnerability: any stochastic variation in pulse shape is silently absorbed into the TOA as a systematic bias, quietly corrupting the signals we are trying to extract.

SCULPT is a new technique built of old ideas that fixes this at its source. By constructing a basis directly from observed profiles via SVD, SCULPT learns the true structure of pulse shape variability from the data itself — no analytic assumptions, no oracle knowledge required. Stochastic shape changes are absorbed into nuisance amplitude coefficients within this basis, keeping them out of the timing solution. The result is a variational profile basis that is optimally adapted to the actual pulse morphology: expressive where it needs to be, simple everywhere else.

I will present the methodology behind this process and explore with the audience what it is we’re trying to achieve and why it’s an important goal.

Please note that the event timezone is AEDT (UTC+11 hrs) and will be held in the Faraday room
Join Event on Microsoft Teams
Location

Organiser

Event details
Download iCal
Category
Colloquia

S&A Colloquium: Valentina Di Marco (University of Melbourne)
2026-03-31 15:00 - 16:00 (Australia/Sydney) | Marsfield Lecture Theatre, 26 Pembroke Road, Marsfield, NSW, 2122, Australia
All Models Are Wrong: Noise Modelling in Pulsar Timing

Abstract:

Pulsar timing arrays, like any experiment, depend on accurate noise modelling to detect nanohertz gravitational waves. But the noise itself is much more complex than in some other experiments. It is multi-component and, due to the astrophysical origin of several noise processes, often uncertain and difficult to model accurately. In this talk, I explore what happens when our noise models are wrong.

I show that misspecified noise can bias gravitational-wave inference and distort spectral estimates. While these effects are sometimes conservative, they can also lead to systematically incorrect conclusions, highlighting the need to account for model uncertainty properly.

I then present a transdimensional Bayesian approach for noise analysis that lets the data decide which noise processes are present in the signal. By jointly performing model selection and parameter estimation, this framework provides a more robust and statistically consistent way to analyse pulsar timing data.

Please note that the event timezone is AEDT (UTC+11 hrs)
Join Event on Microsoft Teams
Location

Organiser

Event details
Download iCal
Category
Colloquia

S&A Colloquium: Yuxiang Qin (Australian National University)
2026-04-01 12:00 - 13:00 (Australia/Perth) | CSIRO – Kensington, Australian Resources Research Centre (ARRC), 26 Dick Perry Ave, Kensington, WA, 6101, Australia
Inferring properties of the first galaxies and intergalactic medium with 21-cm cosmology

Abstract:

The redshifted 21-cm signal provides a unique probe of the first galaxies and their imprint on the thermal and ionization state of the intergalactic medium (IGM) during the Cosmic Dawn and Epoch of Reionization. In this talk, I present a unified inference framework that jointly interprets constraints from low-frequency interferometers (e.g., HERA and MWA) and global-signal experiments such as EDGES, in combination with complementary galaxy and CMB observations.

By jointly modelling these datasets, we find converging evidence that the IGM was heated early, ruling out a broad class of cold reionization scenarios and placing new constraints on the X-ray emissivity of the first galaxies. Within a galaxy-driven framework, these results imply enhanced high-redshift X-ray production relative to local scaling relations, potentially driven by metal-poor stellar populations and their remnants. In parallel, global-signal analyses provide independent constraints on the timing and amplitude of the cosmic dawn signal, and serve as a critical test of its astrophysical interpretation.

As these early sources are likely beyond the reach of direct detection, even for facilities such as JWST, the 21-cm signal remains a uniquely powerful probe of their collective impact. Looking ahead, I will show how the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) will transform this field, enabling precision constraints on the thermal history of the IGM and the properties of the first galaxies.

Please note that the event timezone is AWST (UTC+8 hrs)
Join Event on Microsoft Teams
Location

Organiser

Event details
Download iCal
Category
Colloquia

Colearnium: Mark Wieringa (CSIRO)
2026-04-02 12:00 - 12:30 (Australia/Sydney) | WA
“Overview of my time at ATNF: 35 years in 25 minutes”

This week Mark Wieringa will provide an “Overview of my time at ATNF: 35 years in 25 minutes“.

Please let me know if you’re willing to present at a future co-learnium or have requests for specific talks, thanks!

Kind regards,

Stefan Duchesne

Teams meeting link below:
Teams Meeting
Organiser

Event details
Download iCal
Category
Colloquia

S&A Colloquium: Georgia Stewart (University of Tasmania)
2026-04-08 15:00 - 16:00 (Australia/Sydney) | Marsfield Lecture Theatre, 26 Pembroke Road, Marsfield, NSW, 2122, Australia
Echoes of the Dying Light: The Evolution and Spectral Signatures of Simulated Remnant Radio Galaxies

Abstract:

Radio galaxy remnants are the quiescent phase of radio-loud active galactic nuclei (RLAGN) and provide key insight into AGN duty cycles and feedback. Observationally, remnants are challenging to identify, as their spectral and morphological properties often overlap with active sources, necessitating multi-frequency data.

In my PhD, I worked on the largest suite (to-date) of three-dimensional hydrodynamic simulations of active and remnant RLAGN evolving in realistic environments. Using synthetic radio emission generated from these simulations, I investigated how jet power, environment, and active-phase duration shape the dynamics, spectral evolution, and observability of remnants. I showed that low-density environments delay the transition to buoyancy, and high-powered sources sustain forward shocks that continue heating their surroundings. I also find several trends in the spectral evolution of remnants that are dependent on environment properties.

I further explore remnant identification using machine learning on simulated radio data, finding that even simple models can distinguish active and remnant sources, though younger remnants are harder to classify. Finally, I introduce a new method to calculate radio and X-ray observables directly from simulations, enabling detailed, high-resolution studies of lobe emission and its interaction with the environment.

These results provide a theoretical framework to interpret current and upcoming low-frequency surveys and improve our understanding of the lifecycle and impact of RLAGN.

Join Event on Microsoft Teams
Location

Organiser

Event details
Download iCal
Category
Colloquia

Colearnium: Tessa Vernstrom (CSIRO)
2026-04-09 12:00 - 12:30 (Australia/Sydney) | WA
“LAMBDA project update”

This week Tessa Vernstrom will provide a “LAMBDA project update“.

Please let me know if you’re willing to present at a future co-learnium or have requests for specific talks, thanks!

Kind regards,

Stefan Duchesne

Teams meeting link below:
Teams Meeting
Organiser

Event details
Download iCal
Category
Colloquia

Colearnium: Agastya Kapur (CSIRO)
2026-04-23 12:00 - 12:30 (Australia/Sydney) | WA
“An Introduction to Variant Sudoku”

This week Agastya Kapur will provide “An Introduction to Variant Sudoku“.

Please let me know if you’re willing to present at a future co-learnium or have requests for specific talks, thanks!

Kind regards,

Stefan Duchesne

Teams meeting link below:
Teams Meeting
Organiser

Event details
Download iCal
Category
Colloquia

Bolton Symposium 2026
2026-04-28 09:30 - 2026-04-29 16:30 (Australia/Sydney) | Marsfield Lecture Theatre, 26 Pembroke Road, Marsfield, NSW, 2122, Australia
About the Symposium

The Bolton Symposium, named after the first director of Murriyang, our Parkes radio telescope, John Gatenby Bolton (1922-1993), provides a forum for early-career research (ECR) staff within the Australia Telescope National Facility to showcase their science, and to develop and strengthen collaborations within CSIRO.

We will hold a Bolton Symposium from April 28-29 2026 at the S&A Marsfield site, with a theme of “Connecting Science and Technology“. This year, the primary purpose of the symposium will be for early career staff in Science, Technology, and Space to become familiar with the work we collectively do and how we can contribute to the future of ATNF and CSIRO S&A.The first day of the symposium will feature an open session of research/engineering talks from ECRs/junior staff*. The second part of Day 1 and the full Day 2 will consist of a closed workshop and discussion sessions, along with social team‑building activities.

Agenda

Open session: 28 April (09:30 – 14:15 AEST)

Time (AEST)TitleSpeakerSession chair09:30Marsfield morning tea10:00WelcomeAndrew Zic, Kelly Gourdji, Maral Ansari10:05The self calibrating radiometer and the quest for the cosmic dawnLuke McKay10:15Planet formation, protoplanetary disks, and Regularized Maximum Likelihood ImagingIan Czekala10:25LAMBDA: An SKA-LOW Like Station for VLBI and All-Sky ScienceJaiden Cook10:35LAMBDA VLBI ScienceEmmy Escott10:45Imaging with the Murchison Widefield ArrayStefan Duchesne10:55Solar imaging with the MWA and the technical challenges associated with itAngie Waszewski11:05Adaptive Beamforming Meets Reality: RFI Subspace Identification with PAFsLiroy Lourenço11:15-11:30Short coffee break (15 min)11:30How to (and not to) keep up-to-date with the rapidly evolving AI landscapeSamuel Lai11:40Long period transients and polarisationJosh Preston Pritchard11:50Design for manufacture (DFM) of a low-cost optical spectrometerTim Bolton12:00Time domain methods for (future) radio facilitiesAndrew Zic12:10Characterizing fast transients with ATNF facilitiesKelly Gourdji12:20Why Low-energy Radio Astronomy Matters and How We Get ThereBrian Udugama12:30-14:15Lunch

Closed session: 28 April (14:15-16:00 AEST)

Time (AEST)Title14:15-15:30Closed session talks + Q&A15:30-Marsfield Receiver Lab Tour

Closed session: 29 April (09:50-16:30 AEST)

Time (AEST)Title09:50Round table introductions10:00Lea Powys: Space Situational Awareness with ATNF Radio Telescopes10:10Discussion: LAMBDA11:10Discussion: Scaling up a mid-frequency aperture array12:10-13:00Lunch13:00Discussion: Enhancing the LBA13:30Discussion: Trash or treasure? RFI and solar mitigation14:15Discussion: Photonic backends14:45Discussion: Radio astronomy signal processing from the ground up15:15-15:30Wrap up, next steps and conclusion16:30Social team building offsite18:00ECR Dinner

Venue

Venue information

The symposium open session will be held in the Marsfield Lecture Theatre. For visitor access, please sign in at Reception.

Organisers

Code of Conduct

By attending this event, you agree to comply with the ATNF Events Code of Conduct:https://www.atnf.csiro.au/code-of-conduct/

Event details
Download iCal
Category
Colloquia

Australasian "Orange" Pulsar Workshop 2026
2026-05-05 09:30 - 2026-05-07 17:00 (Australia/Sydney) | Marsfield Lecture Theatre, 26 Pembroke Road, Marsfield, NSW, 2122, Australia
Overview

The Australasian “Orange” Pulsar Meeting is a fortnightly telecon, supplemented by occasional in‑person workshops, for the Australasian pulsar and FRB community that fosters collaboration between theorists, modellers, and observers. Following the successful 2022 Orange workshop at CSIRO’s Parkes Radio Observatory, we are excited to host the next in‑person meeting at the ATNF Marsfield Headquarters in Sydney from 5–7 May 2026. Online participation will be available for those unable to attend in person.

The workshop will take place at a time of progress and opportunity in pulsar and time‑domain radio astronomy. New instrumentation and facilities, including the CryoPAF on Murriyang, the Phase III upgrade of the MWA, and the ongoing development of the SKA, are expanding available discovery spaces. In parallel, the ATNF is exploring potential future Australian radio astronomy facilities for 2030 and beyond.

This workshop aims to bring the community together to share recent advances in pulsar and time‑domain science, discuss emerging scientific opportunities, and to provide input to future (radio) astronomy strategy.

Workshop schedule

Australasian_Orange_Workshop_2026_Sched_v2Download

Location

Organiser

Science Organising Committee

Andrew Zic (CSIRO)

Manisha Caleb (USyd)

Emma Carli (Swinburne)

Joscha Jahns-Schindler (Swinburne)

Bradley Meyers (AusSRC)

Nicholas O’Neill (UMelb)

Ryan Shannon (Swinburne)

Chia Min Tanh (Curtin)

Event details

Download iCal
Category
Colloquia

S&A Colloquium: Prof Yihua Yan (National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences)
2026-05-06 12:00 - 13:00 (Australia/Perth) | CSIRO – Kensington, Australian Resources Research Centre (ARRC), 26 Dick Perry Ave, Kensington, WA, 6101, Australia
Overview on Chinese Meridian Project – Solar and Heliospheric Radio Studies at Mingantu Observing Station

Abstract:

The Chinese Meridian Project (CMP) is a Ground‐based Space Environment Monitoring Network which includes the Space Environment Monitoring System. The system adopts a well‐designed monitoring architecture, known as “One Chain, Three Networks, and Four Focuses” to achieve stereoscopic and comprehensive monitoring of the entire solar-terrestrial space. The “One‐Chain” component utilizes optical, radio, interplanetary scintillation, and cosmic ray instruments to cover the causal chain of space weather disturbances from the solar surface to near‐Earth space. For the ionosphere, middle and upper atmosphere, and geo-magnetic field, instruments are deployed along longitudes of 120o and 100oE, and latitudes of 30o and 40oN, forming the “Three Networks”. Furthermore, more powerful monitoring facilities or large‐scale instruments have been deployed in four key regions: the high-latitude polar region, mid‐latitude region in northern China, low‐latitude region at Hainan Island, and the Tibet region. These four regions are crucial for disturbances propagation and evolution, or possess unique geographical and topographical characteristics.

The Mingantu Observing Station, which is located about 400km northwest of Beijing with the wide‐band spectral radioheliographs and the interplanetary scintillation telescopes, constitutes a key component of CMP for tracking and monitoring solar eruptions from the Sun’s atmosphere into interplanetary space. Here we give an overview on CMP and introduce the progress on solar and heliospheric radio studies at Mingantu Observing Station.

Please note that the event timezone is AWST (UTC+8 hrs)

Location

Organiser

Event details
Download iCal
Category
Colloquia

Colearnium: Richard Fallows (STFC UKRI)
2026-05-07 12:00 - 12:30 (Australia/Sydney) | WA
“A Tale of Space and Time (and Opportunity)”

This week Richard Fallows will provide “A Tale of Space and Time (and Opportunity)“.

Please let me know if you’re willing to present at a future co-learnium or have requests for specific talks, thanks!

Kind regards,

Stefan Duchesne

Teams meeting link below:
Teams Meeting
Organiser

Event details
Download iCal
Category
Colloquia

S&A Colloquium: Georgios Paraschos (University of Turku)
2026-05-13 15:00 - 16:00 (Australia/Sydney) | Marsfield Lecture Theatre, 26 Pembroke Road, Marsfield, NSW, 2122, Australia
Shocks, polarisation, and high-energy emission: Probing black hole jets from VLBI to IXPE

Abstract:

Relativistic jets launched by accreting supermassive black holes are fundamental drivers of feedback in galaxies, yet the location and mechanisms responsible for high- energy γ-ray emission remain uncertain. I will present recent multimessenger studies combining VLBI imaging, IXPE X-ray and optical polarimetry, γ-ray monitoring, and neutrino observations of blazars undergoing major flaring events. These coordinated campaigns reveal shock–shock interactions in the parsec-scale jet, conditions favourable for hadronic emission, and γ-ray production occurring well downstream of the central engine. I will discuss these results in the context of our broader efforts with the Event Horizon Telescope to directly probe the physical conditions governing jet formation and high-energy radiation near supermassive black holes. Finally, I will touch upon the collaborative work planned with colleagues at the ATNF.
Join Event on Microsoft Teams
Location

Organiser

Event details
Download iCal
Category
Colloquia

FLASH Splash: Celebrating the completion of observations
2026-05-14 00:00 - 23:59 (Australia/Sydney) | WA
Overview

CSIRO invites our ATNF colleagues and collaborators to celebrate the ASKAP radio telescope’s completion of observations for the FLASH survey.

FLASH (First Large Absorption Survey in HI), looks for areas where a bright background light filters through hydrogen gas to analyse the gas’ characteristics. With hydrogen gas the raw material from which new stars are formed, the completion of these observations is a major milestone in our understanding of galaxy evolution.

Join us as we recognise the dedication of the scientists, engineers, and support staff throughout CSIRO and the FLASH team who made this achievement possible.

The event will include a brief overview of the survey’s journey and early highlights, followed by refreshments and an opportunity to reflect on the science enabled – and the discoveries still to come.

We acknowledge the Wajarri Yamaji as the Traditional Owners and Native Title Holders of the Inyarrimanha Ilgari Bundara, our Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory site, where ASKAP is located.

Details

When: 14 May 2026

Time: 1:00pm – 2:45pm AEST / 11:00am – 12:45pm AWST

Location: Marsfield (Lecture Theatre), Kensington (Auditorium), Geraldton (MSF Conference Room)
Register
Please refer to the event’s webpage for further details

Organiser

Event details
Download iCal
Category
Colloquia

S&A Colloquium: Xiaohui Sun (Yunnan University)
2026-05-20 15:00 - 16:00 (Australia/Sydney) | Marsfield Lecture Theatre, 26 Pembroke Road, Marsfield, NSW, 2122, Australia
Study of Galactic multi-scale magnetic field with radio polarization observation

Abstract:

Radio polarization observation provides an important way to study Galactic magnetic field from small to large scales. All-sky polarization surveys with broad frequency coverage are well suited for the study. In this talk, I present recent studies on supernova remnants and pulsar wind nebulae from ASKAP and ATCA observations. I will then present the results from the STAPS survey conducted with Murriyang and ongoing FAST observations. To the low frequency end, the polarization images from MWA reveal large-scale structures likely originated from local interstellar medium. I will conclude the talk with a perspective with future SKA.
Join Event on Microsoft Teams
Location

Organiser

Event details
Download iCal
Category
Colloquia

Colearnium: Tim Galvin (CSIRO)
2026-05-21 12:00 - 12:30 (Australia/Sydney) | WA
“How I learned to automate TAC proposal assignments and love the network flow problem”

This week Tim Galvin will tell us “How I learned to automate TAC proposal assignments and love the network flow problem“.

Please let me know if you’re willing to present at a future co-learnium or have requests for specific talks, thanks!

Kind regards,

Stefan Duchesne

Teams meeting link below:
Teams Meeting
Organiser

Event details
Download iCal
Category
Colloquia

S&A Colloquium: Lindsey Oberhelman (ANU)
2026-05-27 13:00 - 14:00 (Australia/Perth) | CSIRO – Kensington, Australian Resources Research Centre (ARRC), 26 Dick Perry Ave, Kensington, WA, 6101, Australia
The turbulent magnetic Milky Way, deriving a turbulent field scale height from POSSUM data

Abstract:

Using broadband polarimetric observations from the ASKAP POSSUM survey, I investigate the turbulent magnetised interstellar medium of the Milky Way through Faraday complexity in more than 37,000 polarised extragalactic radio sources. By applying QU-fitting to the Stokes Q and U spectra, I measure Faraday broadening, which traces fluctuations in the line-of-sight magnetic field and thermal electron density. I examine the Galactic latitude dependence of turbulence and interpret the results using the exponential disk model. The results also suggest a possible north–south asymmetry in the turbulent foreground, potentially linked to Galactic structure, spiral arms, warp, or the Magellanic system. I discuss the role of turbulence correlation length assumptions, comparisons with pulsar scintillation and RM structure-function studies, and ongoing work using RM structure functions to constrain the physical scales of turbulence probed by POSSUM.

Please note that the event timezone is AWST (UTC+8 hrs)

Location

Organiser

Event details
Download iCal
Category
Colloquia

Colearnium: Lister Staveley-Smith (ICRAR-UWA)
2026-05-28 12:00 - 12:30 (Australia/Sydney) | WA
“The Murriyang cryogenic phased array”

This week Lister Staveley-Smith will tell us about the “The Murriyang cryogenic phased array“.

Please let me know if you’re willing to present at a future co-learnium or have requests for specific talks, thanks!

Kind regards,

Stefan Duchesne

Teams meeting link below:
Teams Meeting
Organiser

Event details
Download iCal
Category
Colloquia

2026 Radio School
2026-06-01 00:00 - 2026-06-05 23:59 (Australia/Sydney) | Paul Wild Observatory, Australia Telescope Compact Array, 1828 Yarrie Lake Road, Narrabri, NSW, 2390, Australia
Overview

The ATNF Radio School 2026 is an immersive training program designed for PhD students, postdoctoral researchers and early career astronomers who want to build solid foundations in radio interferometry and hands-on data skills. Hosted by CSIRO’s Australia Telescope National Facility (ATNF) at the Paul Wild Observatory on Gomeroi Country, near Narrabri, NSW, this year’s school blends core theory with practical calibration and imaging tutorials at one of Australia’s premier radio astronomy facilities. The site is home to our Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA).

Over the course of the week, participants will learn the fundamentals of radio interferometry, antenna calibration, data flagging and imaging through a mix of expert-led lectures and interactive, practical sessions. Unique to 2026, the program will feature tutorials making use of ATCA’s new Broadband Integrated GPU Correlator (BIGCAT), the next-generation correlator system that significantly expands ATCA’s instantaneous bandwidth and data flexibility, giving attendees early experience with cutting-edge correlator operations and data pipelines.

The 2026 Radio School is aimed at PhD students and postdoctoral researchers in astronomy. The Radio School offers a supportive environment to engage deeply with real interferometric data, develop essential calibration and imaging workflows, and connect with leaders in the field. No prior experience with radio astronomy is required.

For those students who are unable to attend the Radio School in-person in Narrabri, a virtual option will be available for the lectures.

Information regarding the 2026 Radio School can be found on the School’s webpage.
Register
Location

Organiser

Event details
Download iCal
