PROPOSAL

Astronomers and students in Latin America are expected to have high interest in the science and methods of Infrared and Sub-Millimeter Astrophysics. Recent data from satellites in this observational window, such as Herschel, Spitzer and Akari have revealed fantastic discoveries. Their publicly available datasets contain rich untapped data and offer a great opportunity for younger scientists to learn and investigate Infrared and Sub-Millimeter Astrophysics. Close and extensive contact with experts in the field is the best way to develop the skills of these young researchers. All three satellite missions offer free specific analysis software. ALMA, a ground based astronomical interferometer is making more information publicly available day by day, and this data has also led to many new discoveries.

 

The proposed international workshop, “Advanced school on Infrared and Sub-millimeter Astrophysics – Data analysis of the Herschel, Spitzer and Akari missions and ALMA” will bring together leading national and international experts with younger researchers, encouraging communications and collaborations as well as promoting new ideas that help the participants in their projects and research.

SCIENCE

We note that there is great interest in Infrared and Sub-Millimeter Astrophysics in Latin America, and so the school will include both of these topics (the other rationale for this is that some observatories observe in these two observational windows – e.g. Herschel), especially for students interested in doing multi-wavelength studies. The following topics will be covered in the workshop via both lectures and hands-on work:

 

1. Basic theoretical concepts of Infrared and Sub-Millimeter Astrophysics
2. Statistics: basic concepts and applications
3. Infrared and Sub-Millimeter Astrophysics Satellites: past, present and future
4. Software for Infrared and Sub-Millimeter Astrophysics data analysis - installation, usage, and basic scripting
5. Infrared and Sub-Millimeter Astrophysics data analysis
6. Basics of writing an observational proposal and a scientific paper

PARTICIPANTS

Young researchers, Ph.D. students and post-doctoral fellows from Latin American countries will be invited to participate in the proposed workshop for two weeks. The number of attendants will be limited to 35 in order to have a strong interaction between the students and their supervisors.

 

COSPAR attaches considerable importance to the selection of students on the basis of merit, so no distribution according to countries of origin can be guaranteed. However, the importance of meeting the needs of the host country are understood, and a certain level of preference for students from Central American countries is assumed. “Merit” includes scientific background, ability and potential, but also likelihood of benefiting in research career from attending the workshop and relationship to relevant home country scientific policies.