[asac] Future Directions for Millimetre Astronomy in the Southern Hemisphere

[Al Wootten]

Folks,

I'm not aware of any ALMA people going to this workshop; Ken Kellerman
sent me this and I distribute it to the ASAC for their possible interest.
I would guess that ALMA participation would be welcome.

-Al
| *** FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT ***
| Future Directions for Millimetre Astronomy in the Southern Hemisphere
| Chowder Bay, Sydney Harbour
| 30 - 31 March 2006
| 
| ** Registration now open. Deadline: 6 March 2006 **
| 
| INVITATION:
| We invite you to attend a workshop to discuss future directions for
| Southern Hemisphere millimetre-wave astronomy. The next few years
| will see a plethora of new facilities available for use by the
| international astronomical community. This workshop is planned in
| order to discuss the directions their science programs may take, and
| the complementary aspects of the various facilities that will allow
| them to further their science programs through collaborative
| activities.
| 
| In Australia, the ATCA now provides a 5-element interferometer at
| 3mm, and a 6-element interferometer at 12mm, with a 7mm system under
| development. The Mopra telescope provides a wide-band correlator (8
| GHz) and on-the-fly mapping. In Chile the NANTEN2, APEX and ASTE
| telescopes are all under development on the Atacama plateau, and have
| taken their first data. Construction of ALMA has started. In
| Antarctica, the South Pole Telescope is under construction, and plans
| for first-generation terahertz facilities (e.g. HEAT) are well
| developed.  It is timely to bring together participants from these
| projects to describe their progress and results, and discuss their
| future plans. In particular, to facilitate linkages between the
| facilities, to the mutual benefit of the science they undertake.
| 
| We welcome presentations that provide science visions for the various
| mm-wave facilities, including their strengths and the areas where
| their capabilities would be enhanced by collaboration. This will be a
| focussed workshop where, in addition to facilitating linkages between
| the facilities and their participants, we are also aiming to complete
| a Millimetre Astronomy White Paper that discusses the future use of
| Australia's facilities and their role in the era of the full
| commissioning of the Chilean single-dish facilities and the emergence
| of ALMA. We invite international contributions to the science program
| of our facilities, particularly where they will play a complementary
| role to those operating at higher frequencies.
| 
| VENUE:
| The meeting will be held at the Sydney Harbour Institute for Marine
| Science at Chowder Bay. This is a former defence facility on Middle
| Head, near the suburb of Georges Heights, and with expansive views of
| Sydney Harbour. Seating capacity is limited, so early registration is
| strongly encouraged. Information on parking and public transport will
| be provided at a later date.
| 
| DATES:
| 30 - 31 March 2006
| 
| WEBSITE:
| http://www.atnf.csiro.au/whats_on/workshops/mmworkshop2006
| 
| IMPORTANT DATES:
| - 22 December 2005 First Announcement + Open Registration
| - 25 January 2006 Call for Abstracts
| - 13 February 2006 Close Registration
| - 1 March 2006 Final Program
| - 30 March 2006 Workshop Commences
| 
| REGISTRATION:
| Registration is currently open and will close on 6 March 2006. To
| register, please use the registration form on the workshop website.
| Attendance is limited to 40 people. Accepted speakers and invited
| attendees will be given preference. The registration fee is AUS$100
| and covers lunch and refreshments on both days plus a welcome
| reception on the evening of 29 March 2006. The registration fee is to
| be paid in person at the beginning of the workshop.
| 
| PROGRAM:
| Welcome reception - Wednesday 29 March 2006, 1700
| Workshop sessions - Thursday and Friday 30-31 March 2006, 0900-1800
| Workshop Dinner - Thursday 30 March 2006, 1900
| (A charge may be made for the dinner. Details to be announced at a later
| date).
| 
| The final program will be available on 1 March 2006.
| 
| CONTRIBUTIONS:
| Contributions will be in the form of invited and contributed talks. A
| call for abstracts will be made on 25 January 2006.
| 
| ACCOMMODATION:
| Sydney has an abundance of accommodation at all price ranges.
| Reasonable accommodation can be obtained within the range A$100-150.
| More information is available at the Workshop website. Booking
| accommodation should be done by the participants directly with the
| hotels. Most can be done via the web or email. The organising
| committee cannot book accommodation but would help if there are
| problems.
| 
| WORKSHOP DINNER:
| A conference dinner is planned for the evening of 30 March 2006. The
| cost for this depends on numbers and will be in the range AUS$60-110.
| The cost will be borne by the participants unless sponsorship is
| found. Details will be given once likely numbers are better known.
| Payments (if necessary) will be collected when registering at the
| workshop.
| 
| PROGRAM COMMITTEE:
| Michael Burton (UNSW)
| Kate Brooks (ATNF)
| Tony Wong (ATNF)
| 
| LOCAL ORGANISING COMMITTEE:
| Kate Brooks (ATNF)
| Michael Burton (UNSW)
| Maria Cunningham (UNSW)
| Jürgen Ott (ATNF)
| Andrew Walsh (UNSW)
| Tony Wong (ANTF)
| Sue Little (ATNF)
| 
| To contact the LOC or if you have a general enquiry then please email:
| mmworkshop2006-loc at csiro.au
| --
|