Interstellar Institute #7
Interstellar physics across scales
After a pause in 2024, the Interstellar Institute reconvenes in 2025 to explore the many facets of the multi-phase, multi-process and multi-scale physics involved in the evolution of diffuse baryonic matter. These sessions are designed as moments where numerical, theoretical, methodological and observational results are being put together by close interactions between several actors of the field, to tackle interstellar problems, at all scales, investigating every process involved in the overall evolution of gas and dust.
Current interstellar studies are happening in the very stimulating context of a significant increase of observational diagnostics and performances, combined with the rapid growing complexity of numerical experiments and the development by the astronomical community of data analysis techniques allowing new multi-dimensional explorations. The number, complexity and breadth of interstellar-related studies is increasing steadily, sometimes challenging our ability to keep a clear view of the interesting exploration avenues.
A temporary laboratory
The Interstellar Institute was created as an answer to the inherent difficulty of studying the utterly complex and diverse interstellar physics. Its scientific scope is baryonic physics in general, with a focus on the Milky Way, nearby galaxies but also the circum / inter-galactic media. The Interstellar Institute meetings are designed to provide a time for synthesis, make an inventory of recent studies, discuss new data analysis techniques, to lay out big pictures, test new ideas and identify key questions, clarifying what should be addressed next. For that purpose, II meetings bring together experts in anything interstellar (gas, dust, cosmic rays, magnetic field, turbulence, star formation, feedback, ...) with a focus on reaching a balance between multi-wavelength observations, numerical simulations / theory, and data analysis.
The Interstellar Institute sessions are not typical conferences. They bring people in a single location for up to three weeks, to exchange, work on current projects, and develop new collaborations. These sessions can be seen as a temporary laboratory combining experts on the many aspects of interstellar physics. The group is different every year; everyone with an interest in interstellar physics is welcome to apply.
A session of the Interstellar Institute
at Pascal Institute in Orsay, France
The schedule of each day is made of a few short talks in the morning, followed by free afternoons to chat, work or meet in small groups to discuss specific topics. You can find the schedule of our previous sessions at interstellar institute.org. The meeting will last 3 weeks in July 2025. We know that attending the whole meeting is a significant committment but to benefit fully from the experience, participants are invited to stay for as long as they can.
At Institut Pascal participants will find desks for everyone, discussion spaces, meeting rooms equipped for video-conferencing and large seminar amphitheaters. Space is limited to 50-55 participants on any given day. Participants will be selected on the basis of the applications, aiming for a healthy mix of different career stages and research specializations to promote new collaborations. Each participant is offered the possibility to give a talk or lead a discussion on a specific topic during their stay.
There are no registration fees and lunches and coffee breaks at the Institut Pascal are offered.
Please consider spending some time at Institut Pascal this summer, to discuss and work on anything interstellar.
Application
Application is open until March 1st, 2025. The number of participants is limited to 55 per week.
For any question, please contact us at : "contact at interstellarinstitute.org"
Scientific Organizing Committee
- Susan Clark | Stanford University, USA
- Naomi McClure-Griffiths | Australian National University, Australia
- Marc-Antoine Miville-Deschênes | Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris, France
- Josh Peek | Space Telescope Science Institute, USA