Gaia-GREAT / LSST Astro-Visualisation Workshop, 13-18 Sep 2012

Gaia-GREAT / LSST Astro-Visualisation Workshop

Workshop Announcement

Website: http://great.ast.cam.ac.uk/Greatwiki/GreatItn/VizSchoolSep2012

The upcoming ESA Gaia mission and LSST telescope will generate large and rich multidimensional data-sets of the sky. These data sets will present significant challenges in terms of data analysis and data access. In order to aid its scientific interpretation, visualisation of data will play an important role. Visualisation of these large multi-dimensional data sets will require the use of the latest techniques and tools.

In order to provide an overview of these latest visualisation technologies, this school, co-sponsored by the Gaia-GREAT research network, and the University of Washington representing the LSST, together with Microsoft Research, will be held at the University of Washington, Seattle, USA: 13-18 September 2012.

The school will cover a range of techniques applicable to the data presented by Gaia and LSST. Thus it will cover visualisation of, for instance, astrometric data, temporal data, spectroscopic data. Example sessions will allow attendees to utilise existing and emerging tools to address a number of worked example problems. Visualisation examples will utilise simulation data from both Gaia (e.g. the Gaia Universe Model data) and LSST.

The format of the programme is such that the first day (Thur 13 Sep 2012) will be jointly co-located with the Astro-Informatics 2012 Conference day 'Connecting Research With Computational Science Education Workshop' - which will take place at Microsoft Research, Redmond. On Fri 14 Sep 2012, the morning will be devoted to the use of the Microsoft WorldWideTelescope for advanced data visualisation, highlighting its full integration with scientific data. The remaining days (15, 17, 18 Sep 2012) will be composed of lectures, demonstrations and small group practical sessions.

PROGRAMME AND SPEAKERS

Speakers include:
- Igor Chilingarian (Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory)
- Andrew Connolly (University of Washington)
- Jonathan Fay (WWT, Microsoft Research)
- Juan González (ESA, ESAC)
- Zeljko Ivezic (University of Washington)
- Emanuel Joliet (ESA, ESAC)
- Mario Juric (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics) (TBC)
- Robert Lupton (Princeton) (TBC)
- William O'Mullane (ESA, ESAC)
- Caroline Soubiran (Obs de Bordeaux)
- Mark Taylor (University of Bristol)
- Nicholas Walton (University of Cambridge)

The programme for the school is available at http://great.ast.cam.ac.uk/Greatwiki/GreatItn/VizSchoolSep2012.

PLACES, COSTS AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Places will be limited, thus registering an early interest to attend is essential. Full registration opens today 17th July 2012. The SOC will contact all registrants by Fri 27 July 2012 as to whether they have been accepted onto the School. Do *not* arrange travel before this date. (Note that all GREAT-ITN PhD students wishing to attend are automatically accepted onto the school.)
There will be *no* registration fee for the school.
Support received from the GREAT-ESF Research Network Programme (see http://www.great-esf.eu) means that PhD students and early stage researchers based in funding member states of the GREAT programme (for list see http://www.great-esf.eu/about/about.html) may be eligible for support of their travel costs to/from Seattle.
In addition we expect to be able to provide some support for LSST related student attendance - details will be announced in the next few days.
Details for accommodation are provided at http://great.ast.cam.ac.uk/Greatwiki/GreatItn/VizSchoolSep2012 - again do not make hotel arrangements until your place on the School has been confirmed.

REGISTRATION

Those interested in attending are invited to send an email to the SOC at viz2012@ast.cam.ac.uk giving their name, institute and noting whether they are a PhD student or an early stage postdoctoral researchers (within 3 years of gaining their PhD). If you wish to be considered for GREAT-ESF funding support (see above) please indicate so in your email.

KEY DATES

a) 2 July 2012: initial announcement
b) 17 July 2012: full registration opens
c) 27 July 2012: registrants notified as to acceptance on the school (do *NOT* book travel until you have been advised that you have been accepted)
d) 31 August 2012: late registration closes (or earlier if all places filled)
e) 13-18 Sep 2012: Astro-Visualisation School

CONTACT

Contact: for registration - by email to viz2012@ast.cam.ac.uk