Category Archives: News and Announcements

By / par Robert La Montagne
(Cassiopeia – Winter / hivers 2018)

La version française suit

The Centre for Research in Astrophysics of Quebec (CRAQ) is announcing its annual Summer School, which will be held on June 12-14, 2019 in Montreal, Quebec.

This year’s topic will be “Stellar Astrophysics”. This 3-day school will focus on star formation, evolution and death, astrophysics from the Sun to the stars as well as astrophysics of massive stars, stellar winds and low-mass stars at the bottom of the main sequence. The summer school will include formal lectures from local and international experts in the field.

The CRAQ Summer School is principally aimed at graduate students in the field of physics, astronomy, and astrophysics, although students who have completed an undergraduate program in physics will also be accepted.

There is no registration fee. However, we cannot offer traveling funds or cover lodging expenses. Lodging at a reasonable cost will be made available to the participants on the university campus.

Additional information about the program, registration and accommodation will be available soon on this site: craq-astro.ca/summerschool.

Email contact: Summer.School@craq-astro.ca

Le Centre de recherche en astrophysique du Québec (CRAQ) annonce son école d’été annuelle, qui aura lieu du 12 au 14 juin 2019 à Montréal, Québec.

Le thème de cette année portera sur « L’astrophysique stellaire ». Cette école d’une durée de 3 jours, se concentrera sur la formation, l’évolution et la mort des étoiles, sur l’astrophysique du Soleil aux étoiles ainsi que sur l’astrophysique des étoiles massives, des vents stellaires et des étoiles de faible masse au bas de la séquence principale. Cette école d’été comprendra des présentations formelles offertes en anglais par des experts locaux et internationaux dans le domaine.

L’école d’été du CRAQ s’adresse principalement à des étudiants aux cycles supérieurs dans le domaine de la physique, de l’astronomie et de l’astrophysique. Les étudiants ayant complété un programme de premier cycle en physique seront également acceptés.

Il n’y a aucuns frais d’inscription. Cependant, nous ne pouvons offrir de subside pour couvrir les frais de déplacement ou d’hébergement. Des chambres à coût abordable sur le campus de l’université seront disponibles pour les participants.

Les informations additionnelles à propos du programme, de l’inscription et de l’hébergement seront disponibles bientôt sur le site : craq-astro.ca/summerschool.

Courriel: Summer.School@craq-astro.ca

By / par Pauline Barmby (Western University)
(Cassiopeia – Winter / hivers 2018)

Approximately 65 members of the space astronomy community, from universities, industry, government, and public institutions, gathered at the Université de Montréal on Nov 6-7, 2018 for the Future of Space Astronomy in Canada workshop. The goal of the meeting was to “stimulate ideas and plans for the forthcoming Long Range Plan 2020.. [and].. hear about the status of ongoing and future space astronomy projects and to discuss current issues with CSA [Canadian Space Agency] funding.” Many of the most exciting science questions in astronomy including detection of life on exoplanets, and uncovering the nature of dark energy require observations from space. Canadian astronomers want to be or already are involved in a vast array of space astronomy missions.

Presentations discussed the background and context for LRP2020, Canadian involvement in current and future [proposed] space astronomy missions, the unique space technologies existing and under development in Canadian industry, and space-related outreach. Current mission involvement by Canadians ranges from leadership roles in design studies (e.g. CASTOR) to development of specific and globally unique technologies for proposed missions (e.g. LiteBIRD, SPICA), to instrument testing and science planning for soon-to-launch missions (e.g. JWST). CSA science advisor S. Gallagher emphasized that Canadian astronomers can be proud of our world-leading science¹; with J. Hutchings [NRC] and J. Rowe [Bishop’s] she made it clear that the CSA’s space astronomy budget is far too low to support our future ambitions. The long timescale between mission initiation and science return require a long-term plan for CSA and its funding which allows for open, competitively-allocated support for missions of various sizes². Our inability to join missions in the last decade means that JWST will be the last “new mission” in which Canada participates for some time.

After J. Hutchings discussed the lessons learned from the Long Range Plan 2010 (LRP2010), R. Thacker [St. Mary’s, CASCA] introduced the plans for LRP2020. Once Canadian astronomers have decided on their priorities through LRP2020, realizing them is the next step. Engagement with government and outreach to the public are critical to increasing funding for the CSA; the Don’t Let Go Canada campaign by the Canadian aerospace industry covers more than space astronomy but shares the goal of a re-invigorated CSA. A strong space sector is needed not just to stay internationally competitive, but also to guarantee national security, foster economic development, and improve resource management. As F. Grandmont [ABB] pointed out, space technology is subject to export limitations even from Canada’s closest international partners and allies: the US and Europe. University-led research into remote-sensing and/or space-based capabilities is an effective and economical way to pursue this, with a strong multiplier effect because of the involvement of HQP. The federal government’s recent investments in fundamental science are helpful but do not directly contribute to space science and technology, where CSA is the cognizant agency.

Resolutions discussed at the end of the meeting addressed the path forward to improve the state of Canadian space astronomy. Canadian industry has made (and has the potential to make more) unique technological contributions to space astronomy, and astronomers need to work more closely with industry in developing common talking points to jointly advocate for increased public support for the CSA. We need to be less shy about promoting our science to the public and discussing its benefits to Canada with our elected representatives, and to be united in our advocacy for community priorities after LRP2020 is complete. Enthusiastic participation in the LRP process and in utilization of JWST – our country’s largest space astronomy investment – is critical.

¹Competing in a Global Innovation Economy: The Current State of R&D in Canada (2018), The Council of Canadian Academies
²See also Vision for Space Exploration in Canada (2017), Caiazzo, Gallagher, and Heyl; Consultations on Canada’s Future in Space: What We Heard (2018), Space Advisory Board