************************************************************************* F I R S T A N N O U N C E M E N T SECOND BYURAKAN INTERNATIONAL SUMMER SCHOOL FOR YOUNG ASTRONOMERS "PRACTICAL ASTROPHYSICS" 20-30 September 2008, Byurakan (Armenia) ************************************************************************* An international summer school "Practical Astrophysics" will take place > > on September 20-30, 2008, in Byurakan (Armenia). It is being organized > > jointly by the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO) and the Armenian > > Astronomical Society (ArAS). The School is devoted to Prof. V.A. > > Ambartsumian-s 100th anniversary and will be linked to Ambartsumian's > > Centennial meeting, so that the students may also participate in these > > events before the school. > > The Byurakan Observatory is one of the main observational centers of the > > former Soviet Union and is an important observatory with modern > > facilities in the Middle East region. It was founded in 1946 by V.A. > > Ambartsumian and is well known for its large spectroscopic surveys: the > > First and Second Byurakan Surveys, undertaken by B.E. Markarian and > > colleagues. > > The Byurakan Observatory hosts a number of medium-size optical > > telescopes, the most important being the 2.6m classical telescope and 1m > > Schmidt telescope. There are various modern astronomical instruments, > > including the multi-pupil spectrograph (VAGR). The Byurakan Observatory > > holds the Digitized First Byurakan Survey (DFBS, or the Markarian > > survey), containing low-dispersion spectra for ~20,000,000 objects. Many > > qualified specialists work presently in Byurakan, who are prepared to > > teach modern astrophysics to young people. In addition, a number of > > well-known scientists are invited to lecture during the school on > > various interesting topics. > > > TOPICS: > > - Ground-based Telescopes and Modern Observational Techniques; > - Space Telescopes and Space Missions; > - 2D spectroscopy; > - Computers for Astronomy: Astronomical Data Reduction; > - Archives, Databases and Virtual Observatories; > - Studies of Planets, Stars, Nebulae, and Galaxies with various methods; > - Astronomical Surveys and Future Giant Projects; > > > EVENTS: > > Most of the time will be devoted to lectures (2-3 lectures daily) and > > practical courses (observations and data reduction). The following > > events will take place during the School: > > - Lectures on different aspects of observational astrophysics; > - Observations with 2.6m telescope; > - Data reduction with MIDAS and IRAF packages; > - Observations with small telescopes; > - Practical courses of astronomy with computers; > - Acquaintance with the Byurakan Observatory and its research; > - Excursions to famous Armenian sightseeing. > > > TENTATIVE LIST OF LECTURERS AND LECTURES: > > Dr. Don BARRY (Cornell University, USA) > Dr. Michel DENNEFELD (Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris, France) > Dr. Dieter ENGELS (Hamburger Sternwarte, Germany) > Dr. Haik HARUTYUNIAN (Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory, Armenia) > Dr. Daniel KUNTH (Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris, France) > Dr. Tigran MAGAKIAN (Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory, Armenia) > Dr. Areg MICKAELIAN (Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory, Armenia) > Dr. Tigran MOVSESSIAN (Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory, Armenia) > Dr. Artashes PETROSIAN (Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory, Armenia) > Dr. Avetis SADOYAN (Yerevan State University, Armenia) > Ms. Lusine SARGSYAN (Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory, Armenia) > > > PARTICIPATION AND ACCOMMODATION: > > Upper-level University students and post-graduate students are eligible > > to apply for participation. Please send the completed registration form > > (see below) by e-mail to Areg Mickaelian (aregmick@apaven.am) before > > August 10, 2008. Online registration will be also available soon at the > > BAO and ArAS web pages. > > The students must have a working knowledge of English which will be the > > official language of the school, as well as sufficient level in physics > > and mathematics. A maximum of 30 students will be selected. The > > participants will stay in the Byurakan Observatory hotel and hostel. > > Meals will be offered in Byurakan, too. > > There is no participation fee. All lecturers and students may stay in > > Byurakan for free and the meals will be also offered for free. Those > > participants who wish to stay in Yerevan hotels should take care for the > > payments by themselves. > > The organizers will also take care for the transportation of all > > participants from the airport to Byurakan and back. > > > SPONSORS AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT > > The school is supported by the Armenian Government, the Byurakan > > Astrophysical Observatory (BAO), and the Armenian Astronomical Society > > (ArAS). > > A small number of travel grants will be distributed for a partial > > support of students exceptionally from countries with limited resources. > > An application for a financial support with a brief justification should > > be sent by e-mail before June 30, 2008 to Areg Mickaelian > > (aregmick@apaven.am). > > > INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE (IOC): > > Don Barry (USA) > Michel Dennefeld (France) > Dieter Engels (Co-chair, Germany) > Haik Harutyunian (Armenia) > Daniel Kunth (France) > Areg Mickaelian (Co-chair, Armenia) > > > LOCAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE (LOC): > > A.M.Mickaelian (Chair), > K.S. Gigoyan, L.R. Hovhannisyan, N.D. Melikyan, E.H. Nikoghosyan, L.A. > > Sargsyan, P.K. Sinamyan. > > > DEADLINES: > > April 28, 2008 First Announcement > June 30, 2008 Deadline for applications for support > July 10, 2008 Notification on distribution of travel grants > July 20, 2008 Second Announcement with tentative program > August 10, 2008 Deadline for registration > August 20, 2008 Final Announcement with detailed program > September 20-30, 2008 Byurakan International Summer School > > > CONTACT ADDRESSES: > > Postal Address: Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO), > Byurakan 0213, Aragatzotn Province, Armenia. > Phone: +374-10 58-06-56 (Areg Mickaelian) > Fax: +374-10 51-92-05 > E-mail: aregmick@apaven.am (Areg Mickaelian) > Web page: Will be set up soon at BAO (www.bao.am) > and ArAS (www.aras.am) pages > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------- > REGISTRATION FORM > ---------------------------------------------------------------- > Name: > First name: > Age: > Sex: > > University, department: > Year and stage of Academic studies: > Country: > > Your reasons for wishing to attend the school: > > > Name and address of your supervisor or a person who will give > > recommendation: > > Postal Address: > Phone: Fax: > E-mail: Web page: > ----------------------------------------------------------------- > DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION: August 10, 2008. > -----------------------------------------------------------------