Astronomy workshops

Participants work through an observational research project from planning to telescope observations, data reduction and scientific analysis, supported by experienced tutors and professional three-to-four-metre telescopes. The school primarily serves astronomy PhD students with little professional observing experience; advanced master’s students and researchers within one year of their PhD may also be considered. Activities take place in Santiago and at La Silla, including night work at an altitude of about 2,400 metres.

This capacity-building workshop trains graduate students and early-career researchers to analyse public JWST observations. Lectures and practical tutorials cover NIRCam, NIRSpec and MIRI, data reduction, calibration and archival access. Mentored projects investigate exoplanet atmospheres, brown dwarfs and galaxy evolution, culminating in research presentations. The programme particularly supports participants from Latin America. Selected attendees pay no registration fee; meals are covered, and accommodation is provided for selected non-local participants.

Hosted at Yale, the workshop asks where galaxy formation succeeds or fails and how extremely faint stellar systems can reveal that boundary. The first day considers reionization, minimum halo masses and theoretical signatures; the second examines detection limits and present and forthcoming surveys. The final day connects dynamical masses, chemical abundances, binary populations, density profiles and gas content with the distinction between tiny galaxies and star clusters. Invited talks and contributed research link theoretical predictions with observational tests. Abstract submission opened September 15, 2026, and registration is scheduled to open December 1, 2026.

This twelve-day workshop develops AI and machine-learning methods for data-intensive astronomy and cosmology. It progresses from foundational instruction through applications in galaxy formation, dark energy, time-domain observations and cosmological simulations to collaborative research planning. Deep learning, generative modelling, uncertainty estimation and workflow automation are considered alongside interpretability and disciplinary training gaps. The programme targets PhD students, postdocs and junior faculty in astronomy or AI-related fields; exceptional undergraduate and master’s applicants may be considered. Python, statistics and machine-learning experience are helpful for the practical work. ICTS provides accommodation for outstation participants.

This workshop connects observations of young galaxies and large-scale structure with cosmological simulations. JWST, ALMA and wide-field surveys motivate discussion of early galaxy populations, gas and dust, reionization, protoclusters and their environments. Optical spectroscopy adds constraints on circumgalactic gas and chemical enrichment. Participants will compare theoretical predictions with observations to understand how the cosmic web and baryonic matter evolve together. Abstract and initial registration submissions close on 4 December 2026; final registration and fee payment close on 28 February 2027.

The workshop examines how galaxy encounters and mergers change star formation, nuclear activity, gas conditions, chemical enrichment and quenching. It connects nearby systems with early cosmic epochs, comparing observations and simulations across interstellar, circumgalactic and intergalactic scales. Discussion will address dependence on mass, environment and merger geometry, and how new imaging and spectroscopic surveys can identify interacting populations. The programme prepares for improved capabilities from ESO, ALMA and radio facilities. Registration fees apply.

The workshop examines how planetary masses constrain formation, dynamical history, internal structure, atmospheres and habitability. Lectures compare astrometry and precision radial velocities, their biases and complementary strengths, and use Gaia DR4 alongside long-running radial-velocity surveys to demonstrate joint orbital fitting. Hosted by the NASA Exoplanet Science Institute, the workshop offers in-person and remote attendance without a registration fee. It is aimed at advanced undergraduates, graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, while welcoming all career stages.

This workshop examines white-dwarf binaries as probes of stellar evolution, Galactic history and explosive transients. Observations and population modelling will address common-envelope evolution, angular-momentum loss, possible Type Ia supernova pathways and compact systems relevant to LISA. Participants will consider how Gaia, wide-field spectroscopy, time-domain surveys and new ESO instruments can constrain these mechanisms and connect binary populations with chemical enrichment and star formation. Registration fees apply.

The workshop examines environmental governance and social sustainability in astronomy, bringing early-career researchers together with scientific leaders. Discussion covers data-intensive research and AI, measures of scientific success, observatory design and resource use. Talks are combined with practical work on life-cycle assessment and engagement concerning dark and quiet skies. The aim is to develop a shared account of sustainable astronomy and practical recommendations for researchers and decision-makers.