- This week, Madrid becomes the epicenter of Cosmology, where 300 experts from around the world gather to explore the mysteries of the universe.
- The Institute for Theoretical Physics (IFT UAM-CSIC), the host of the conference, innovates by giving voice to the generation of young cosmologists who will drive the future of cosmology.
- From the detection of gravitational waves by LIGO and Virgo to the mystery of dark matter and dark energy studied by the Euclid satellite, Cosmo '23 promises a deep exploration of the hottest topics in cosmology.
Madrid, September 11, 2023.- The Institute for Theoretical Physics (IFT UAM-CSIC) is the venue for the latest edition of the prestigious international cosmology conference, Cosmo '23, which will be held from September 11 to 15 on the Cantoblanco Campus in Madrid. This event, which has become a tradition over the last 25 years, has emerged as an essential beacon for the community of cosmologists worldwide.
The Cosmo conference brings together leading experts from around the world in the field of cosmology. Throughout its history, the congress has traveled to various regions of the planet, from Australia to Japan, with this being the first time it is being held in Spain. Renowned theoretical cosmologist Juan García-Bellido, a researcher at IFT, is one of the workshop coordinators: "It is an honor for IFT to host this world-renowned event in Spain for the first time."
Young Voices: The Future of Cosmology
One of the most notable features of Cosmo '23 is its commitment to promoting young talent in the field of cosmology. In an innovative twist, all plenary speakers this year are under the age of 45. This demonstrates the congress's determination to provide a platform for the next generation of cosmologists, with a fresh perspective and new ideas that are shaping the future of cosmology. This new generation of cosmologists is carrying forward the legacy of their predecessors, who built the standard model of cosmology and convinced the world of its validity.
The cycle of Cosmo conferences has evolved alongside the field of cosmology, moving from being a speculative science without data to becoming a rapidly expanding science that has opened a new era in space exploration. Particularly, with the advent of pioneering instruments such as Euclid, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), and the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI). These advances are generating massive amounts of data that require the use of big data and artificial intelligence for analysis, which will be a key focus at the congress.
Some of the most prominent names at the conference include Leszek Roszkowski, Phil Bull, Eva-Maria Muller, Raul Angulo, Arman Shafieloo, Eleonora Di Valentino, Isobel Romero-Shaw, and Samaya Nissanke, who will address the topic of "Gravitational Wave Observations in Baryon-Neutron Cosmology."
Hot Topics in Current Cosmology
Since the historic detection of anisotropies in the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) by the COBE satellite in 1992, this field has experienced steady growth. At Cosmo '23, discussions will center around how these anisotropies have contributed to building the Standard Cosmological Model and improving our understanding of the early evolution of the universe.
Cosmo '23 will also provide insights into the latest discoveries and approaches in the search for life beyond Earth. Since the first detection of an extrasolar planet by the Herschel Telescope in 1995, we have entered a new era of exploring worlds beyond our solar system.
Another event that revolutionized our understanding of the cosmos was the discovery of the accelerated expansion of the universe by the Supernova Cosmology Project in 1998. At the congress, the latest developments in this area will be discussed, including the Hubble tension, one of the most important open problems in cosmology.
Furthermore, the detection of gravitational waves by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) and Virgo in 2015 marked the beginning of a new era in astronomy.
At Cosmo '23, the latest advances in detecting black hole and neutron star mergers, as well as the stochastic background of gravitational waves detected by the NanoGrav Pulsar Timing Array in 2023, will be explored. Among other topics, the latest advancements in the research of supermassive black holes and their influence on galactic evolution will also be addressed.
More recently, the launch of the Euclid satellite in the summer of 2023 represents a significant milestone for cosmology. It is expected to reveal crucial information about the nature of dark matter and dark energy, two of the deepest mysteries of the universe.
Finally, with an eye on the immediate future, the first light of the Vera Rubin Observatory's LSST (Large Synoptic Survey Telescope) in 2024 will be a transcendent event in astronomy. This telescope promises to provide an unprecedented amount of data about the large-scale structure of the universe, opening new opportunities for discoveries in cosmology.
Record Participation
This year, Cosmo '23 has set records for participation, with approximately 300 attendees, a significant increase compared to previous editions. This enthusiasm is palpable, as young scientists are eager to share their research and experiences in person, following the period of restrictions caused by the pandemic. Madrid, a vibrant and attractive city, has attracted cosmologists from around the world, from Japan to Australia and the United States.
Furthermore, the congress has made efforts to maintain diversity in terms of gender, origin, and approaches among its plenary speakers.
IFT
The Institute for Theoretical Physics (IFT) UAM-CSIC was officially created in 2003 as a joint research center belonging to the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM). It is the only Spanish center dedicated entirely to research in Theoretical Physics. The IFT members develop research in the frontiers of Elementary Particle Physics, Astroparticles and Cosmology, in order to understand the fundamental keys of Nature and the Universe. They are also leading many research projects, both at the national and international level. The IFT is part of the strategic line `Theoretical Physics and Mathematics´ of the Campus of International Excellence (CEI) UAM+CSIC established in 2009. Since 2012, it is credited as Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence. Besides purely scientific activity, in the IFT is also conducted intensive training tasks of young researchers and professionals through the graduate program in Theoretical Physics with mention of excellence from the CEI and the Ministry of Education. In addition, the Institute carries out the important task of transferring knowledge to society through several outreach programs.
For more information and interviews, please contact:
Laura Marcos Mateos
laura.marcos@csic.es / comunicacion@ift.csic.es
912999879
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