[ASA] First Announcement: The 2012 Australian Gemini and Magellan Science Symposium

[Australian Gemini Office]

The 2012 Australian Gemini and Magellan Science Symposium

Monday 22 and Tuesday 23 October 2012
Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne


   The Australian Gemini Office <http://ausgo.aao.gov.au/> and Astronomy 
Australia Limited <http://astronomyaustralia.org.au> are pleased to 
announce the 2012 Australian Gemini and Magellan Science Symposium. 
Australian astronomers have had access to the twin Gemini Observatory 8m 
telescopes for just over a decade, and to the twin Magellan 6.5m 
telescopes for almost half as long. Australian access to Gemini is now 
assured through until the end of 2015, and funding has been secured for 
an extension of Magellan access beyond mid-2013. A suite of new 
instruments including GSAOI 
<http://www.gemini.edu/sciops/instruments/gsaoi/?q=sciops/instruments/gsaoi>, 
FLAMINGOS-2 
<http://www.gemini.edu/sciops/instruments/flamingos2/?q=sciops/instruments/flamingos2>, 
GRACES <http://www.gemini.edu/node/11355>, GPI 
<http://www.gemini.edu/?q=node/11549>, and new CCDs for GMOS 
<http://www.gemini.edu/sciops/instruments/gmos/?q=node/11395> will 
become available on Gemini in 2013. It is therefore timely to reflect on 
the scientific highlights from Australian usage of these facilities, and 
to consider new and innovative ways to exploit these facilities 
technologically and strategically.

   The Symposium will feature invited and contributed talks from leading 
Australian users of the Gemini and Magellan telescopes. The Gemini 
Science and Technology Advisory Committee 
<http://www.gemini.edu/science/#stac> (STAC) is helping the Gemini 
Observatory and the new Director with developing a Long Range Plan for 
future capabilities. To assist the STAC in this process there will also 
be symposium sessions devoted to presenting and discussing new 
instrument concepts for Gemini and their science cases.

   The Symposium is open to everyone, and not just to current Gemini and 
Magellan users. Students and early-career researchers in particular are 
encouraged to attend. There will be no registration fee, and lunch, 
morning and afternoon teas will be provided.

   To register, please email Stuart Ryder (ausgo at aao.gov.au) by *5 
October 2012*, indicating whether you would like to present either 
Gemini or Magellan science results or an instrumentation concept, and if 
you would prefer a talk or a poster.

   Further details on the symposium, including location details and 
accommodation options, are available on the symposium web page: 
http://ausgo.aao.gov.au/symp2012/


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