[ASA] Fourth Australian Exoplanet Workshop - Registrations Now Open

[Brad Carter]

4th Australian Exoplanet Workshop - Registrations Now Open

25-26 November 2014  -    University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, QLD

Registrations are now open for the 4th Australian Exoplanet Workshop
will be held at the University of Southern Queensland's Toowoomba
campus 25-26 November 2014.

Hosted by the USQ Astrophysics Group at the Computational Engineering
and Science Research Centre, this is the 4th meeting that aims to
bring together Australian researchers working on exoplanets, from both
observational and theoretical perspectives. The workshop will cover
exoplanet surveys, characterisation and theoretical modelling of
planet formation and evolution - anything related to the science of
planets orbiting other stars.

Participants are encouraged to give a short presentation on a specific
research issue, or to brief the workshop on the current research
capabilities in exoplanetary science in their departments. There will
also be an opportunity to discuss important questions, and strategies
for increasing linkages and collaborations as a means to expanding
this critical research area in the future.

There is no registration fee to attend the workshop. However, please
indicate your attendance via the registration page, which includes the
option to submit a title and abstract of the talk. Registration
deadline is 7 November 2014.

To get venue and accommodation details and register please visit the
workshop website at:

http://astronomy.swin.edu.au/planets/FourthWorkshop2014

*** Please note:

* Given that USQ Toowoomba is a few hours by road west of Brisbane
interstate travellers are recommended to arrive on Monday 24 November,
the day before the commencement of the Workshop on Tuesday morning,
and to spend a few days in town. An informal welcome in the form of
drinks at the Uni bar will be held on the Monday evening, a public
lecture will be given by Dr Jonti Horner on the evening of Wed 26th
November, and a free tour to Mt Kent Observatory will be provided on
Thu 27th Nov, the day after the Workshop.

* The typical and generally recommended way for interstate travellers
to get to USQ Toowoomba is to fly to Brisbane Airport and use the
door-to-door Airport Flyer minibus service from Brisbane Airport to
Toowoomba (~$160 return). The service time can vary so allow between 2
and 3 hours for the minibus journey.

* For those who may wish to combine their Workshop travel with some
sightseeing or other independent journeys, Brisbane Airport has the
usual set of car rental companies (Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz,
Redspot and Thrifty). Note that the main highway between Brisbane and
Toowoomba has some roadworks that are expected to continue until
November and may cause generally short delays.

* For those preferring air travel only there are very limited but
direct Skytrans Airlines flights from Sydney (~$340 return) and
Brisbane (~$280 return) to the Toowoomba Aerodrome located 4km from
the CBD and serviced by taxis.

* About the cheapest option to get from Brisbane Airport to Toowoomba
is to take the Greyhound Bus Service (~$80 to $100 return, depending
on the time) and allow up to 3 hours travel time. However while the
Greyhound bus terminal in Toowoomba is centrally located it is too far
to walk with luggage to most motels or USQ, and although taxis are
handy, the local bus service is infrequent. There is also an Airtrain
rail service from Brisbane Airport to Roma Street station in central
Brisbane (~$28 return) where it is possible to catch the Greyhound bus
service to Toowoomba.

* There is no regular passenger rail service to Toowoomba (just a
tourist train operating during the local Carnival of Flowers in
September).

* It is appreciated that students are looking for low-cost ways to
attended the Workshop. For budget travellers it is noted that
Toowoomba is serviced by long-haul bus routes, and motels such as
Jeffrey's motel offer budget rooms with twin-stay options. While there
are no funds available to offer a general student subsidy, students
facing exceptional financial hardship can contact the organisers in
case a modest subsidy can be provided.

***

SOC: Brad Carter (USQ) (Chair), Jonti Horner (USQ), Sarah Maddison
(Swinburne), Daniel Bayliss (ANU), Charley Lineweaver (ANU) & Rob
Wittenmyer (UNSW)

LOC:  Brad Carter, Jonti Horner, Stephen Marsden, Carolyn Brown,
Belinda Nicholson, Matthew Mengel