Early Science from Low-frequency Radio Telescopes
Tempe, Arizona, USA
Arizona State University (ASU)
8 – 10 December 2014
The MWA collaboration invites all members of the astronomical community to join us in discussing early science results from low-frequency radio telescopes, including the MWA, PAPER, LOFAR, LWA, GMRT, CHIME, and 21CMA. With many of these telescopes now operational, it is an exciting time for the community to share initial results and compare lessons learned as we move ahead toward new efforts.
The meeting will be held on the Tempe campus of Arizona State University on December 8-10, 2014.
Registration
Registration has now closed. There was no registration fee.
Submit a Talk Abstract
Abstract submissions are now closed.
Meeting Agenda
The three-day meeting will be divided into ~1.5 hours blocks separated by 30 minute breaks, leaving substantial time for informal discussions. Contributed talks are scheduled for 10 minutes plus 2 minutes for questions. Invited talks and overviews are scheduled for 15 minutes plus 3 minutes for questions. The current meeting agenda is posted below:
+ Final meeting agenda with downloadable talks
+ Meeting agenda (posted: 2014-Dec-07)
+ Meeting agenda with abstracts (posted: 2014-Dec-07)
+ Additional logistical information (posted: 2014-Dec-04)
Posters: Wall space is available for hanging posters during the meeting. All participants are encouraged to bring a poster to provide details on your work or report on more than you can cover in a talk.
Remote viewing
The live stream of the meeting has closed. No archive will be available.
Venue
The main meeting will take place in the Pima Auditorium (room 230) of the Memorial Union 2nd-floor conference center on the Tempe campus of Arizona State University. The Union is located in the middle of campus (interactive Google map). Take an online virtual tour of the ASU campus.
Additional breakout rooms have been reserved near the main auditorium. Attendees may use the Navajo conference room (room 240) that seats 30 people and the Yavapai conference room (room 223) that seats 14 people. Here is map of the conference center.
Breakouts and Workshops
The MWA EoR collaboration workshop (Dec. 3-7) will take place on campus in ISTB4, room 492 (4th floor, left off the elevator).
The MWA primary beam working group meeting (Dec. 9) will take place during the lunch break in the Navajo conference room near the main auditorium.
The MWA Special Session on Upgrades and Extensions (Dec. 9) will place at 17:30 in the Alumni room of the conference center.
The MWA GEG collaboration breakout during Session I on Wednesday morning (Dec. 10) will be in the Navajo conference room near the main auditorium.
The MWA Board meeting (Dec. 11) will take place on campus in ISTB4, room 692 (6th floor, left off the elevator).
The MWA GLEAM workshop (Dec. 11-12) will take place on campus in ISTB4, room 492 (4th floor, left off the elevator).
Travel and Accommodations
Airport
The Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (airport code: PHX) is located only 15-minutes (by car) from the ASU campus and nearby lodging.
Local transportation
Many hotels in Tempe offer a free shuttle to/from the airport — ask for details when you make hotel reservations. Taxi cab fare from the airport to downtown Tempe is typically $15. The Phoenix Metro Light Rail service also connects the airport to downtown Tempe and the ASU campus, as well as downtown Phoenix and other destinations. Once in Tempe, most hotels and restaurants will be within walking distance of the conference center. The free Orbit Shuttle bus connects many local destinations within Tempe, including the ASU campus and Mill Ave.
Lodging
Marriott Residence Inn Tempe Downtown/University (510 S Forest Ave., phone: +1-480-967-2300): Special discounted room rates have been arranged for the first 40 reservations. Make your reservations through this group rate page to receive the discount (while it lasts). The Residence Inn is the newest hotel in Tempe. It is 0.6 miles from the conference center (12 minute walk) and adjacent to the Mill Ave. restaurant district (<5 minute walk).
Sheraton Four Points Tempe (1333 S. Rural Rd., phone: +1-480-968-3451, reservations: +1-866-716-8133): The Four Points is 0.8 miles from the conference center (15 minute walk) and 1.3 miles from the Mill Ave. restaurant district (26 minute walk).
Tempe Mission Palms (60 East 5th Street, phone: +1-480-894-1400, reservations: +1-800-547-8705): The Tempe Mission Palms is a resort-style hotel adjacent to the Mill Ave. restaurant district. It is 0.7 miles from the conference cener (14 minute walk).
Restaurants
The Mill Ave. restaurant district is conveniently located near the ASU campus and Memorial Union conference center and features a variety of options ranging from popular student hangouts to elegant evening dining. Popular restaurants in the Mill Ave. district include Cafe Boa (Mediterranean), House of Tricks (American), La Bocca Pizzeria & Wine Bar, Postino Annex Wine Bar, The Revival (American), and Z-Tejas (Tex-mex). Many bars and pubs can be found on Mill Ave., as well, including Handlebar, El Hefe, World of Beer, Gordon Biersch, and many more.
As in any urban environment, you can get your coffee fix from Starbucks all over Tempe. For a local coffee experience, check out Cartel Coffee, just off Mill Ave.
Check out this interactive Google map showing the locations of popular restaurants and bars in downtown Tempe.
Entertainment and Sightseeing
Tempe and surrounding regions in the Phoenix metropolitan area feature a variety of entertainment, sightseeing, and outdoor activities that are easily accessibly by walking, light rail and commuter services, or rental car. A good summary of options is provided by the ASU Wellness office.
Desert Botanical Garden: About 15 minutes from campus (by taxi or bus), the garden offers casual walking trails and beautiful views of the local desert environment. Stay for dinner and enjoy Gertrude’s restaurant at the garden. For those in town over the weekend (before or after the meeting: Dec. 5-6 or 12-13), be sure to check out Las Noches De Las Luminarias at the garden.
Phoenix Zoo: Located next to the Desert Botanical Gardens about 15 minutes (by taxi) from campus. Enjoy the seasonal Zoo Lights display after dark.
PIPPIN: The Broadway musical is playing on campus at the Gammage Theater (the theater was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright) on Dec. 2-7.
Tempe Festival of the Arts at Mill Ave. will be running over the weekend before the meeting on Dec. 5-7. Artists and craftspeople from Arizona and around the country will be selling artwork, crafts, foods, and more. Activities also include the Arizona Wine Festival for tastings of Arizona wines.
The Musical Instrument Museum is a popular destination for visitors to the Phoenix area. It is about 30 minutes from Tempe by car – but people love it!
Mountain Biking: There are great trails around the Phoenix area. Anyone interested in a day of biking on Sunday, December 7 is encouraged to contact Joeri van Leeuwen (leeuwen _at_ astron _dot_ nl).
Weather
The average highs for Tempe in mid-December are 67°F (19°C), and typical lows are 45°F (7°C). Here is the current weather forecast for today.
Science Organizing Committee
| Judd Bowman Arizona State UniversityMWA Project Scientist, reionization, foregrounds | Chris Carilli National Radio Astronomy ObservatoryPAPER, HERA, high redshift galaxies | ||
| Tsu-ching Chang ASIAAGMRT, GBT, 21cm intensity mapping | Tracy Clarke Naval Research LaboratoryLWA, intra-cluster medium, Jovian emission | ||
| Yashwant Gupta NCRA-TIFRDean of GMRT Observatory, pulsars and timing studies, ISM | George Heald ASTRONLOFAR Imaging Commissioning Scientist, galaxies, MSSS | ||
| Natasha Hurley-Walker Curtin UniversityMWA GEG Survey Lead | Elizabeth Jensen Planetary Science Institutesolar corona, heliosphere, Faraday Rotation | ||
| Keith Vanderlinde University of TorontoCHIME, large-scale structure | Cathie Zheng Victoria University of Wellingtonradio galaxies, clusters, 21cm, 21CMA, MWA |
Local Organizing Committee
- Judd Bowman
- Danny Jacobs
- Piyanat “Boom” Kittiwisit
- Nithya Thyagarajan