Young Astronomers

There will be a special invitation only lunch, generously sponsored by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, the US National Academy of Sciences and the national Science Foundation, and the IAU, for Young Astronomers on Thursday 23 starting at 11:00 in the area outside Plenary Hall A on the 4^th floor. This luncheon will provide a unique opportunity for young astronomers to meet with members of the IAU Executive Committee and astronomers representing a range of institutions and variety of fields. The plan is to have 30 round tables of 10 participants: 8 young astronomers + 2 senior guest astronomers.

The tables will be allocated on the basis of fifteen discussion topics identified through a questionnaire completed by the Young Astronomers.

1. Astrophysics research in Asia : important collaborations
2. ESO — possibilities for young astronomers
3. Space Agencies - possibilities for young astronomers
4. Where to have an access to a global list of the postdoc/PhD programmes offered? CV content for a postdoc
5. Engineering careers with a PhD in theoretical astrophysics — are they possible?
6. How to organize the exploding number of papers in the literature? Am I the only one who cannot keep up?
7. The international collaborations, with astronomers in other countries
8. Funding opportunities through scholarships
9. Astronomy in "astronomically" developing countries
10. What should I care about more — publishing bunch of papers or development of science?
11. I don't want to be a professor: non-tenure track careers for Astronomers
12. General job prospects in the long term and possibility for the tenure-track positions
13. Super-computing possibilities in astrophysics
14. Writing proposals: original/risky/challenging versus mainstream/safe/easy
15. The transition fromacademia to industry, i.e. how are PhDs perceived in industry?

Young Astronomers Consulting Service (YACS)

A separate but related matter: throughout the General Assembly, a Consulting Service (YACS) will be set up with the aim of offering the possibility of one-to-one discussions between young astronomers and more advanced astronomers, who have volunteered to be available throughout most of the GA. Room VIP 4-3 will be available for pre-arranged meetings on 20, 22, 23, 27, 30 and 31 August, and in Room 409 on 29 August: the list of senior astronomers, with contact details, will be available at Registration and in Room VIP 4-3.