Kavli-IAU Global Coordination Workshop (GCW) “International Coordination of the Time - Domain and Multi-Messenger Sky: New Opportunities and New Challenges”, Görlitz, Germany, 22-26 June 2026
The workshop, to be hosted at the new German Centre for Astrophysics (DZA) in June 2026, builds on the highly successful Kavli-IAU Global Coordination Workshop series. This will bring together approximately 50 astronomers and astrophysicists from around the world to discuss the global considerations of time-domain astronomy and multimessenger astrophysics. The drivers for these areas over the next decade will be large, international projects which require prompt and coordinated follow-up of new astronomical discoveries that may disappear in just a few days, or even sooner.
The primary objectives of the workshop will be to 1) define and prioritise the outstanding scientific questions that require coordinated, multi-wavelength follow-up in this time period, and 2) produce a series of recommendations to be implemented by the astronomical community in order to achieve these scientific goals. It will bring together key representatives from the major projects involved in these areas as well as the broader astronomical community around the globe (including theorists, instrumentalists, and observers).
Recommendations will be translated into a report titled “An Updated RoadMap for Global Coordination in the Time-Domain and Multi-Messenger Eras”.
Co-Organisers
- Brad Cenko: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (USA)
- Samaya Nissanke: DZA and Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), University of Potsdam (Germany); University of Amsterdam (NL)
The workshop will take place in Görlitz, Germany and will be invitation-only.
The XXXIII IAU General Assembly, Rome, Italy, 10-19 August 2027
The Young Astronomers Lunch at the IAU General Assembly (GA) is a cornerstone event designed to bridge the gap between aspiring young astronomers and their more experienced counterparts. With an expected attendance of 500 early-career researchers, the lunch offers a unique platform for mentorship, networking, and discussions of career paths and research organisations within the field of astronomy.
This grant continues The Kavli Foundation’s most generous support for the Young Astronomers Lunch hosted at the IAU GA 2024. This is one of the IAU’s most popular gatherings and demonstrates the need for and importance of such networking events. With this support, we can empower our early career researchers by connecting them to senior astronomers, strengthening their research endeavours, and developing the next generation of scientists.
The IAU is grateful to The Kavli Foundation for their encouragement and investment which drives forward cutting-edge scientific research in astronomy.
Professor Willy Benz, IAU President, says:
"Facilitating excellence in scientific collaboration at all levels of astronomy research is at the heart of the IAU’s mission. We are most grateful to The Kavli Foundation for their continued dedication to driving forward the very best in cutting-edge astronomy research and supporting the next generation to deliver future scientific breakthroughs."
Dr. Gregory Mack, Astrophysics Program Officer, The Kavli Foundation, says:
"Global coordination is a cornerstone of scientific advancement in the 21st century. The Kavli Foundation is pleased to continue support of these workshops, helping catalyse the discoveries that emerge through international collaboration, and to support early-career astronomers as they chart their paths in the field."
Professor Günther Hasinger, Scientific Director of DZA, says:
"We are very honored that The Kavli Foundation and IAU selected the German Centre for Astrophysics (DZA) to host the Global Coordination Workshop on time-domain and multi-messenger astrophysics. It will be a great pleasure to welcome renowned leaders of the large international astrophysics facilities and the broader astronomical community to Görlitz to help shape the future of this exciting field of research, which is spot on to the scientific mission of DZA."
About the International Astronomical Union
The IAU is the international astronomical organisation that brings together more than 13,000 active professional astronomers from more than 100 countries worldwide. Its mission is to promote and safeguard astronomy in all its aspects, including research, communication, education and development, through international cooperation. The IAU also serves as the internationally recognised authority for assigning designations to celestial bodies and the surface features on them. Founded in 1919, the IAU is the world's largest professional body for astronomers.
About The Kavli Foundation
The Kavli Foundation is dedicated to advancing science for the benefit of humanity. The foundation’s mission is to stimulate basic research in astrophysics, nanoscience, neuroscience and theoretical physics; strengthen the relationship between science and society; and honour scientific discoveries with The Kavli Prize. Learn more at kavlifoundation.org and follow @kavlifoundation.
Contact
Dr. Gregory Mack
Astrophysics Program Officer
The Kavli Foundation
Email: [email protected]
Ramasamy Venugopal
IAU Press Office
Email: [email protected]