Massive Black Holes across Cosmic Time


8-12 September 2025

at the Kavli Institute for Cosmology, Cambridge


A meeting focusing on Massive Black Holes: 

Unveiling Growth, Evolution, and Impact from the Early Universe to Today


Scientific Rationale

The decisive role of massive black holes in galaxy evolution is implied through scaling relations with galaxy properties and observations of ubiquitous nuclear outflows across a wide redshift range. In simulations, accretion onto black holes is a key ingredient in matching observed galaxy mass functions. Recently, the surprisingly high abundance of AGN at z>4 revealed through JWST observations has sparked renewed interest in massive black hole seeding and growth during the first billion years from both observational and theoretical sides. 

 

The conference aims at bringing together researchers studying massive black holes across and beyond the electromagnetic spectrum, as well as theorists and simulators to discuss recent advances in the research of massive black hole growth, evolution, demographics, and impact across cosmic time. 

We will focus on the following key themes:

Important Dates

January - Abstract submission opening 

February 2025 - Abstract submission deadline

8th - 12th  September 2025 - Conference in Cambridge


Confirmed Speakers

To be announced 

Key Scientific Questions

Observational indicators of massive black holes across cosmic time

Black hole demographics as a function of redshift through simulations

Impact of black holes on galaxy evolution evidenced through feedback and scaling relations

Observational constraints on black hole masses using various techniques and wavelengths

Constraints on massive black hole formation and growth pathways

 

Scientific Organising Committee

 

Local Organising Committee

Sophie Koudmani

(Co-chair)

Jan Scholtz
(Co-chair)

Leah Bigwood

Steve Brereton
(admin)

Stephanie Buttigieg

Sophia Geris

Lucy Ivey


Xihan Ji

Ignas Juodžbalis

Roberto Maiolino

Eun-jin Shin

Debora Sijacki

Alison Wilson
(admin)