Sant Cugat Forum on Astrophysics

Introduction

The Sant Cugat Forum on Astrophysics was a logisitic and scientific framework designed to host international meetings of scientists. From time to time, it also did science outreach in Sant Cugat. The Forum sessions focused on an specific aspect of astrophysics, were held typically every two years with an attendance of up to 100 scientists, featuring plenary talks, no posters, and a duration of four days. This web gives account of the workshops held. Use the links above to know more. The Forum was founded in April 2009, by ICREA Prof. Diego F. Torres and formally established by an agreement between the Sant Cugat City Hall and the Institut d´Estudis Espacials de Catalunya (IEEC). It had additional support from the Institute for Space Sciences (CSIC), and the Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA). It functioned for a period of 10 years.

An International as well as a Local Area Advisory Committee advised in its creation. The latter was formed by Dr. Juan Cortina (IFAE), Prof. Lluis Font (UAB), Prof. Margarida Hernanz (IEEC-CSIC), Prof. Jordi Isern (IEEC-CSIC), Prof. Alberto Lobo (IEEC-CSIC), Dr. Manel Martinez (IFAE), Prof. Josep Maria Paredes (UB), Dr. Nanda Rea (IEEC-CSIC). The International Advisory Committee was formed by Profs. X. Barcons (IFCA, Spain), C. Cesarsky (CEA, France), K. S. Cheng (Hong Kong, China), B. Gaensler (Dunlap Observatory, Canada), M. Longair (Cambridge U., UK), O. Reimer (Innsbruck U., Austria), and S. Sarkar (Oxford U. & Bohr Institute, Denmark).

The inauguration of the Forum was held at the Teatre Auditori of Sant Cugat on April 12, 2010, and was presided by the Sant Cugat City Major, Exmo. Sr. LLuis Recoder. The inaugural act contained a public lecture delivered by Prof. Jocelyn Bell-Burnell, on the discovery of pulsars. More than 550 persons attended, and it was simultaneously and wirelessly translated from English into Catalan. The Forum Logo was designed by Anna Pedescoll of the Sant Cugat City Hall Art Department.