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EAS News
Word from the President
Sara Lucatello
The annual meeting in Cork is shaping up to be one of the most lively in our history. With over 2,400 abstract submissions - a record-breaking number - the lineup will showcase the best of astronomical research in Europe and beyond.
The response from the community has been remarkable, and I look forward to the inspiring discussions that will spark new ideas, foster connections, and lay the groundwork for future collaborations.
In addition to highlighting scientific excellence, the meeting will serve as a key venue for addressing the wider responsibilities of our community. The sessions on sustainability, mental health, support for early-career researchers, and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) will offer a forum to discuss these important aspects of good citizenship in astronomy and science. These topics remain central to the values of the EAS, and, as a society, we reaffirm our commitment to making astronomy an inclusive and welcoming field for all.
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Looking ahead, there are also some changes within the EAS Council, as outlined in the item below: Jarle Brinchmann, who has been recently selected as the new ESO Director for Science, will be stepping down from Council. Jarle has been an invaluable member of the EAS council, and has greatly contributed to the society's activities during his tenure. On behalf of the council, I extend our congratulations to him on his new position and our gratitude for his significant contributions to the EAS. His presence on the Council will be missed, but I look forward to continuing our collaboration with him in his new role. I am pleased to announce that Robert Massey has agreed to step up as a Council member following Jarle Brinchmann's departure at the end of March. Robert's willingness to serve the Society in this capacity is much appreciated and the members of Council look forward to welcoming him to the group in April and working with him in the coming years.
Earlier this year, the EAS renewed its participation in EROAD until at least the end of 2025. I am pleased to announce the meeting "Recovery Plan for Ukrainian Astronomy", which will bring together scientists from 11 Ukrainian institutions and astronomical organizations from Europe and beyond. The meeting, organized by EROAD, will take place in Leiden, Netherlands, from 10 to 11 June 2025 and is aimed to strengthen international collaborations and to devise a strategic plan for the recovery and future of Ukrainian astronomy, while exploring its role in Ukraine's scientific and technological advancement.
The Council has started drafting the first strategic plan for the EAS, describing the society's vision and actions to serve the European astronomical community in the coming years. This is an important step in shaping the future of the EAS, and, as part of the development of the document, the EAS council plans to engage with affiliated societies, organizational and individual members later this year.
With so much happening in the coming months, I am truly excited about the future of the EAS and our community. I look forward to seeing many of you in Cork, where we will celebrate our achievements, engage in lively discussions, and continue working together to advance European astronomy.
EAS News
Changes in the EAS Council composition
Jarle Brinchmann from the Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences and from the University of Porto, who has been serving as a council member since 2022, will be stepping down from the EAS Council at the end of March.
Following the EAS Constitution, the Council has appointed Robert Massey, the runner-up in the last election, to step in as a Council member until the end of Jarle's term in 2028.
Robert, who obtained his PhD in Astrophysics from University of Manchester, is currently Deputy Executive Director of the Royal Astronomical Society, and will officially join the council in April.
EAS News
Programme for the EAS Cork 2025 meeting
Join us from June 23 to 27, 2025, at the beautiful University College Cork (UCC) campus, located in the heart of Cork, Ireland - a vibrant city known for its rich history, stunning Georgian architecture, and lively cultural scene. The Cork 2025 meeting will be held in a semi-hybrid format with the Plenary sessions and all Symposia remotely accessible via the virtual platform.
Please visit the EAS 2025 Website to discover the details of the 2025 edition!
The Scientific Organizing Committee has made a significant effort, particularly challenging this year with an outstanding number of excellent proposals. You can choose among 78 sessions covering all astronomical fields.
The call for abstracts ended on March 3, 2025, and we have again received a record number of 2442 abstracts.
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To support equal opportunities, the EAS is offering financial assistance to a limited number of students and researchers. This support may cover registration fees, travel, or accommodation costs. For more details visit the
"Fee Waivers and Grants" section on the EAS 2025 webpage. We have obtained close to 500 applications.
We are looking for volunteers to help with the local organisation of the event. More information can be found on the EAS 2025 webpage by visiting Volunteer information. Apply by March 30, 2025, via the volunteer application form.
EAS News
Affiliated Societies: The German Astronomical Society (Astronomische Gesellschaft, AG)
The German Astronomical Society, founded in 1863, is one of the world's oldest astronomical organizations. Based in Germany, it serves as a professional body for astronomers, fostering scientific exchange and promoting astronomical research. The AG brings together researchers, educators, and institutions in the field of astronomy and astrophysics. The institutional members of the AG convene in the Council of German Observatories, the science policy committee of the AG.
The AG annually awards prizes for outstanding research in the field as well as for the dissemination of science to the public and in education. These include the Karl Schwarzschild medal for astronomers of high scientific standing, the Ludwig Biermann Award for outstanding young scientists, the Bruno H. Bürgel Award for communicating science to the broader public, the Hans Ludwig Neumann Award for exemplary astronomy teaching at schools, the doctoral award for outstanding doctoral theses and a special award for youth science competition.
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Another notable award is the Caroline Herschel Medal, introduced in 2021 in collaboration with the Royal Astronomical Society. This award, alternating between Germany and the UK, recognizes outstanding research by women in astrophysics and highlights Caroline Herschel's legacy as a pioneering astronomer.
Looking ahead, the AG is set to host its upcoming annual meeting in Görlitz, Germany, from September 15 to 19, 2025. This event, titled "The restless Universe," will take place at the newly established German Center for Astrophysics (DZA) in Görlitz.
For more information, visit the society's
official webpage.
EAS News
Affiliated Societies: Romanian CNRA
The Romanian National Committee for Astronomy (Comitetul Național Român de Astronomie - CNRA) is a scientific organization operating under the patronage of the Romanian Academy. Founded in 1930 as Romania's national affiliate of the International Astronomical Union (IAU), CNRA brings together professional and amateur astronomers, as well as specialists in STEM education. The committee is dedicated to promoting astronomical research, education, and public outreach, fostering both scientific advancement and broader engagement with astronomy. The Romanian Astronomical Journal (RoAJ), operating under the scientific supervision of the CNRA, is an international scientific journal that publishes original contributions in astronomy and astrophysics, including review articles, brief reports, and special communications. Established in 1991, the journal initially published two issues per year and has increased its frequency to three issues annually since 2015.
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RoAJ covers a wide range of topics, such as celestial mechanics, stellar astrophysics, solar physics, heliosphere studies, extragalactic astronomy, cosmology, history of astronomy, and space sciences. The journal is part of the Romanian Academy's series of journals and is published in hard copy by the Romanian Academy Publishing House. Online versions of articles from 2012 onward are available through the
Astronomical Institute of the Romanian Academy's website.
CNRA played a key role in the development of the Berthelot Observatory (MPC L54), a modern astronomical facility equipped for Space Surveillance and Tracking activities and Near-Earth Objects and Space Weather research.
EAS News
Are you looking for a research position in astronomy and astrophysics?
The European Astronomical Society provides constant information about job positions all over the world. Are you about to extend your research career? Please, take a look at our job market webpage. Different interdisciplinary positions are announced there including a wide range of options, from PhD level up to permanent science positions, data science assistants, project managers, technical project managers, observing programme office astronomers, engineers, and system engineers working in the design and development of science projects. Many of those openings are funded by European grants, and offer work in an international environment. PhD positions awarded from Marie Sklodowska Curie Action (MSCA) grants allow to build up a collaboration network from the beginning of the research career. Placing an advertisement on our job market is free of charge, regardless of your membership in the EAS.
Next steps for HERA meetings
Thanks to the big success of the HERA23 (Munich) and the HERA24 (Athens) meetings, we received continued funding from the Heraeus foundation for three additional yearly workshops, HERA26, HERA27, and HERA28.
These workshops serve as a platform for early career scientists to receive training, engage in interactive discussions, conceptualize research projects, broaden their perspectives, and initiate international collaborations.
This year HERA25 workshop will take place in Pisa, Italy, in the period of September 22 - 26, 2025.
The theme of the event is "Galaxy evolution in the cosmic re-ionisation era", and it is organised by the Scuola Normale Superiore (the contact person is Prof. Andrea Ferrara).
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The EAS extends an invitation to early-career scientists, defined as those with less than 5 years of post-PhD experience (including PhD students who are close to defending their theses), and who are affiliated with European Research Institutes and Universities, to submit their applications. We especially encourage researchers in the fields of galaxy formation and evolution in the early Universe to apply. It's important to note that there is no registration fee, and the WE Heraeus Foundation will cover the local expenses for all participants.
Attendees will have ample opportunities to showcase their research, initiate collaborations with local scholars from SNS and other Italian Astronomical Institutes, and engage with distinguished invited senior review speakers. Every day of the workshop will feature one presentation delivered by accomplished senior scientists.
The EAS will soon circulate an announcement to all affiliated societies, with the invitation and information concerning registration. Each society should distribute this call to all young researchers in their associations. Looking ahead, we have already started with the preparation of HERA26, which will take place in Warsaw, Poland.
EAS Diversity & Inclusivity Advisory Committee 2024 report
The past year was intensive for the EAS Advisory Committee (AC) on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI), where the groundwork began to yield tangible results. A key achievement of 2024 was the successful organization of Special Session SS41: Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Astronomy at the EAS Annual Meeting in Padova. This session brought together a diverse group of participants, including active researchers, representatives from National Astronomical Societies, decision-makers from ESA and ESO, educators, and NGOs, to explore the challenges and opportunities of EDI in astronomy research.
To bring closer the subject of EDI to all the members of the EAS, the EAS EDI AC promoted an initiative to engage the individual societies in exchanging their EDI practices with the EAS and among themselves. The first responses have been received, but the work continues. The goal would be to convene a roundtable discussion at the EAS 2025.
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Based on the momentum generated by Special Session SS41, the committee is hosting a follow-up Special Session (SS50)
at the 2025 EAS meeting in Cork, Ireland, titled "Diversity and Inclusion in Project Management and Leadership". These sessions will focus on two main
themes: mental health, inclusion in academia, and will also address unconscious bias in leadership roles. A dedicated lunch session will feature professional bias training for current and aspiring leaders, with participants receiving certificates endorsed by EAS, emphasizing the importance of such training. The results of the EDI community survey will also be presented at Special Session (SS51) titled "An Intersectional Approach to EDI Strategies", alongside contributions from National Astronomical Societies showcasing their initiatives and fostering collaboration. These discussions aim to provide actionable solutions and build a stronger network of support for EDI initiatives across Europe.
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