S E C O N D   A N N O U N C E M E N T
VA100 – “Evolution of Cosmic Objects Through Their Physical Activity”
15-18 September 2008, Byurakan, Armenia

1. GENERAL INFORMATION

The Conference VA100 – “Evolution of Cosmic Objects through Their Physical Activity” is devoted to the 100th anniversary of Professor Victor Ambartsumian – one of the greatest astronomers of 20th century. One of the founders of modern astrophysics, Victor Ambartsumian was a prominent organizer of science. On his initiative have been organized scientific centers, magazines, established new organizations – the Departments of Astrophysics at the Saint-Petersburg State University (1934) and Yerevan State University (1945), Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (1946) in Armenia were among them. Being among the founding members of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences (1943) later on he served as its President (1947-1993). He was elected to join nearly three dozen Academies of Sciences and very distinguished professional societies, served as the President of the IAU (1961-1964) and the President of the ICSU (1968-1972).

Though working in many directions, Ambartsumian divided his research area into three main fields, conditionally calling those “the Invariance Principle”, “Inverse Problems” and “Evolution Problems”. This meeting joins the evolution problems with activity phenomena emphasizing thus his persistent interest to the crucial role of active processes in the evolution of cosmic objects.

The opening session will be organized in the Conference Hall of the Armenian National Academy in Yerevan. All other sessions including closing one will be held in the Conference Hall of the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory. Though not directly connected with the Conference but another solemn ceremony with a concert will be organized on September 19 in the Yerevan Opera House and all the participants of the Conference are invited as well.

A separate session on the Cosmic garbage threat sponsored by the International Science and Technology Center will be held during the Conference. More detailed information will be available in August.

The Conference participants will stay at the Guest House of Yerevan State University located in the downtown and only a few persons will live in Byurakan. There will be buses to take the participants every morning to Byurakan. Detailed information on travel to Armenia and visas, and local conditions is given in the corresponding sections.

2. ORGANIZERS

Armenian National Academy of Sciences (ANAS) Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO)

All the jubilee measures including the Conference are financially supported by the Armenian Government It is co-supported also by the International Science and Technology Center

SCIENTIFIC ORGANIZING COMMITTEE

Halton Arp (Germany)
Yuri Balega (Russia)
Geoffrey Burbidge (USA), Co-chair
Anatoly Cherepashchuk (Russia)
Michael Dopita (Australia)
Daniel Kunth (France)
Hayk Harutyunyan (Armenia), Co-chair
Jayant Narlikar (India)
Sadanori Okamura (Japan)
Elma Parsamian (Armenia)
Roberto Terlevich (Mexico)
Ian Robson (UK)
David Sedrakian (Armenia)
Yervant Terzian (USA)

LOCAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE

S.K.Balayan, A.L. Gyulbudaghyan, A.A.Hakobyan, H.A.Harutyunyan (Co-Chair), T.Yu.Magakian, N.D. Melikyan, A.M.Mickaelian (Co-Chair),A.G.Nikoghossian, E.H. Nikoghosyan (Secretary), A.R.Petrosian

REGISTRATION

Registration of the participants and guests will start on Monday September 15, at 10:00 at the Yerevan State University Guest House. You may register at the Presidium of Armenian National Academy of sciences from 13:00, where at 15:00 the Conference Opening session will start.

ABSTRACT SUBMISSION

Abstracts of all oral and poster contributions should be submitted through the VA100 web interface, filling the type of the contribution, title, authors/affiliations, and the abstract (10-15 rows). If you have difficulty with the web interface, please, send your abstract(s) to the Conference LOC address  or to the LOC Co-Chairs.

PROCEEDINGS

The typical allocated size will be 10-12 pages for invited talks, 5-6 pages for contributed talks, and 2-3 pages for poster contributions. More details will be given in the final announcement and at the Conference. The deadline for submission is November 30, 2008.

IMPORTANT DEADLINES

May 30, 2008   Second Announcement
Jun 30, 2008   Deadline for Submission of Abstracts and Travel Grant Applications
Jul 15, 2008   Applicants to be informed on outcome of Travel Grant Applications and Confirmation of Acceptance of Abstracts
Jul 20, 2008   Deadline for Early Registration and Hotel Reservation
Jul 30, 2008   Final Submission of Abstracts of accepted papers for the Abstracts book
Aug 15, 2008   Final Announcement with the detailed Program
Sep 15-18, 2008 Conference in Byurakan
Nov 30, 2008   Deadline for submission of papers for publication in the Proceedings

CONTACTS
Hayk Harutyunyan (Armenia), Co-chair, SOC and LOC: hhayk@bao.sci.am Areg Mickaelian (Armenia), Co-Chair LOC: aregmick@apaven.am

F I R S T     A N N O U N C E M E N T
" Evolution of cosmic objects through their physical activity"
15-18 September 2008, Yerevan-Byurakan, Armenia

The conference “Evolution of cosmic objects through their physical activity”, which is devoted to the centenary of Professor Victor Ambartsumian, is planned to be held in Yerevan and Byurakan (Armenia).

Victor Ambartsumian, one of the founders of modern astrophysics, had founded the first in the Soviet Union astrophysics department at the Saint-Petersburg State University, Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory in Armenia (1946). He was among the founding members of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences (1943), having consequently served as its President (1947-1993). He was elected to serve as the President of the IAU (1961-1964), as well as the President of ICSU (1968-1972).

Professor Ambartsumian, although working in many directions, divided his research field into three main areas, conditionally calling those “Invariance Principle”, “Inverse Problems” and “Evolution Problems”.  However, the organizers of this Conference would like to also emphasize his persistent interest in the activity phenomena. Ambartsumian’s pioneering studies of stellar associations, unstable stars and active galactic nuclei became the cornerstones in these areas for a long time.

The activity phenomena trace all the hierarchical levels of cosmic objects, from the elementary particles and atomic nuclei to the galactic nuclei and systems of galaxies. Any exhibition of activity is related to a peculiar energy release, and as such it easily attracts researchers’ attention. Due to this particular feature the physical activity is one of the most intensively studied phenomena. On the other hand, no specific determination, either physical or philosophical, exists for characterization of activity events as a category. How should the physical activity be defined in order to include all its exhibitions? One way to meet demands for such phenomena should likely be as was mentioned above, i.e., an additional energy release excessive for the given class of objects is to be registered. Another way concerns the energy source. It seems that the natural way is the one initially introduced as an intrinsic feature of the given object (e.g. radioactive atomic nuclei or solar activity). However, this concept was intrinsically transformed while the ideas were evolving themselves during the past decades. Nevertheless, a commonly held viewpoint seems to survive along with the ongoing evolution of ideas – the activity of an object significantly affects its evolution. This is why we believe and hope that the suggested topic, though rather wide and many-sided, will provide for an interesting and also important discussion. We suggest considering this issue by the example of the galaxies’ hierarchical level, where a vast number of activity phenomena manifestations might be mentioned.

What are the activity phenomena in the life of galaxies and how do they affect the evolution process? Do we have specific ideas on the activity in galactic nuclei and star formation regions; do we understand the impact of nuclear jets and supernova explosions to the galaxy formation process? Is there any physical connection between general properties and activity phenomena, do such parameters as the mass, angular momentum, etc. determine the activity properties of an object?

This Meeting entitled “Evolution of cosmic objects through their physical activity” has an intention to arrive to at least a temporary conclusion on this highly important and interesting area. Professor Ambartsumian used to say that 21st century will again see astronomy as one of the leading natural sciences, just like it was in Galileo’s and Newton’s periods. We hereby are inviting all the astronomers and physicists to discuss these issues.

The opening and closing sessions will take place in Yerevan, at the Conference Hall of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences. All other sessions, including the poster session, will be held in Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory, in some cases in “Ambartsumian Room”. The participants will stay at the hotels in Yerevan, and buses will be available for transportation to and from Byurakan. For a limited number of participants, accommodation at the hotel in Byurakan Observatory will be provided. More detailed information on travel to Armenia, visas, hotels, and possible excursions will be available in due course.

ORGANIZERS

Armenian National Academy of Sciences
Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO)

SCIENTIFIC ORGANIZING COMMITTEE

Halton Arp (Germany)
Yuri Balega (Russia)
Geoffrey Burbidge (USA), Co-chair
Anatoly Cherepashchuk (Russia)
Michael Dopita (Australia)
Daniel Kunth (France)
Hayk Harutyunyan (Armenia), Co-chair
Jayant Narlikar (India) to be confirmed
Sadanori Okamura (Japan)
Roberto Terlevich (Mexico)
Ian Robson (UK)
Yervant Terzian (USA)

LOCAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE

H.A.Harutyunyan, Co-Chair, A.M.Mickaelian, Co-Chair
S.K.Balayan, A.L. Gyulbudaghyan, A.A.Hakobyan, T.Yu.Magakian, V.H.Malumyan, N.D. Melikyan, A.G.Nikoghossian, E.H. Nikoghosyan, A.R.Petrosian

REGISTRATION FEES
 
100 USD per person

TRAVEL GRANTS

A limited number of travel grants will be available, reserved mainly for invited speakers and young participants. An application form will be available on 1 March, 2008. Those who are going to apply for a grant are encouraged to register as soon as possible.

PRE-REGISTRATION

The deadline for the pre-registration is April 20, 2008.

DEADLINES

Mar 1, 2008   First Announcement
May 20, 2008   Second Announcement with a call for Registration, Travel Grant Application, and Submission of Abstracts
Jun 30, 2008   Deadline for Submission of Abstracts and Travel Grant Applications
Jul 15, 2008   Applicants to be informed on outcome of Travel Grant Applications and Confirmation of Acceptance of Abstracts
Jul 20, 2008   Deadline for Early Registration and Hotel Reservation
Jul 30, 2008   Final Submission of Abstracts of accepted papers for the Abstracts book
Aug 15, 2008   Final Announcement with the detailed Program
Sep 15-18, 2008 Conference in Byurakan
Nov 30, 2008   Deadline for submission of papers for publication in the Proceedings

CONTACTS
 Hayk Harutyunyan (Armenia), Co-chair, SOC and LOC: hhayk@bao.sci.am
Areg Mickaelian (Armenia), Co-Chair LOC: aregmick@apaven.am