2009 CCU Workshop
"Advancing Chemical Understanding through Astronomical Observations"
May 26-29, 2009 -- NRAO Facility -- Green Bank, WV
The Astrochemistry in Charlottesville, in association with the National Radio Astronomy Observatory and the North American ALMA Science Center, sponsored the 2009 Astrochemistry in Charlottesville Workshop “Advancing Chemical Understanding through Astronomical Observations” May 26-29, 2009 at the site of the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope in Green Bank, West Virginia.
The workshop focused on the formation of molecules under interstellar conditions, the challenges these conditions pose for experimental physical chemists, and the advantages provided by astronomical instruments such as the Green Bank Telescope (GBT). Talks were given across six session topics: Laboratory Spectroscopy and Observations, Interstellar Surface Chemistry and Ices, Laboratory Kinetics for Interstellar Reactions, Theoretical Modeling of Interstellar Chemistry, Molecular Astrophysics with the GBT, and GBT Instrumentation for Chemistry Applications.
Over 20 invited speakers, including senior scientists and those in their early career, shared their research findings and expertise with the 80+ individuals in attendance. The purpose of the workshop was largely educational; consequently, more than half of the registered participants were graduate students and postdoctoral research associates. Approximately 35 of these young scientists also participated in the workshop's poster session.
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Schedule of Sessions & Events |
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| Tuesday, May 26, 2009 | ||
| 5:00 – 7:00PM | Arrival and check-in; Poster set-up. | Residence Hall Lobby; Green Bank Science Center |
| 7:00 – 9:00PM | Opening Reception. | Residence Hall Lounge |
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| Wednesday, May 27, 2009 | ||
| 8:00 – 9:00AM | Breakfast | Cafeteria |
| 9:00 – 9:15AM | Welcome Karen O'Neil, NRAO - Green Bank |
Jansky Lab Auditorium |
| 9:15 – 9:45AM | The Green Bank Telescope - Overview, Operations, and Open Time Jay Lockman, NRAO - Green Bank |
Jansky Lab Auditorium |
| 9:45 – 10:30AM | “H3+: The Simplest Polyatomic Molecule in the Laboratory and the Interstellar Medium” |
Jansky Lab Auditorium |
| 10:30 – 10:45AM | Coffee Break | Outside Jansky Lab Auditorium |
| 10:45 – 11:30AM | Jansky Lab Auditorium | |
| 11:30 – 12:15PM | “New THz Spectroscopic Tools for Laboratory Astrochemistry” Susanna Widicus Weaver, Department of Chemistry, Emory University |
Jansky Lab Auditorium |
| 12:15 – 12:30PM | Follow-up / Discussion of Morning Sessions | Jansky Lab Auditorium |
| 12:30 – 1:15PM | Lunch | Cafeteria |
| 1:15 – 3:15PM | Tour of the GBT | Meet in Jansky Lab Lobby (or outside main entrance, weather permitting) |
| 3:15 – 3:30PM | Coffee Break | Outside Jansky Lab Auditorium |
| 3:30 – 4:15PM | “Formation of molecules on dust grains in simulated interstellar conditions” |
Jansky Lab Auditorium |
| 4:15 – 5:00PM | Jansky Lab Auditorium | |
| 5:00 – 5:45PM | Jansky Lab Auditorium | |
| 5:45 – 7:00PM | Dinner | Cafeteria |
| 7:00 – 7:45PM | “Probing fundamental constant evolution with molecular spectroscopy” |
Jansky Lab Auditorium |
| 7:45 – 8:30PM | “Clustered Low Mass Star Formation in the Ophiuchus Molecular Cloud” |
Jansky Lab Auditorium |
| 8:30 – 8:45PM | Follow-up / Discussion of Afternoon and Evening Sessions | Jansky Lab Auditorium |
| 8:45 – 10: 00PM | Poster Viewing | Green Bank Science Center |
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| Thursday, May 28, 2009 | ||
| 8:00 – 9:00AM | Breakfast | Cafeteria |
| 9:00 – 9:45AM | “Interstellar Ion Chemistry – New Insights from Laboratory Experiments” |
Jansky Lab Auditorium |
| 9:45 – 10:30AM | “The Astrochemistry of Molecular Anions, From AGB Stars to Dark Clouds” |
Jansky Lab Auditorium |
| 10:30 – 10:45AM | Coffee Break | Outside Jansky Lab Auditorium |
| 10:45 – 11:30AM | Jansky Lab Auditorium | |
| 11:30 – 12:15PM | Jansky Lab Auditorium | |
| 12:15 – 12:30PM | Follow-up / Discussion of Morning Sessions | Jansky Lab Auditorium |
| 12:30 – 1:15PM | Lunch | Cafeteria |
| 1:15 – 2:00PM | Jansky Lab Auditorium | |
| 2:00 – 2:45PM | Jansky Lab Auditorium | |
| 2:45 – 3:30PM | Jansky Lab Auditorium | |
| 3:30 – 3:45PM | Coffee Break | Outside Jansky Lab Auditorium |
| 3:45 – 4:30PM | “A cm-wavelength search for molecular lines with Arecibo and the GBT” |
Jansky Lab Auditorium |
| 4:30 – 5:15PM | “Developing a Chemical Evolutionary Sequence for Starless Cores” |
Jansky Lab Auditorium |
| 5:15 – 6:00PM | “ALMA and Synergies with the GBT in Interstellar Astrochemistry ” |
Jansky Lab Auditorium |
| 6:00 – 6:15PM | Closing Remarks Brooks Pate, University of Virginia |
Jansky Lab Auditorium |
| 6:15 – 6:30PM | Follow-up / Discussion of Afternoon Sessions | Jansky Lab Auditorium |
| 6:30 – 8:30PM | Poster Viewing; Dinner Reception | Green Bank Science Center |
| 8:30 – 10:00PM | Live Traditional Appalachian Music Band of Local Musicians |
Green Bank Science Center Lobby (or Star Party Patio, weather permitting) |
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| Friday, May 29, 2009 | ||
| 8:00 – 9:00AM | Breakfast | Cafeteria |
| 9:00 – 9:10AM | Preview of the Day’s Discussions -- the GBT site and atmosphere Karen O’Neil, NRAO – Green Bank |
Jansky Lab Auditorium |
| 9:10 – 9:30AM | Performance of the GBT at 3mm Todd Hunter, NRAO |
Jansky Lab Auditorium |
| 9:30 – 10:15AM | Forum on science drivers for 3mm GBT instrumentation Moderator: Jay Lockman, NRAO |
Jansky Lab Auditorium |
| 10:15 – 10:30AM | Coffee Break | Outside Jansky Lab Auditorium |
| 10:30 – 11:00AM | Forum on Operational Requirements for a 3mm Focal Plane Array Moderator: Glen Langston, NRAO |
Jansky Lab Auditorium |
| 11:00 – 12:30PM | Technical Challenges Discussion Moderator: Roger Norrod, NRAO |
Jansky Lab Auditorium |
Amplifiers - Eric Bryerton & Matthew Morgan, NRAO |
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Systems and integration - Rick Fisher, NRAO |
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Digital and detectors - John Ford, NRAO |
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Data storage and reduction - Bob Garwood, NRAO |
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| 12:30 – 1:30PM | Lunch | Cafeteria |
| 1:30 – 3:30PM | Project Development Discussion – Funding, Timelines, Collaborations Moderator: Karen O’Neil, NRAO |
Jansky Lab Auditorium |
| 3:30PM | Coffee & End of Session |
Outside Jansky Lab Auditorium |
Many thanks to John Stoke and George Hassel for the excellent assortment of photos.