University’s E.A. Milne Centre hosts prestigious UK astronomy conference

Some of the brightest minds in astronomy and astrophysics have met at the University of Hull this week, as it hosts a leading national conference.

The STFC Introductory Summer School in Astronomy, backed by UK Research & Innovation, sees around 70 postgraduate students from across the country converge for a series of lectures, delivered by experts in the discipline.

Areas covered include solar physics, gravitational waves, the cosmic microwave background and large-scale structure, molecular astrophysics.

Professor Brad Gibson, Director of the E.A. Milne Centre for Astrophysics at the University of Hull, said: “We last hosted this summer school in 2016, which was the 25^th anniversary of the event, so to have it back in Hull this year is fantastic.

“This week has brought together almost 100 PhD students and academics, all of who are leaders and experts in their field. It provides postgraduate students from across the country with an opportunity to meet each other, share ideas and discuss their areas of focus.

The week-long conference, running from August 30 to September 3, also provided attendees with careers, teaching and outreach support.

Hosted at Middleton Hall on the University of Hull campus, attendees will also visit The Deep on the evening of Thursday 2 September, for a social night and a look around the city’s spectacular aquarium.

Among those attending the Summer School were members of the University’s ‘Changing the Face of Physics’ campaign.

The initiative was launched by the University of Hull with the aim of widening diversity and participation within physics.

Last year, it was announced that University of Hull physics student Kiri Newson had been selected for a prestigious new scholarship programme.

Kiri, now embarking on a PhD at Hull, was one of four talented students across the country to be chosen for the Bell Burnell Graduate Scholarship Fund.

Established by leading physicist Professor Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell and the Institute of Physics to encourage greater diversity in science, the scholarship aims to help talented students from under-represented groups to pursue a PhD in the subject.

Kiri’s PhD is focused on medical physics, exploring adaptive radiotherapy techniques through machine learning.

The Summer School this week is being hosted by the University’s E.A. Milne Centre for Astrophysics.

From the Big Bang to black holes, and from quantum mechanics to the theory of everything, the Centre’s world leading experts pursue explanations for the wonders of the universe.

Discoveries are shared with students, schools and the public to ignite the passions of the Einsteins and Hawkings of tomorrow.

For more information on the E.A. Milne Centre for Astrophysics, visit their website here.