Advancing Astrophysics with the Square Kilometre Array. First Announcement of a SKA Science meeting

Next year it will be 10 years since the publication of the comprehensive ‘Science with the Square Kilometre Array' book and 15 years since the first such volume appeared in 1999. In that time numerous and unexpected advances have been made in the fields of astronomy and physics relevant to the capabilities of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). The SKA itself has also progressed from an idea to a developing reality with a baselined Phase 1 design and construction planned from 2017.

To facilitate the publication of a new, updated science book, which will be relevant to the current astrophysical context, we will be soliciting articles from the community that document the scientific advances enabled by the first phase of the SKA and also those pertaining to future SKA deployment, with expected gains of 4-5 times the Phase 1 sensitivity below 350 MHz, about 10 times the Phase 1 sensitivity above 350 MHz and with frequency coverage extending to ~20 GHz.

We will soon open a call for abstracts for intended contributions to the book, with the focus on topical new developments and questions that remain unanswered. Submitted abstracts will guide the program of a major SKA science meeting now scheduled for the week of 8 - 14 June, 2014, in Giardini Naxos, Italy. Chapter drafts will be due prior to the meeting, and will form the basis for presentations and discussion at the meeting. Chapter refereeing and editing will take place in the months following the conference with publication before the end of 2014. 

We particularly encourage articles from early career researchers and researchers at the forefront of their disciplines, providing the community of SKA users with the opportunity to influence the scientific direction of the world's most sensitive radio telescope.

The first announcement can be found below. A second announcement with registration and booking information will follow shortly. 

https://www.skatelescope.org/request-for-proposals/

Please see the meeting web site for further information.

Robert Braun
SKA Science Director