Back at the Edge of the Universe

Nine years after being "At the Edge of the Universe", it is time to return to lovely Sintra and discuss, once again, the latest achievements of the deepest observations of the Universe. This time, well into the era of the Deep Fields, we believe we understand a little bit better how galaxies form and how they evolve into the multitude of shapes, sizes, environments and activity they display at later epochs. Making full use of the capabilities of the largest and most powerful ground- and space-based observatories, operating throughout the electromagnetic spectrum, large international teams have extensively studied the most distant reaches of the Universe. Many hours of telescope time and computational effort have been employed in what is one the most pressing issues of modern science, and many findings have driven us ever nearer to understanding the formation and evolution of galaxies.

Where are we now? Have we reached a solid theoretical framework for galaxy formation and evolution? What else do we need in order to find the still elusive first galaxies, hosting the first generation of stars and the very first AGN in the Universe? What can theory tell us about where to look and how to look into this seemingly impenetrable problem? Do we know how galaxies assemble and how feedback processes take place and drive their evolution? How do galaxies depend on, or determine, their environment? How is this work driving the development and fine-tuning of the next generation of telescopes and their respective surveys?

The Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences aims at aiding in this effort, hosting once again an international conference aimed at discussing galaxy formation and evolution in the light of the deepest astronomical observations. The focus is on the latest observational results, and on how they shape, and are shaped by, the latest theoretical framework.

More information: http://deep15.oal.ul.pt/rationale/