SPARCS 2016

SPARCS (3-5 November) 2016 meeting, all presentations (18 November 2016)

SPARCS meeting Programme, Abstracts and Participants

SPARCS 2016 meeting updates (1 November 2016)

SPARCS 2016 - Second announcement

OVERVIEW

The 2016 meeting of the SKA Pathfinders Radio Continuum Surveys (SPARCS) will be hosted by National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (Tata Institute of Fundamental Research), in Goa, India from 3 to 5 November 2016, just before the SKA conference "SKA 2016: Science for the SKA generation".

2016 will see important milestones on the pathway to SKA continuum survey science. The ongoing GMRT upgrade is nearing completion and the second phase of upgraded system has already been released to astronomical community. Early science with MeerKAT and ASKAP will begin, with full operations to follow on the time scale of a year.  These pathfinder instruments have opened up opportunities for high impact SKA pathfinder programs. Developments at the MWA, JVLA and LOFAR continue to provide important scientific and technical direction for the next generation surveys. This year will see important milestones on the pathway to SKA continuum survey science.

IMPORTANT DATES

Early registration deadline : 16 September 2016

Abstract submission deadline : 16 September 2016

Meeting dates : 3 - 5 November 2016

Accommodation booking deadline : 16 September 2016

VENUE

The meeting will be held at the International Centre Goa (ICG), Goa, India

(www.internationalcentregoa.com).

The state of Goa, India is considered a major tourist destination, owing to its beautiful beaches, sites of worship and world heritage architecture. The famous Dona Paula Beach https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dona_Paula is located about three kilometre from the ICG.

REGISTRATION

For registration, please send mail to SPARCS-2016 <sparcs2016@ncra.tifr.res.in> giving name, affiliation and status (student/post-doc/faculty).

The early registration fee is INR 3500, which covers  lunch, tea/coffee with biscuits/cookies during session-breaks, packaged drinking water, Wi-Fi at the meeting hall, etc. The registration fee is to be paid through bank transfer (account details given below)  before 16 September 2016. Participants who want to pay after the early registration deadline or at the meeting venue will be charged the registration fee of INR 4000. If you need invoice for paying the registration fee and accommodation charges, please write to us. Young researchers, e.g. students, post-doctorals who need the registration fee waiver should write to us at SPARCS-2016 <sparcs2016@ncra.tifr.res.in> and request their supervisors to support the same.

ACCOMMODATION

NCRA-TIFR has booked 30 room occupancy from 2 to 5 Nov 2016 (check-in 2nd Nov after 12 noon, check-out 6th Nov 10 am). The tariff is INR 3500 + tax (INR ~4000) for single occupancy, and INR 4500 + tax (INR ~5200) for a double occupancy room.  Kindly transfer the amount to account details (given below) for the no. of days for accommodation and write back to the meeting email. Participants opting to book double occupancy room should find their partners themselves.

About the rooms and amenities, please see

http://www.internationalcentregoa.com/facilities/rooms-in-goa/ .

Booked accommodation may be cancelled as per the norms of the ICG.

Alternatively, accommodation can also be booked at Hotel Cidade de Goa (15 mins walking distance from the ICG), the venue of SKA Conference, "SKA 2016: Science for the SKA generation" directly

(https://indico.skatelescope.org/event/391/page/3).

The discounted rates applicable for the SKA Science conference are also valid for the duration of SPARCS-2016 meeting (booking title should be SKA2016 meeting). Note that November is high tourist season, we strongly advise participants to book early.

BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS

1) Name of the beneficiary - SKA PAthfinders RAdio Continuum Surveys (SPARCS) meeting

2) Name of the Bank - Bank of India

3) Branch - NCRA Ext.counter, Pashan Road Branch, Pune 411007 Maharashtra, India.

4) Current Account Number - 051620110000295

5) IFSC Code - BKID0000516  (for transactions within India)

6) SWIFT Code - BKIDINBBPMB  (for International transactions)

(Note: After the transaction, please send a mail to SPARCS-2016 <sparcs2016@ncra.tifr.res.in> giving us the details of the payment.)

HOW TO REACH THE ICG

There are direct flights from several major international airports to Mumbai, Bengaluru and Delhi.  Goa is well connected by air to these cities. Participants are encouraged to take pre-paid taxi from airport to "the ICG, Dona Paula". Approximate cost of air-conditioned pre-paid taxi from airport to "the ICG, Dona Paula" is INR 950.  For more information on travel, activities in Goa, etc., please see the SKA Science meeting page

https://indico.skatelescope.org/event/391/overview .

ABSTRACT SUBMISSION

A simple format, plain-text, giving title, authors and abstract, should be mailed to

SPARCS-2016 <sparcs2016@ncra.tifr.res.in> .

Please include word, "Abstract" in the subject line.

INVITATION LETTER AND VISA

Important: Most participants will require a visa to visit India. Obtaining an Indian visa can require more than three months from certain countries. These visas will require an invitation letter from our Indian colleagues. To obtain a copy of such a letter, please contact us at

SPARCS-2016 <sparcs2016@ncra.tifr.res.in> .

CONTACT

Dharam V. Lal and C. H. Ishwara-Chandra

SPARCS-2016 <sparcs2016@ncra.tifr.res.in>

National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (Tata Institute of Fundamental Research)

S.P. Pune University Campus, Ganeshkhind P.O. Pune 411007 India