``New Perspectives on the Interstellar Medium'': An International Workshop


Lloyd Higgs, Chair, Local Organizing Committee

On August 22 - 28, the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory (DRAO) in Penticton hosted an international workshop on the interstellar medium at the Naramata Centre in the nearby community of Naramata. The workshop was jointly sponsored by the Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics (of which DRAO is a part), the Canadian Galactic Plane Survey Consortium, and the Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics. The workshop attracted 92 participants from 13 countries, ranging from undergraduate students in astronomy to world research leaders, and from both observational (in several wavelength regimes) and theoretical fields. A large number of young researchers (2 undergraduates, 6 M.Sc. students, 16 Ph.D. students and 12 post-docs) were in attendance. Canadian participants accounted for 48% of the attendees.

The workshop covered a wide range of topics concerning the interstellar medium, focussing largely on new large-scale observations (such as the Canadian Galactic Plane Survey) of the various components of the ISM and on new results of numerical modelling of the turbulent structure of the ISM. The Scientific Organizing Committee, co-chaired by Russ Taylor and Tom Landecker, arranged stimulating presentations from 26 invited speakers in sessions devoted to: New Observations and Techniques (Optical, Infrared and Radio), Polarization and the ISM, Topology and Structure of the ISM, Physical States and Phases, Processes and Interfaces, Disk-Halo Interaction, Energy Injection, and Global Models. The summer-camp-like atmosphere promoted much discussion and fruitful interaction between participants. In addition to the invited presentations, there were 25 oral and 23 poster contributions. These will be published as the conference proceedings in a future volume of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series.

Some selected highlights of the workshop were:

The Local Organizing Committee consisted of Kevin Douglas, Cindy Furtado, Andrew Gray, Chloe Handley, Lloyd Higgs, Lewis Knee, Tom Landecker, Anne Thorsley and Brad Wallace. Their efforts, wonderful weather, a spectacular auroral display, and the fine support from the staff of the Naramata Centre led to a very enjoyable and interesting workshop.


Lloyd Higgs
<Lloyd.Higgs@hia.nrc.ca>

Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory (DRAO)
Telephone: (250) 490-4325   FAX: (250) 493-7767
or: (250) 493-2277

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