The Irish National Astronomy Meeting (INAM) will be held in Birr, Co. Offaly on September 4-7, 2018. The focus will be on new opportunities for Irish astrophysics presented by membership of the International LOFAR Telescope (ILT) and of the European Southern Observatory (ESO).

Wednesday – New Frontiers 

10:00 – 10:30: Welcome and Coffee

10:30 – 13:00: Session 1 (LOFAR)

  • Status of I-LOFAR (Peter Gallagher, TCD).
  • John Quinn/Sean Mooney, UCD.
  • Aoife Ryan, TCD.

13:00 – 14:00: Lunch

14:00 – 15:30: Session 2 (LOFAR)

  • Oisin Creaner, DIAS.
  • Pearse Murphy, TCD.
  • Aaron Golden, NUIG.
  • Ciara Maguire, TCD.

15:30 – 16:00: Coffee

16:00 – 17:30: Session 3 (ESO)

  • Ireland and ESO: Recent Progress (Matt Redman/Paul Callan)

19:00 Public talk on Ireland and space – ESA, LOFAR, and ESO. Who?

Thursday – Ireland and ESA

09:00 – 10:30: Session 4 (ESA)

  • Overview of the ESA Space Science Programme (John Zarnecki, ESA/SSAC Chair).
  • Overview of Irish involvement in ESA missions (Lorraine Hanlon, UCD).

10:30 – 11:00: Coffee

11:00 – 13:00: Session 5 (ESA)

13:00 – 14:00: Lunch

14:00 – 15:30: Session 6 (ESA)

  • National Space Innovation Strategy (ESA Delegate).

15:30 – 16:00: Coffee

16:00 – 17:30: Session 7 (ESA)

19:00 INAM Conference Dinner, Dooley’s Hotel, Birr.

Friday – Engaging with Policy Makers, the Public and Children

09:00 – 10:30: Session 8 (Policy Makers)

  • Lessons learned from LOFAR (Peter Gallagher, TCD).
  • Lessons learned from ESO (Paul Callanan/Tom Ray).

10:30 – 11:00: Coffee

11:00 – 13:00: Session 9 (Public and Children)

  • Light pollution and citizen science (Brian Espey, TCD).
  • RAS200 Programme at Galway (Andy Shearer, NUIG).
  • I-LOFAR Education Centre (Peter Gallagher, TCD).
  • Plans for Space Week 2018 (Clair McSweeney, BCO).

13:00 – 14:00: Lunch

14:00 – 16:00: Formal opening of I-LOFAR Education Centre.