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Schedule

Please find the conference schedule below.

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

NYUAD Conference Center A6 010

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Tuesday April 23, 2024

 

09:00am - 09:15am Registration

 

9:15am - 10:00am

Opening Remarks

  • Arlie Petters, Provost, NYU Abu Dhabi

  • H.E. Eric Gaudiosi, US Deputy Chief of Mission in the UAE

  • H.E. Lorenzo Fanara, Ambassador of Italy in the UAE

  • H.E. Ibrahim Al Qasim, Deputy Director General, UAE Space Agency

 

10:00am - 10:30am

Introductions

Simonetta Di Pippo – Setting the Scene

Andrea V. Macciò – The Role of NYUAD    

 

10:30am - 10:50am

Keynote

Federico Di Vruno, Spectrum Manager, SKAO

A Changing Space Environment, New Challenges in our Skies

 

10:50am - 11:00am Coffee break

 

11:00am - 12:10pm

Panel: Dark and Quiet Sky and Astronomy

A session to discuss the impacts of large satellite constellations on astronomy and the dark and quiet sky, not only on Earth but also in space.

  • Moderator: Patrizia Caraveo, Research Director, Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica

  • Sara Lucatello, European Astronomical Society, Geneva, Switzerland

  • Federico Di Vruno, Spectrum Manager, SKAO

  • Antonio Manousakis, Assistant Professor, University of Sharjah

 

12:10pm - 01:30pm Lunch Break at the Torch Club

 

01:30pm - 02:00pm

Side Conference Talks

  • Goffredo Puccetti, Associate Professor of Practice of Visual Arts, NYUAD Branding Science: How the topic of this conference inspired him to create its logo (15’)

  • Patrizia Caraveo, Research Director, Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica Artificial Lights can harm the entire ecosystem: saving the stars will help to save the planet: winner of the IAA 2023 Basic science book award – Saving the starry night

 

02:00pm - 02:15pm

Keynote

Mashhoor AlWardat, Professor, University of Sharjah

Sharjah Academy of Astronomy and Space Science’ (SAASST) efforts in developing Astronomy and Astronomical sites in the UAE

 

02:15pm - 03:15pm

Mega-Constellations in the new decade

A session to discuss future plans of constellations and share the views of the constellations in currency deployment right now. What does the future await?

  • Moderator: Federico Di Vruno, Spectrum Manager, SKAO

  • Tim Stevenson, Director of Assurance, SKA Observatory

  • Paolo Giommi, Investigator, CASS, NYUAD

 

03:15pm - 03:30pm

Keynote

Patricia Cooper, President & Founder Constellation Advisory, LLC

Reflections on Satellite - Astronomy Collaboration

 

03:30pm - 03:45pm

Keynote

Connie Walker, Head, Office of Observatory Site Protection, NOIRLab; & Co-Director, IAU CPS

Sharing the Dark and Quiet Skies

 

03:45pm - 04:30pm

Sustainability and Need of international regulations

  • Moderator: Sara Lucatello, European Astronomical Society, Geneva, Switzerland

  • Patrizia Caraveo, Research Director, Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica

  • Connie Walker, Head, Office of Observatory Site Protection, NOIRLab; & Co-Director, IAU CPS

  • Simonetta Di Pippo, Visiting Professor of Practice of Physics, NYUAD

 

04:30pm - 05:00pm

Special session: A deep dive into UAE activities in space

Noora Alsaeed, Senior Space Science Researcher, UAE Space Agency

 

Closing remarks with Adnan Al Rais, Deputy Director General, Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre [TBC]

 

 

Wednesday April 24, 2024

 

09:00am - 09:45am

Space Junk and Debris

  • Moderator: Simonetta Di Pippo, Visiting Professor of Practice of Physics, NYUAD

  • Leonardo Barilaro, Senior Lecturer in Aerospace Engineering at MCAST - Malta College of Arts, Science & Technology

  • Donato Giorgi, Space Counsellor – CNES Representative for Middle East

 

09:45pm - 10:30am

Can AI Help?

Paolo Giommi, Investigator, Center for Astrophysics and Space Science, NYUAD & Associated to INAF-Brera Observatory, Milan

Interventions from the audience on AI and citizen science

 

10:30am - 11:00am Coffee break

 

11:00am - 11:45am

Panel: Sustainability and Need of international regulations

  • Moderator: Sara Lucatello, European Astronomical Society, Geneva, Switzerland Patrizia Caraveo, Research Director, Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica

  • Connie Walker, Head, Office of Observatory Site Protection, NOIRLab; & Co-Director, IAU CPS

  • Simonetta Di Pippo, Visiting Professor of Practice of Physics, NYUAD

 

11:45am - 12:15pm

Open floor for discussions and final recommendations

 

12:15pm - 12:40pm

Closing remarks with Simonetta Di Pippo

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12:40pm - 02:00pm Lunch at the Torch Club

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