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
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Arlie Petters, Provost, NYU Abu Dhabi
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H.E. Eric Gaudiosi, US Deputy Chief of Mission in the UAE
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H.E. Lorenzo Fanara, Ambassador of Italy in the UAE
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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.
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Moderator: Patrizia Caraveo, Research Director, Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica
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Sara Lucatello, European Astronomical Society, Geneva, Switzerland
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Federico Di Vruno, Spectrum Manager, SKAO
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Antonio Manousakis, Assistant Professor, University of Sharjah
12:10pm - 01:30pm Lunch Break at the Torch Club
01:30pm - 02:00pm
Side Conference Talks
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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’)
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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?
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Moderator: Federico Di Vruno, Spectrum Manager, SKAO
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Tim Stevenson, Director of Assurance, SKA Observatory
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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
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Moderator: Sara Lucatello, European Astronomical Society, Geneva, Switzerland
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Patrizia Caraveo, Research Director, Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica
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Connie Walker, Head, Office of Observatory Site Protection, NOIRLab; & Co-Director, IAU CPS
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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
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Moderator: Simonetta Di Pippo, Visiting Professor of Practice of Physics, NYUAD
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Leonardo Barilaro, Senior Lecturer in Aerospace Engineering at MCAST - Malta College of Arts, Science & Technology
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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
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Moderator: Sara Lucatello, European Astronomical Society, Geneva, Switzerland Patrizia Caraveo, Research Director, Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica
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Connie Walker, Head, Office of Observatory Site Protection, NOIRLab; & Co-Director, IAU CPS
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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