Media Announcement
European Astronomical Society (EAS)
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10 June 2020
Over 1500 astronomers and space scientists will gather online from 29 June – 3 July 2020, for the annual meeting of the European Astronomical Society (EAS). The virtual meeting will also host NAC 2020, from July 1-3: the 75th Conference of the Royal Netherlands Astronomy Society (NAC).
Due to Covid-19 the EAS decided to move #EASLeiden2020 to a virtual meeting, the biggest online astronomy conference so far. The conference is the annual professional astronomy and space science meeting of the EAS. Leading researchers will present their latest work. #EASLeiden2020 is hosted by Leiden University/Leiden Observatory in the Netherlands.
#EASLeiden2020 offers 11 parallel sessions and symposia, and one plenary session, every day. With almost 1500 participants registered to date and over 800 talks, the meeting covers a wide range of topics, from astrochemistry, exoplanets, stellar astrophysics and gravitational waves, to data science, outreach and diversity.
Among the plenary speakers are Jocelyn Bell Burnell and Ignas Snellen. The winners of the MERAC prizes – for young scientists -, the Tyco Brahe medal and the Woltjer lecture prize, will also give plenary talks.
The main European astronomical research (ESO and ESA) and policy (ASTRONET) organisations, as well as large projects (SKA), will present their activities and discuss their plans.
On Friday July 3rd there will be a lunch session on the Impact of planned Satellite Constellations on Astronomy, with contributions from SpaceX, ESA and ESO. A special session on Monday June 29th will focus on Astronomy for Future: Development, global citizenship & climate action.
A full and up to date schedule of the scientific programme can be found on the official website https://eas.unige.ch/EAS2020/program.jsp. The interactive programme can be found here: https://eas.kuoni-congress.info/2020/programme/grid/29.06.2020.
Media representatives are cordially invited to attend the meeting and can register at no cost. For free media registration, please contact the press officer listed below.
Media contact
Marieke Baan
Press Officer European Astronomical Society for #EASLeiden2020
E-mail: eas-press@kuoni-congress.info
Cell: +31 (0) 614322627
Note for editors
The European Astronomical Society (EAS) promotes and advances astronomy in Europe. As an independent body, the EAS is able to act on matters that need to be handled at a European level on behalf of the European astronomical community. In its endeavours the EAS collaborates with affiliated national astronomical societies and also with pan-European research organisations and networks. Founded in 1990, the EAS is a society of individual members. All astronomers may join the society, irrespective of their field of research, or their country of work or origin. In addition, corporations, publishers and non-profit organisations can become organizational members of the EAS. The EAS, together with one of its affiliated societies, organises the annual EAS meeting to enhance its links with national communities, to broaden connections between individual members and to promote European networks.
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