STFC Introduction to Astronomy Summer School 2026
The Astrophysics Research Centre at Keele University is hosting the 2026 STFC Introduction to Astronomy Summer School from 1st to 4th September 2026, with a welcome reception on the evening of Monday 31st August.
The Summer School is open to (but not restricted to) all new PhD students in astrophysics. The Summer School will include lectures on a broad range of topics from Solar Physics to Planetary, Stellar and Galactic Evolution, all the way to Gravitational Waves. There will also be sessions on programming, public engagement, careers, wellness, PhD tips and tricks, as well as on the carbon footprint of astronomy!
Monday 31 August
| Time | Title | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
|
18.30 |
Welcome BBQ on Keele Hall Lawn |
Tuesday 1 September
|
Time |
Title |
Speaker |
|
09.00 |
Welcome |
Prof. Nick Wright (Keele) |
|
09.05 |
Wellness in Research & Astrophysics |
Dr Mark Westmoquette |
|
10.00 |
Coffee Break |
|
|
10.30 |
Multi-Messenger Astrophysics |
Prof. Katherine Dooley (Cardiff) |
|
12.30 |
Lunch |
|
|
13.30 |
Binary Stars and Time Domain Astrophysics (I) |
Dr Ingrid Pelisoli (Warwick) |
|
14.30 |
Coffee Break |
|
|
15.00 |
Binary Stars and Time Domain Astrophysics (II) |
Dr Ingrid Pelisoli (Warwick) |
|
16.00 |
Stars, Stellar Nucleosynthesis and Evolution |
Dr Vishnu Varma (Keele) |
|
17.30 |
Close |
|
|
18.30– 19.30 |
Dinner |
|
Wednesday 2 September
|
Time |
Title |
Speaker |
|
09.00 |
Planet Formation and Impact Simulations |
Dr Jacob Kegerreis (Imperial College London) |
|
10.30 |
Coffee Break |
|
|
11.00 |
AI in Science and Astrophysics |
Prof. Anna Scaife (Manchester) |
|
12.00 |
Lunch |
|
|
14.00 |
Cosmology |
Prof. Erminia Calabrese (Cardiff) |
|
15.30 |
Coffee Break |
|
|
16.00 |
Astrophysics and Academic Careers |
Prof. Nick Wright (Keele) |
|
17.00 |
Close |
|
|
18.00– 19.00 |
Dinner |
|
|
19.30 |
Social Event at KPA Clubhouse (Quiz Night) |
|
Thursday 3 September
| Time | Title | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
|
09.00 |
The Milky Way Galaxy and the Local Group |
Dr Jason Hunt (Surrey) |
|
10.30 |
Star Formation (I) |
Dr Alison Young (Leeds) |
|
11.00 |
Coffee Break |
|
|
11.30 |
Star Formation (II) |
Dr Alison Young (Leeds) |
|
12.30 |
Lunch |
|
|
13.30 |
Public Engagement |
Prof. Jen Gupta (Portsmouth) |
|
14.30 |
Imaging Exercise and Competition |
Dr Dre Cristini (Rapiscan) |
|
15.45 |
Coffee Break |
|
|
16.15 |
Non-Academic Careers Panel |
Various |
|
17.45 |
Close |
|
|
19.00– 22.00 |
Drinks Reception & Conference Dinner, Keele Hall |
|
Friday 4 September
| Time | Title | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
|
09.00 |
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion |
Dr Claire Davies (Exeter) |
|
10.00 |
Coffee Break |
|
|
10.30 |
Galaxies |
Dr Rebecca Bowler (Manchester) |
|
12.00 |
Lunch |
|
|
13.00 |
Exoplanets, their formation, detection and atmosphere (I) |
Dr Larissa Palethorpe (Bristol) |
|
14.30 |
Coffee Break |
|
|
15.00 |
Environmental Sustainability for ECRs: where to direct your energies |
Nazim Ali Bharmal (Durham) |
|
16.00 |
Keele’s Renewable Energy Park and Tour |
Dr Laura Rhodes (Keele) |
|
17.00 |
Close |
|
|
18.30– 19.30 |
Dinner |
|
Code of Conduct
The STFC Introduction to Astronomy Summer School is intended to be an event for learning, networking and collaboration, for new postgraduate students to prepare for their studies and meet other new students. It is vital that all participants not only enjoy the experience but feel safe while they do so. Accordingly, all attendees at the school, be they lecturers, organisers or students, are expected to show respect and courtesy to all other attendees.
We would like to make it clear that the STFC Introduction to Astronomy Summer School will be a harassment-free environment for everyone, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, physical appearance, body size, race, nationality or religion. We will not tolerate harassment in any form.
Harassment includes offensive verbal comments related to gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, religion, and technology choice. It also includes the use of sexual images in public spaces, deliberate intimidation, stalking, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of talks or other events, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention.
All communication given by lecturers, conference organisers and students should be appropriate for a professional audience including people of many different backgrounds. Sexual language, jokes and imagery are not appropriate at any time.
We expect all participants to follow these rules at the school and all related social events. Participants asked to stop any harassing behaviour are expected to comply immediately. Attendees violating these rules may be asked to leave the event at the sole discretion of the conference organizers.
Above all else, please be kind.
If you wish to report an incident of any kind you can do so either by speaking directly to the organisers of this Summer School or (anonymously) using this form: https://forms.office.com/e/fpADNeBRmB.
We hope you have a wonderful time at this school.
Registration
Summer School registration form >
Registration deadline: 5pm Friday 14th August.
STFC Studentship holders and Self-Funded Postgraduates can register free-of-charge. Travel & subsistence can be claimed back using the Claim Form which will be provided on arrival, please keep all receipts.
Those in receipt of non-STFC funded studentships, postdoctoral research associates or employees of universities or other organisations can also register for a flat fee of £700 (to cover registration, accommodation for 5 nights, breakfasts, lunch, coffee breaks, and dinners each day, as well as social events and the conference dinner).
Travel and Accommodation
The Summer School will be held in the Dorothy Hodgkin Building on the main Keele University campus, with meals provided in the Chancellor’s Building and
Contact
For any enquiries, please contact Prof. Nick Wright (n.j.wright@keele.ac.uk).
