AGN on the Beach II

AGN on the Beach II: A multi-scale view of jetted AGN will gather the community in Diani, Kenya to connect breakthroughs in high-resolution observations, hydrodynamical simulations, and theory, and to build a coherent picture of how compact radio outflows shape galaxies. While relativistic jets are established agents of feedback in AGN, the role of compact radio outflows—whether jets or winds—remains uncertain and actively debated. New capabilities in high-resolution radio/mm interferometry, IFU spectroscopy, and sensitive low-frequency imaging, together with advances in hydrodynamical simulations, now show that even low-power or small-scale jets on (sub-)kpc scales can strongly perturb the ISM, driving shocks and turbulence and altering star formation locally. Yet we still lack a unified, multi-scale framework linking (i) SMBH accretion and jet launching on sub-parsec scales, (ii) observed radio morphologies on pc-kpc scales, and (iii) the net impact on galaxy evolution across environments and cosmic time.

Over five days, the workshop will concentrate on the central open questions at the heart of accretion versus ejection: what primarily sets radio morphology (central engine, environment, or source age); whether the radio-loud/radio-quiet dichotomy reflects distinct physical modes or a continuum; how transitions between radiatively efficient and inefficient accretion manifest observationally; and what fraction of low-luminosity/compact radio-AGN ($P_{1.4} < 10^{24}\,\mathrm{W\,Hz^{-1}}$) host jets energetic enough to affect their hosts. By bringing together observers using the latest-generation facilities (e.g., VLBI, e-MERLIN, MeerKAT, LOFAR, JVLA, ALMA, MUSE, JWST) and simulators modelling jet-ISM coupling, the meeting will convert recent fragmented results into a clear roadmap for future multi-wavelength campaigns and theoretical benchmarks. Structured sessions, posters, and breakout discussions will align diagnostics and models across scales, and will culminate in an agreed set of community priorities and next steps. The intended legacy is a shared synthesis of the state of the field, a practical set of observational tests to distinguish winds from jets and interpret compact sources, and an actionable plan for coordinated surveys, targeted follow-up, and collaborative proposals.

• Scope: Connect sub-pc accretion/launching physics to pc-kpc radio morphologies and jet/wind coupling to the ISM. Key questions include what sets morphology (engine vs environment vs age), whether radio-loud/quiet is discrete or a continuum, how accretion-state transitions appear observationally, and how many low-luminosity/compact radio-AGN ($P_{1.4} < 10^{24}\,\mathrm{W\,Hz^{-1}}$) host jets capable of feedback.
• Format: Five-day in-person workshop with invited and contributed talks, posters, and extended discussion blocks. Themed sessions plus observer-simulator bridge discussions and breakouts will align diagnostics with models and culminate in a final-day synthesis and community roadmap.
• Outcomes: A shared synthesis of the state of the field; agreed diagnostics to distinguish winds from compact jets and interpret low-power/compact sources; and a roadmap linking priority multi-wavelength observations (e.g., VLBI/e-MERLIN/MeerKAT/LOFAR/JVLA/ALMA/MUSE/JWST) with simulation benchmarks, enabling coordinated campaigns and joint proposals.