Preliminary outline only. Session themes and timings are indicative and subject to confirmation by the IAU and the General Assembly schedule. Invited speakers and the allocation of contributed talks will be added once abstract submissions have been reviewed.
This Focus Meeting will run over two days, Tuesday 17 and Wednesday 18 August 2027, within the 33rd IAU General Assembly, in a hybrid format (onsite + virtual participation for registered GA attendees). The meeting comprises six 90-minute sessions, three per day, organised around the meeting's scientific themes. See the Topics included page for an overview of scope.
Preliminary programme outline
Every session comprises an invited talk followed by contributed talks selected from the submitted abstracts, alongside any additional elements listed below.
Day 1 · Tuesday 17 August 2027Scientific foundations and integration
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10:30 – 11:00
Poster session
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11:00 – 12:30
Session 1 Integrated global infrastructure and systems for multi-domain science
- Welcome and opening remarks
- Plenary talk: meeting objectives and structure
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12:30 – 14:00
Lunch break
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14:00 – 15:30
Session 2 Cross-domain programmes and scientific projects
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15:30 – 16:00
Poster session
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16:00 – 17:30
Sessions 3 & 4 Multi-wavelength celestial reference frames, and geodesy and reference frames as enablers of precision science
- Panel discussion
Day 2 · Wednesday 18 August 2027Infrastructure, policy, and impact
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10:30 – 11:00
Poster session
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11:00 – 12:30
Session 5 New and next-generation observatories and missions as multi-domain platforms
- Opening remarks
- Plenary talk
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12:30 – 14:00
Lunch break
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14:00 – 15:30
Sessions 6 & 7 Governance, coordination, aligning global standards, and addressing common challenges
- Policy keynote
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15:30 – 16:00
Poster session
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16:00 – 17:30
Session 8 Interdisciplinary training, outreach, and human-capital development
- Panel discussion
- Closing remarks
Posters and associated events
Posters will be displayed throughout both days, following the arrangements of the IAU General Assembly, with dedicated viewing slots each morning and afternoon so that all contributions receive visibility.
An optional public outreach lecture is also planned, with the final format to be agreed in coordination with the IAU Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD), the IAU Office of Astronomy Education (OAE), and the Local Organising Committee. As the ICRF4 resolution is expected to be considered by the General Assembly, the SOC will additionally propose a dedicated plenary session or high-visibility side event highlighting the multi-frequency ICRF4 and the broader scientific and societal impact of the International Celestial Reference Frame.
The final programme, including confirmed invited speakers and the schedule of contributed talks and posters, will be announced after the submission deadline. Please check the Agenda and deadlines page for key dates.