IAU General Assembly 2006, IAU Symposium 240:
"Binary Stars as Critical Tools & Tests in Contemporary Astrophysics"
22-25 August 2006
Venue: Prague, Czech Republic
Sponsoring Commissions: 26 and 42
Topics to be included range from common proper motion pairs and other "fragile" binaries to contact binaries and star/brown-dwarf/planet systems, with the aim of exploring interests common to all binary star researchers. It is fitting that such a meeting be held in the Czech Republic, since much of the pioneering work on binary and variable stars has been carried out in Central and Eastern Europe for over a century. Our proposal narrative provides a fuller account of the reasons behind this symposium.
The preliminary program for the meeting is available on this website:
http://ad.usno.navy.mil/iaus240/
This program will evolve somewhat as more invited speakers are lined up and schedules adjusted. To complement the invited talks, participants are of course welcome to contribute posters describing their research. Time as been alloted during each session for summary talks on posters appropriate to that session's topics; these summary talks will be given by either the poster presenters themselves or by an expert in the field (such decisions must wait until we find out how many posters will be presented during each session). In an effort to encourage younger researchers, some poster presenters may be invited to give more substantial talks on their research. More details will be posted here as they become available. For further information or to note errors or problems with the website, please contact William Hartkopf at wih(at)usno.navy.mil .
Weblink: http://ad.usno.navy.mil/iaus240/
Email: wih(at)usno.navy.mil