RAS National Astronomy Meeting: 1st media announcement

Nearly 500 astronomers and space scientists will gather for the 2008 Royal Astronomical Society National Astronomy Meeting (NAM 2008), held in conjunction with the UK Solar Physics (UKSP) and Magnetosphere Ionosphere and Solar-Terrestrial Physics (MIST) meetings. NAM 2008 will be hosted by Queen’s University, Belfast and run from 31 March to 4 April 2008.

At NAM 2008 scientists will present new research in many aspects of astronomy and space science, including the early history of the Universe, planets around other stars, the vision for space exploration, black holes and the impact of ‘space weather’ on the Earth.

For the general public, three keynote speakers will give lectures on the risk of asteroid impact, the Hubble Space Telescope and the way in which science influences popular science fiction.

A full and up to date schedule of these and other events can be found on the official website at http://nam2008.qub.ac.uk

Media representatives are cordially invited to attend the meeting and press room facilities will be available for the duration of the conference – from 1 p.m. on Monday 31 March through to 3 p.m. on Friday 4 April. Media registration is free of charge – any bona fide media delegates can pre-register online using the form at http://nam2008.qub.ac.uk/registerpress.shtml (advance registration is not essential but encouraged).

Further information will be circulated a few weeks before the meeting, including press notices on presentations that may be of interest (subject to embargo).

The conference is principally sponsored by the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS), the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and Queen’s University, Belfast.

FURTHER INFORMATION
NAM 2008: http://nam2008.qub.ac.uk
Astronomy at Queen’s University Belfast: http://star.pst.qub.ac.uk
RAS: http://www.ras.org.uk
STFC: http://www.stfc.ac.uk
UKSP: http://www.uksolphys.org
MIST: http://www.mist.ac.uk