Illuminating the Dusty Universe: A Tribute to the Work of Bruce Draine

CONFERENZA
30 ottobre - 3 novembre 2023

From catalyzing the formation of molecules, to building up planets, to tracing cosmic star formation rates, dust has an outsized impact on the astrophysics and observational properties of the Universe. This conference is dedicated to both the nature of dust -- what is it made of? where and how does it form and evolve? -- and to the role dust plays in astrophysics, both directly and as a diagnostic tool. We seek to bring together a diverse set of perspectives on dust, including laboratory astrophysics, meteoritics, astrochemistry, optics, and observational astronomy across the electromagnetic spectrum.

Few have contributed more to illuminating our own understanding of the dusty universe than Bruce Draine of Princeton University. As we discuss the physics and astrophysics of dust, we will also celebrate his past and ongoing work in this field as well as the enduring collaborations and friendships formed along the way. The conference will be held in the beautiful and historic Arcetri district in Firenze, Italy, where Bruce spent many a sabbatical and wrote a portion of his text Physics of the Interstellar and Intergalactic Medium.

Comitato scientifico: 

Simone Bianchi (INAF Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri), Danny Dale  (University of Wyoming), Brandon Hensley  (JPL/Caltech, Chair), Leslie Hunt  (INAF Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri), Karin Sandstrom  (UC San Diego), Aigen Li  (University of Missouri), J.D. Smith  (University of Toledo), Joseph Weingartner  (George Mason University)

Host: UNIFI Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia and INAF Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri
Venue: Galileo Galilei Institute for Theoretical Physics, Florence, Italy

INFO: https://web.astro.princeton.edu/IlluminatingTheDustyUniverse