This is an announcement of a workshop “Molecules in Extreme

Environments: Near and Far”.　The topic of this workshop is

astrochemistry in regions affected by UV photons, X-rays, and cosmic

rays in various astronomical objects.

Contributed talks by students and postdocs are very welcome!

Workshop “Molecules in Extreme Environments: Near and Far”

Dates: Nov 23-25, 2022

Venue: Large Seminar Room in Subaru Building

        at National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, Mitaka, Tokyo, Japan

        + Online

Website: https://sites.google.com/view/mols-extreme-env

Scientific rationale: The purpose of this workshop is to discuss

astrochemistry in regions affected by energetic processes such as

UV-photons, X-rays, cosmic rays, and shocks. In these environments,

molecular compositions change through ionization, dissociation, heating,

and release of refractory elements from dust. These processes take place

from planetary systems to the high-redshift universe. In the past

decade, high sensitivity and angular resolution observations with ALMA

have revealed the details of molecules in the gas phase. For example,

ALMA observations have shown how stellar UV photons and X-rays shape

detailed chemical structures of planet-forming disks. They have also

found characteristic chemistry around active galactic nuclei and

starburst galaxies, caused by influences from energetic photons.

Meanwhile, JWST will reveal an unprecedented picture of the ice phase

chemistry in various astrophysical objects and the compositions of warm

gas, in particular, exoplanetary atmospheres. Now it is time to merge

our understanding of astrochemistry in various physical conditions, both

in the gas and ice phases. We welcome participants working on multiple

molecular species in diverse environments, from the exoplanetary

atmosphere, star and planet forming regions, molecular clouds/filaments,

supernova remnants, the Galactic Center, and nearby/high-redshift galaxies.

This workshop takes place in a hybrid (in-person and online) style.

On-site participants will gather in NAOJ while we broadcast the

conference online. We are also planning networking events for

early-career researchers with invited speakers.

Invited speakers:

Giovanna Tinetti (UCL)

Yuka Fujii (NAOJ)

Viviana Guzman (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile)

Brett McGuire** (MIT)

Tsuyoshi Inoue (Konan Univ.)

Sergio Martin (ESO/JAO)

Marco Padovani** (INAF-Acetri)

Hidetoshi Sano (Gifu Univ.)

Serena Viti** (Leiden Univ.)

+ More

(** Online talk)

SOC/LOC

Nanase Harada (Division of Science, NAOJ)

Hideko Nomura (Division of Science, NAOJ)

Kenji Furuya (Division of Science, NAOJ)

Kotomi Taniguchi (Division of Science, NAOJ)

Yuri Aikawa (The University of Tokyo)

Nami Sakai (RIKEN)

*Note that this workshop takes place only a week before a separate

workshop, "Next Generation Astrochemistry 2022" on November 29-December

2, 2022 in Hongo, Tokyo, held to honor the career of Prof. Satoshi Yamamoto.

Those visiting Japan during this time can consider extending their stay

to attend both workshops. The information of this symposium will be

announced on this website in mid-September

(https://www.next-astrochem.com/).

* Online participation:

If you are giving an online talk, we will consider your time zone so

that your talk will be at a reasonable time for you. If you will be in a

different time zone from your current affiliation for some reason,

please specify your time zone in the comment section of the registration.

* Travel information to Japan:

Please check the border measure applied to your situation.

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/covid-19/bordercontrol.html

All the non-Japanese citizens are required to obtain visas,

even if you are from visa-exempt countries. This is due to

the covid-19 restriction. We will help you with the paperwork

if you need a visa. The government announced the plan to

discontinue this policy in the near future, but the exact date

of the policy change has not been decided. We will keep the

website updated with the latest information.

Currently you don’t need to quarantine if you are from “blue” countries.

(Most of you probably fall in here.)

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/covid-19/border_category.html

You do not need to show a pre-departure negative PCR test result

to enter Japan if you are vaccinated for 3 times with vaccines

approved by the Japanese government.

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/covid-19/border_vaccine.html

If you are not vaccinated for 3 times or your vaccine is one

that is not recognized by the Japanese government,

you need to show a negative PCR test result 72 hours prior to

the boarding from the origin of your trip. See below for

the requirement.

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/covid-19/border_test.html