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--- workshops:archive:2013 [2013/11/04 10:49] – justin
+++ workshops:archive:2013 [2022/10/24 12:26] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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-===== Practical information =====
+====== First Gaia Challenge Workshop ======
 {{ :great-esf.png?200}}
+With the Gaia launch hopefully in early 2014, we proposed a workshop -- Gaia Challenge -- aimed at improving our mass modelling methods from Jeans modelling and distribution function modelling to Schwarzschild modelling, M2M and others. We had some 59 participants from all over the world spanning a wide range of astrophysics communities from observers working on dense stellar systems to cosmological simulators. All were brought together by a shared interest in exploiting the forthcoming Gaia data to understand our Galaxy and its constituents.
-For practical information you can contact Cristobel Soares-Smith.
+The workshop revolved around a series of test problems (mock data) posted online in advance, divided into four main working groups:
-Contact details of Cristobel can be found [[http://www.surrey.ac.uk/physics/people/cristobel_soares-smith|here]]
-===== Programme =====
+  * Spherical & Triaxial (P.I. Read)
+  * Discs (P.I. Kawata)
+  * Streams & Halo Stars (P.I. A. Font)
+  * Collisional/Star Clusters (P. I. M. Gieles)
-The current list of participants is [[:workshop:participants|here]]. The up-to-date programme (subject to change) is now available: {{:gaia_challenge_programme.pdf}}.
+Attendees were invited to apply their favourite methods to these mock data to recover the underlying gravitational potential and/or phase space distribution function. Building dynamically realistic mocks meant bringing together N-body simulators, dynamicists and the stellar population synthesis and dust extinction community. A key goal of this workshop -- in addition to improving mass modelling techniques -- was to facilitate the exchange of expertise between these communities and to foster longer term collaborations.
-===== Talk .pdfs =====
+Several exciting new results already came out of the meeting. Key highlights include: (i) standard mass modelling techniques that assume spherical symmetry can be reasonably applied to triaxial models provided that we are not `staring down the barrel'; (ii) for 1D disc models, it is sampling that is all important; (iii) a single globular cluster stream -- given good enough data -- can give tight constraints on the halo mass and shape (and several very different techniques look capable of doing exactly this); and (iv) simple distribution functions give an excellent fit to collisional star clusters, but which one depends very much on how tidally limited the cluster is. Each of these key results has potentially far-reaching implications: for measuring the dark matter distribution in dwarfs; for measuring the local dark matter density near the Sun; for probing alternative gravity models and cosmology; and for hunting for intermediate mass black holes.
-You can access talk .pdf files on this page: [[:workshop:talks]].
+The workshop was extremely well received by all involved and we hope to run Gaia Challenge-II in Heidelberg next year. The goal is to have a meeting ~every year up to final Gaia data release building mocks of ever increasing realism and sophistication. Only by honing our methods on these mock data, will we truly become ready for the `Gaia Challenge'.
-===== Practical details =====
+===== Programme =====
-==== Getting to Surrey ====
+A list of participants is [[:workshop:participants|here]]. The final programme can be downloaded also: {{:gaia_challenge_programme.pdf}}.
-For information about getting to the Campus and getting around, see:
+===== Talk .pdfs =====
-[[http://www.surrey.ac.uk/about/visitors/]]
-==== If you need to park on campus ====
+You can access talk .pdf files on this page: [[:workshop:talks]].
-Please fill the parking permit distributed with the final announcement. Our event registration number is 24064.
-==== Finding your accommodation, lecture theatres, lunch etc. ====
-To navigate the campus between meals, lecture theatres and your accommodation, we've put together an annotated campus map: {{:campus_map.pdf}}.
-==== Getting online ====
-Instructions for accessing the internet will come in the welcome pack with your keys. This should just work if you have a windows machine. For Mac users, we strongly recommend you install the free anti-virus software ClamXac from http://www.clamxav.com **before arrival** (this is needed to make the internet work). Instructions for Linux machines will be posted on the wiki shortly. If you forget to do this, or have trouble getting online you can also use the same username and password in your welcome pack to connect to the wireless network UOS_VISITOR. Unfortunately, this network is not accessible from the accommodation rooms, but is available elsewhere on campus.
-==== Workshop fee, accommodation and other costs ====
-To book a place on the workshop, please fill in the [[http://store.surrey.ac.uk/browse/extra_info.asp?compid=1&catid=42&modid=2&prodid=112&deptid=83&prodvarid=0|webshop form]] (and payment!) by **1st June**. There is a single fee that covers accommodation, breakfast lunch and dinner and the workshop dinner on Wednesday.
-==== Workshop dinner & social events ====
-Wednesday afternoon is free. You are welcome to stay on campus and work on developing mocks or running test problems. Otherwise, there are a number of activities in and around Guildford that we can recommend. If you would like to find people to join you, please feel free to self-organise on the Wiki!
-=== Guildford Pubs and Bars ===
-There are numerous pubs, clubs and bars in Guildford town centre where you can unwind after dinner in the evenings. The high street is a short walk from the campus (see {{:guildford_map.pdf}}). Walking distance from the campus, we can recommend the three pigeons pub ([[http://www.threepigeonsguildford.co.uk/]]); the White House ([[http://whitehouseguildford.co.uk/]]); the Star Inn ([[http://www.shepherdneame.co.uk/pubs/guildford/star-inn]]); and (open a bit later) the Five and Lime bar ([[http://www.gogobot.com/five-lime-bar-guildford-attraction]]).
-=== Historic Guildford Town Centre ===
-{{ :guildford-high-street-21-april-2007.jpg?250}}
-If you just want to fill a couple of hours without going too far afield, Guildford town centre is beautiful. The high street is filled with little shops and cafes (see picture) and is a short walk from the campus. A map explaining how to get there is here {{:guildford_map.pdf}}.
-=== Historic Guildford Castle ===
-{{:guildford_castle.jpeg?150 }}
-Guildford also hosts a beautiful castle that dates from the 11th century and remains in good condition [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guildford_Castle]]. You can enter and climb the tower (for a small fee). Details are on the castle website: [[http://www.visitsurrey.com/things-to-do/guildford-castle-p44413]]. For a map of how to walk there, see {{:guildford_map.pdf}}.
-=== The River Wey ===
-{{ :river_wey.jpg?250}}
-The river that runs through Guildford is called the Wey. You can go to a barge museum and take a boat ride along the river from Dapdune Wharf [[http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/river-wey-godalming-navigations-and-dapdune-wharf/]]. A map of how to get there is here: {{:guildford_map_river.pdf}}.
-=== Trip to London ===
-{{:london.jpeg?200 }}
-There is not a great deal of time if you want to make it back for the workshop dinner. However, there should be time to go to London and back if you stay around the Waterloo area. There are fast trains to London Waterloo at 13.02 (getting in at 13.40) or 13.17 (getting in at 13.51). You can check the latest times and fares here [[http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/]]. A day travelcard that includes the underground costs about 18 pounds. A fast train back at 17.15 should get you to Guildford at 17.51 in time for the workshop dinner. We can recommend a walking tour along the river Thames around Waterloo. The routes outlined here {{:london_map.pdf}} take you up to Trafalgar square, past "Big Ben" and the houses of parliament and along the river towards London bridge and tower bridge. You can stop off either on the way or the way back to take a trip on the London Eye (though queues can be very long and it can be advisable to book in advance [[http://www.londoneye.com/]]).
-=== Find people to go with/self organise ===
-If you would like to find people to join for an activity listed above, or suggest a new activity please post your ideas/names and a meeting place/time here.