The 46th International School for Young Astronomers will take place at Yachay Tech University in Urcuquí, Ecuador, from the 7th to the 25th of July 2025. We invite applications to attend this school from students in their early MSc/PhD studies in Latin America and Caribbean countries. The deadline for applications is March 15, 2025.

The International School for Young Astronomers (ISYA) is a long-tradition project of the International Astronomical Union (IAU), currently co-sponsored by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters (NASL) through the Office for Young Astronomers (OYA). 

The 46th ISYA is co-organized by the OYA and four universities in Ecuador, namely Yachay Tech University, Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Universidad Central del Ecuador, and Universidad del Azuay. Young students attending will broaden their perspective on astronomy from their exposure to an intensive three-week program of lectures on up-to-date astrophysics, both theory and observations, led by an international team of experts. Students will learn about various astronomical fields, from Stellar Physics to Cosmology, and acquire technical expertise to analyse current astronomical data and models. The official language of the School will be English.

We invite applications to attend this School from students in their early MSc/PhD studies in Latin America and Caribbean countries. Final-year BSc students intending to enrol in a graduate program in Astronomy and Astrophysics will also be considered. We will accept around 30 young astronomers, and they will be granted scholarships to cover travel from their home cities and the entire board during the School. All selected students must commit 100% of their time to the three-week program and participate in all scheduled activities.

Although the ISYA is not a research conference, we encourage students to submit posters to present a summary of their research projects. Apart from the academic school activities, students will also have the opportunity to experience the archaeological, artistic and scientific environments around the north of Ecuador through cultural visits, events and travels.

Registration is now open here.

Scientific Program

• Stellar Astrophysics, Alessandro Bressan (SISSA, Italy)
• Compact Objects, Jorge Rueda (ICRA, Italy)
• Interstellar Medium, Laurence Sabin (IA-UNAM, Mexico)
• Galaxies, Itziar Aretxaga (INAOE, Mexico)
• Cosmology, David Mota (U. Oslo, Norway)
• Radio Astronomy, Helga Dénes (Yachay Tech U., Ecuador)
• Python for Astrophysics, Wladimir Banga-Barragán (Yachay Tech U., Ecuador)
• Optical Observational Astronomy, Karín Menénde-Delmestre (Obs. Valongo, Brazil)
• Virtual Observatory, Thiago Signori (Obs. Valongo, Brazil)
• Machine Learning, Juan Rafael Martínez Galarza (CfA, Harvard, USA)
• Cultural Astronomy, Nicolás Vásquez (EPN, Ecuador)

Important Dates 

• Applications open: 13 January 2025
• Application deadline: 15 March 2025
• Notification of acceptance: late April 2025
• Arrival at Yachay Tech University: 6 July 2025
• Closing ceremony: 25 July 2025
• Departure: 26 October 2025

Directors

• David Andrade - Yachay Tech University
• Nicolás Vásquez - Escuela Politécnica Nacional
• Itziar Aretxaga – ISYA Program Director
• David Mota – ISYA Deputy Director

Local Organising Committee 

• Wladimir Banda-Barragán - Yachay Tech University
• Helga Dénes - Yachay Tech University
• Clara Rojas - Yachay Tech University
• José Manuel Ramírez - Yachay Tech University
• Christian Vásconez - Escuela Politécnica Nacional
• Benjamín de Zayas - Yachay Tech University
• Lofti Boubekeur - Escuela Politécnica Nacional
• Lenin Jácome - Yachay Tech University
• Raúl Puebla - Universidad Central del Ecuador

More information

The IAU is the international astronomical organization that brings together more than 12,000 active professional astronomers from more than 100 countries worldwide. Its mission is to promote and safeguard astronomy in all its aspects, including research, communication, education, and development, through international cooperation. The IAU also serves as the internationally recognised authority for assigning designations to celestial bodies and the surface features on them. Founded in 1919, the IAU is the world's largest professional body for astronomers.

The IAU Office for Young Astronomers (OYA) was established in 2015 by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters (NASL) and the International Astronomical Union (IAU) with the aim of ensuring a robust financial and organisational basis for the operation of the ISYA program. The OYA’s prime purpose is to run the IAU program on International Schools for Young Astronomers (ISYA).

The International School for Young Astronomers (ISYAs) is a project of the International Astronomical Union (IAU), established in 1967. The objective of ISYAs is to broaden the participants’ perspective on astronomy through lectures from an international faculty on selected topics of astronomy, seminars, practical exercises and observations, and exchange of experiences.

Links

• 46th International School for Young Astronomers
• Registration Requirements

Contacts

Itziar Aretxaga
ISYA Director
Email: itziar@inaoep.mx   

David F. Mota
ISYA Deputy Director
Email: d.f.mota@astro.uio.no   

Lina Canas
IAU Membership Coordinator
Email: lina.canas@iau.org / iaupressoffice@iau.org