########################################## Table of Contents ########################################### 1. Conferences 1.1. The Spanish-Portuguese Relativity Meeting, Lisbon (2nd announcement) 1.2. 19th Capra Meeting on Radiation Reaction, Meudon, France (2nd announcement) 1.3. Course on hydrodynamic stability and dynamo theory, Warangal, India 1.4. III Jose' Plinio Baptista School of Cosmology, Pedra Azul, Brazil 1.5. Static metrics and Bartnik's quasi-local mass conjecture 2016, Tuebingen, Germany 1.6. 21st International Conference on General Relativity and Gravitation (3rd circular), New York 1.7. The 3rd Conference of the Polish Society on Relativity, Krakow 1.8. 11th Interantional LISA Symposium, Zurich, Switzerland 1.9. Astrophysics from LIGO’s First Black Holes, Santa Barbara, CA 1.10. Experimental Search for Quantum Gravity, Frankfurt, Germany 1.11. NEB17 – Recent Developments in Gravity, Mykonos, Greece (Final announcement) 2. Jobs 2.1. Postdoctoral position in mathematics at the University of Stavanger, Norway 2.2. Postdoctoral Fellowship in Cosmology and Gravity, University of Cape Town, South Africa 2.3. Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Mathematics at the University of Otago, New Zealand 2.4. Multiple Project Staff Scientist (postdoctoral) openings at IUCAA,Pune, India 2.5. Postdoctoral position in black hole astrophysics at Fudan/INAF Bologna 3. News 3.1. The Chalonge de Vega Meudon Workshop 2016, Meudon, France 3.2. Reduced student registration fee for "The first observation of a binary black hole merger: Status and future prospects", Hannover, Germany 3.3. Death of Professor Liao Liu 3.4. Remembering Sergio Dain ============================================== 1. Conferences ============================================== 1.1. The Spanish-Portuguese Relativity Meeting, Lisbon (2nd announcement) --------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: http://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/?p=11765 Starting: 2016-09-12 to 2016-09-12 Location: Lisbon, Portugal Additional Information: http://erep2016.tecnico.ulisboa.pt/ Contact: erep2016[AT]centra.tecnico.ulisboa.pt EREP2016: Spanish-Portuguese Relativity Meeting 2016 – “100 years of the Schwarzschild solution” Lisbon, Portugal, 12-15 September 2016 http://erep2016.tecnico.ulisboa.pt/ http://sprg.tecnico.ulisboa.pt/ http://www.segre.es SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT The 2016 edition of the "Spanish-Portuguese Relativity Meeting" (EREP2016) will be held in Lisbon from 12-15 September 2016. The Spanish-Portuguese Relativity Meeting is an international conference devoted to Relativity and Gravitation which is organized every year by different members of the Spanish Society of Gravitation and Relativity (SEGRE) and of the Portuguese Society of Relativity and Gravitation (SPRG). This year, it will be hosted by the University of Lisbon. A brief historical background of the ERE can be found at http://www.segre.es/en/historia.shtml . In 2016, we celebrate the centenary of the most famous solution of the field equations, the Schwarzschild solution, and the many phenomena that it describes. The topics of the plenary lectures will revolve around three main areas of research, namely Relativistic Astrophysics and Cosmology, Mathematical Relativity, and the interface between Gravitation and Quantum Theory, and reflect the intended broad scope of the meeting. The meeting will take place at Fundacao Calouste Gulbenkian. Founded in 1956 by Calouste Sarkis Gulbenkian, the Foundation promotes knowledge in the fields of the arts, science and education. Headquartered in Lisbon, the Foundation has delegations in Paris and London. Located in central Lisbon, and well connected to the subway and buses, the Foundation hosts two important museums and is surrounded by wonderful gardens, designed by Ribeiro Teles (1962/1969), and featuring some unique flora. Invited Plenary Speakers include: Manuela Campanelli (Rochester Institute of Technology, US) Joao Costa (ISCTE, Portugal) Ruth Durrer (Universite' de Geneve, Switzerland) Roberto Emparan (ICREA and Universitat de Barcelona, Spain) Paulo Freire (Max-Planck-Institute fur Radioastronomie, Germany) Gustav Holzegel (Imperial College London, UK) Andrew King (University of Leicester, UK) David Mota (University of Oslo, Norway) Gonzalo Olmo (Universitat de Valencia, Spain) Frans Pretorius (Princeton University, US) Hans Ringstrom (KTH, Sweden) Jacques Smulevici (Departement de Mathematiques d'Orsay, France) Patrick Sutton (Cardiff U., UK) Information regarding registration, abstract submission, accommodation and travel can be found at the web page of the conference http://erep2016.tecnico.ulisboa.pt/ Looking forward to meeting all interested participants in Lisbon this September! With our best regards, Vitor Cardoso (On behalf of the local organizing committee) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1.2. 19th Capra Meeting on Radiation Reaction, Meudon, France (2nd announcement) --------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: http://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2016/04/06/19th-capra-meeting-on-radiatio... Starting: 2016-06-27 to 2016-07-01 Location: Meudon, France Additional Information: http://capra.obspm.fr Contact: letiec[AT]obspm.fr This is the second announcement of the 19th Capra Meeting on Radiation Reaction in General Relativity will be held on the Meudon campus of the Paris Observatory, in France, from June 27 to July 1, 2016. Since the inaugural meeting in 1998, held at Caltech's Capra ranch near San Diego, Capra meetings have brought together relativists interested in the problem of radiation reaction in relativity and its application to extreme-mass-ratio inspirals (EMRIs) as astrophysical sources of gravitational waves. The meetings address an important open problem in gravitational theory, one made particularly relevant by the recent observation of gravitational waves from a binary black hole merger, and by the exciting prospect of observing gravitational waves from EMRIs and other compact binaries in the near future. As usual, the meeting will focus primarily on aspects of the self-force in general relativity, but will also seek to explore synergies with other approaches to the two-body problem. Following the Capra tradition, the meeting will be informal. There will be no registration fee and no proceedings. The program will include a few invited review talks, short contributed presentations and open discussion sessions. Contributed talks on all aspects of the radiation reaction problem (including related topics such as EMRI astrophysics or data analysis) are welcome. Information regarding registration, abstract submission, accommodation and venue can be found on the conference website: http://capra.obspm.fr This Capra meeting will be held in honor of Steven Detweiler (1947-2016), who made significant contributions to gravitational physics in general, and to the Capra research program in particular. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1.3. Course on hydrodynamic stability and dynamo theory, Warangal, India --------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: http://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/?p=11803 Starting: 2016-12-09 to 2016-12-20 Location: Warangal, India Additional Information: http://www.gian.iitkgp.ac.in//files/brochures/BR1459831596Hydrodynamic_Stabi... Contact: hprani[AT]nitw.ac.in The topics of the course, related to recent astrophysical and geophysical problems, are also very attractive to applied mathematicians. Sophisticated mathematical approaches applying wide spectra of numerical as well as analytic and asymptotic methods are necessary for successful and effective solutions of those physical problems. The first goal of the course is to motivate mathematicians to solve complex physical problems. Therefore, the course indicates an attractiveness and practical usefulness of topics related to the magnetic fields generation of cosmic bodies, in particular of the Earth and Sun. Understanding and the ability to predict the time behaviour of the last two fields has also enormous practical significance, and it is not yet solved. The second goal is to show how various branches of mathematics are indispensable in solving the problems of Convection and Dynamo Theory in astro- and geophysics. The 3rd goal is to introduce the basic physical background for the topics with emphasis on mathematical expression of this physics, i.e. to underline the correspondence between the physics and mathematics of the topics. The course will benefit the students of undergraduate and postgraduate levels, and academicians with background of mathematics and physics to acquire a new experience to apply mathematical methods in attractive physical problems. For further details you can see the website http://www.nitw.ac.in/nitw/ or send mail to the coordinator hprani[AT]nitw.ac.in +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1.4. III Jose' Plinio Baptista School of Cosmology, Pedra Azul, Brazil --------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: http://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/?p=11807 Starting: 2016-09-25 to 2016-09-30 Location: Pedra Azul - Domingos Martins, ES, Brazil Additional Information: http://www.cosmo-ufes.org/jpbcosmo3 Contact: events[AT]cosmo-ufes.org The Jose' Plinio Baptista School of Cosmology reviews every two years relevant topics in Theoretical Physics. Advanced courses and review seminars focus on the state of the art of the chosen topic. During this third edition, world's leading cosmologists will discuss and debate about the current status of knowledge on Dark Matter and Dark Energy. LECTURES: - Dark Energy - Luca Amendola (Universitaet Heidelberg, Germany) - Modified Gravity - Federico Piazza (Aix Marseille Université, France) - Weak Lensing and Redshift Space Distortion - Scott Dodelson (Fermilab, USA) - Particle Dark Matter - Stefano Profumo (University of California Santa Cruz, USA) SEMINARS: - Screening Mechanisms - Jose Beltran Jimenez (Aix Marseille Universite', France) - Mapping Dark Matter in the Universe - Fabio Iocco (ICTP-SAIFR & IFT UNESP, Brazil) - Massive Gravity - Lavinia Heisenberg (ETH, Switzerland) - SIMP Dark Matter - Nicolas Bernal (ICTP-SAIFR & IFT UNESP, Brazil) - Dark Energy Survey: an overview - Rogerio Rosenfeld (ICTP-SAIFR & IFT UNESP, Brazil) SPECIAL SESSION ON GRAVITATIONAL WAVES: - Gravitational waves - Jose' Pacheco (Observatoire de la Cote d'Azur, France) - Observations of Gravitational Waves by the LIGO detector - Riccardo Sturani (ICTP-SAIFR & IFT UNESP, Brazil) ORGANIZERS (UFES, Brazil): Luciano Casarini, Julio Fabris, Valerio Marra, Oliver Piattella, Davi Rodrigues, Hermano Velten, Winfried Zimdahl. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1.5. Static metrics and Bartnik's quasi-local mass conjecture 2016, Tuebingen, Germany --------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: http://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2016/04/21/static-metrics-and-bartniks-qu... Starting: 2016-05-17 to 2016-05-20 Location: Tübingen, Germany Additional Information: https://www.math.uni-tuebingen.de/static-metric-conference-2016 Contact: cederbaum[AT]math.uni-tuebingen.de Second circular: registration still welcome! Static metrics have been intensively studied since the early days of General Relativity. Insights and results have been and continue to be obtained from physical, analytic and geometric perspectives. Milestones include the static black hole uniqueness theorems and a detailed understanding of the asymptotic behavior of static metrics. Besides being of interest in their own right, static metrics also feature as obstructions in certain gluing constructions and as critical points in certain geometric variational problems, most notably in the approach to quasi-local capacity taken by Robert Bartnik. Bartnik’s definition leads to the static metric extension conjecture, which will also be one of the main topics discussed at this conference. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1.6. 21st International Conference on General Relativity and Gravitation (3rd circular), New York --------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: http://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2016/04/25/21st-international-conference-... Starting: 2016-07-10 to 2016-07-15 Location: New York, NY Additional Information: http://www.gr21.org/ Contact: GR21.LOC[AT]gmail.com This is the third circular for the GR21 meeting to be held at Columbia University in the City of New York on July 10-15, 2016. Important updates: 1. The ABSTRACT SUBMISSION deadline for GR21 is quickly approaching. Please submit your abstract within two weeks, by MAY 9 (Monday), 2016. 2. The scientific program will include a session dedicated to the recent discovery of GW150914 and its broad implications. 3. Low-cost dormitory style housing options for the conference are still available but the rooms are going quickly. Please consider making your reservation as soon as possible. Please visit the conference website for further information. On behalf of the organizing committee I am looking forward welcoming you in New York City in July, Zsuzsa Marka Chair Local Organizing Committee +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1.7. The 3rd Conference of the Polish Society on Relativity, Krakow --------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: http://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2016/04/26/the-3rd-conference-of-the-poli... Starting: 2016-09-25 to 2016-09-29 Location: Krakow, Poland Additional Information: http://th.if.uj.edu.pl/~grawitacja/potor2016 Contact: grawitacja[AT]th.if.uj.edu.pl The 3rd Conference of the Polish Society on Relativity will be held in Krakow (Poland) at Marian Smoluchowski Institute of Physics of the Jagiellonian University. The conference will consist of two parts: i) quantum gravity (26-27 September), ii) classical gravity (28-29 September). Organizing Committee: Piotr Bizon, Piotr Jaranowski, Jacek Jezierski, Jerzy Jurkiewicz, Jerzy Kowalski-Glikman, Andrzej Krolak, Jerzy Lewandowski, Edward Malec (chair) We look forward to welcoming you to Krakow in September 2016. Sebastian Szybka (On behalf of the Local Organizing Committee: J. Gizbert-Studnicki, J. Jalmuzna, J. Jurkiewicz, P. Mach (chair), E. Malec, J. Mielczarek, M. Pirog, S. Szybka) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1.8. 11th Interantional LISA Symposium, Zurich, Switzerland --------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: http://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/?p=11829 Starting: 2016-09-05 to 2016-09-09 Location: Zurich, Switzerland Additional Information: http://www.physik.uzh.ch/events/lisa2016/ Contact: relativityUZH[AT]gmail.com The eleventh International LISA Symposium jointly organized by ETH Zurich and University of Zurich will take place at the Irchel Campus of University of Zurich, Switzerland September 5 – 9, 2016. Main topics after the recent development in the field of Gravitational Waves will be: First results from LISA Pathfinder Further development of LISA Overview of ground based Gravitational Wave detectors Precision tests of General Relativity Joint eLISA and L3ST consortium meeting +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1.9. Astrophysics from LIGO’s First Black Holes, Santa Barbara, CA --------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: http://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/?p=11830 Starting: 2016-08-01 to 2016-08-12 Location: Santa Barbara, CA Additional Information: https://www.kitp.ucsb.edu/activities/gwaves-m16 Contact: alessandra.buonanno[AT]aei.mpg.de KITP Rapid Response Workshop: Astrophysics from LIGO’s First Black Holes Dear Colleagues, We are writing to announce the workshop Astrophysics from LIGO’s First Black Holes, to be held at the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics at the University of California, Santa Barbara, from August 1-12, 2016. LIGO has announced its first detection of gravitational waves from the merger of two 30 solar-mass black holes, heralding the birth of gravitational-wave astronomy. The black holes that LIGO is now observing will drive a revolution in our understanding of the warped side of the universe and in the life and death of massive stars. When LIGO observed its first signal, its detectors were still a factor of three away from their design sensitivity – additional signals will be seen by the end of this year. This Rapid Response program will assemble a focused group of experts to discuss the scientific ramifications of LIGO’s detections and to anticipate the scientific opportunities from future observing runs. The central questions will include understanding how gravitational-wave observations can improve the astrophysical understanding of binary stellar evolution and the origin of binary black hole mergers. The latest information about this program and a link to apply can be found online at https://www.kitp.ucsb.edu/activities/gwaves-m16. The KITP will provide lodging for invited participants. In order to apply, please fill out the online application at the link above by May 8, 2016. (Late applications will be considered as space permits.) If you have any questions, please contact one of the coordinators below. Sincerely yours, Duncan Brown Alessandra Buonanno Daniel Holz Eliot Quataert +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1.10. Experimental Search for Quantum Gravity, Frankfurt, Germany --------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: http://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2016/04/27/experimental-search-for-quantu... Starting: 2016-09-19 to 2016-09-23 Location: Frankfurt, Germany Additional Information: http://indico.fias.uni-frankfurt.de/event/2/ Contact: hossi[AT]fias.uni-frankfurt.de The fifth international conference on "Experimental Search for Quantum Gravity" (ESQG) will take place Sep 19-23, 2016, at the Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies (FIAS) in Frankfurt, Germany. The purpose of the conference is to study the prospects of finding experimental evidence for quantum gravity. The meeting brings together theorists with experimentalists in all areas of physics, from particle physics to astrophysics and cosmology to quantum optics. The application deadline is June 1st. We especially want to encourage students and young postdocs to apply (conference fee will be waved when participating in the mentorship program). +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1.11. NEB17 – Recent Developments in Gravity, Mykonos, Greece (Final announcement) --------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: http://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2016/04/28/neb17-recent-developments-in-g... Starting: 2016-09-19 to 2016-09-22 Location: Mykonos, Greece Additional Information: http://www.hsrgc.gr/neb17/ Contact: neb17conference@gmail.com FINAL CIRCULAR The 17th NEB conference on “Recent Developments in Gravity” will be held in Mykonos, Greece, from the 19th to the 22nd of September 2016. NEB17 is an international conference devoted to all aspects of Relativity, Gravitation and Cosmology, which is organized every two years by the Hellenic Society for Relativity, Gravitation and Cosmology. A list of previous conferences in the NEB series can be found at http://www.hsrgc.gr/activities.html. The website of the conference is http://www.hsrgc.gr/neb17 . The *final* registration deadline for talks is May 15th, 2016, after which the conference program will be announced (registration for participation only, will still be possible after that, please check the website). NEB17 will focus on recent developments in several areas: gravitational waves, relativistic astrophysics, alternative theories of gravity, mathematical relativity, relativistic cosmology and quantum gravity. The venue of the conference is Saint John Mykonos Hotel, a beach resort at Agios Ioannis bay, located 4 km from Mykonos Town. The list of invited speakers includes: S. Alexakis (Toronto) L. Amendola (Heidelberg) A. Ashtekar (Penn State) F. Barbero (Madrid) R. Brandenberger (Montreal) S. Capozziello (Napoli) P. Laguna (Georgia Tech) L. Lehner (Perimeter Institute) R. Loll (Nijmegen) K. Kokkotas (Tuebingen) D. Psaltis (Arizona) D. Shoemaker (Georgia Tech) W. Unruh (U. of British Columbia) R. Wald (Chicago) We are looking forward to meeting all interested participants in Mykonos in September! With our best regards, The Organising Committee S. Basilakos (Academy of Athens) T. Grammenos (University of Thessaly) P. Kanti (Univeristy of Ioannina) M. Sakellariadou (King’s College London, University of London) T. Sotiriou (University of Nottingham) N. Stergioulas (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ============================================== 2. Jobs ============================================== 2.1. Postdoctoral position in mathematics at the University of Stavanger, Norway ------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: http://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/?p=11762 Deadline: 2016-04-30 Location: Stavanger, Norway Additional Information: https://www.jobbnorge.no/en/available-jobs/job/123890/postdoctoral-fellow-in... Contact: sigbjorn.hervik[AT]uis.no Postdoctoral Fellow in Mathematics The University of Stavanger invites applications for a 3 -year position as Postdoctoral Fellow in mathematics at Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, starting autumn 2016. The position is funded by Norwegian Research council. The Fellowship is within the area of differential geometry/pseudo-Riemannian geometry/real invariant theory, and is part of the project “Pseudo-Riemannian Geometry and polynomial curvature invariants: Classification, Characterisation and Applications” funded by “Fellesloftet”. Candidates with knowledge within one or several of the following areas are preferred: pseudo-Riemannian geometry, Lie group theory, mathematical relativity, invariant theory or holonomy. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.2. Postdoctoral Fellowship in Cosmology and Gravity, University of Cape Town, South Africa ------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: http://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/?p=11779 Deadline: 2016-05-31 Location: UCT Cape Town, South Africa Additional Information: http://inspirehep.net/record/1444573 Contact: Tania.jansen[AT]uct.ac.za A postdoctoral fellowship is available for a suitably qualified individual to work in the Cosmology and Gravity Group (mainly with Cruz-Dombriz and Dunsby, although collaborations with he whole group are encouraged) in the Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. The group forms part of the Astrophysics, Cosmology and Gravity Centre at the University of Cape Town, www.acgc.uct.ac.za. Strong links have been developed with the Department of Astronomy at UCT, the Laboratory for Quantum Gravity & Strings at UCT (Jeff Murugan, Jonathan Shock), the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO), the Cosmology group of the University of Western Cape (UWC, Roy Marteens and Mario Santos among others), AIMS (Bruce Basset) and facilities of control and development for the SKA all of them located in the surroundings of Cape Town. We have research expertise ranging from radio astronomy and cosmology to string theory, extended theories of gravity, dark matter and quantum gravity. We are involved in a broad array of experiments and observational probes of the universe including the SKA project and its pathfinder MeerKAT, the HIRAX experiment HIRAX (Hydrogen Intensity and Real-time Analysis eXperiment) and the MultiDARK collaboration and other local probes of dark energy and dark matter. The group a very active programme of seminars, workshops and international collaborations, attracting several postdocs and PhD students from various backgrounds (China, US, Italy, France, UK, Germany, Austria, South Africa, etc.) and top leading researchers as staff members. Staff members of the group include (in alphabetical order) Chris Clarkson, Alvaro de la Cruz-Dombriz, Peter Dunsby, George Ellis, Charles Hellaby, Bishop Mongwane, Bob Osano and Amanda Weltman. This postdoctoral fellowship will be funded by an NRF grant for a period of two years, starting in September 2016. The successful applicant will be based at The University of Cape Town, hosted by the Department of Mathematics & Applied Mathematics. Conditions of award: - Applicants must have obtained a doctoral degree in the relevant areas of mathematics, physics or astronomy within the past 5 years, and may not have held any prior permanent academic or professional posts. - The successful incumbent may, as part of his/her professional development, be required to participate in departmental activities, such as limited teaching and supervision. - The successful incumbent will be required to comply with the university’s approved policies, procedures and practices for the postdoctoral sector. SALARY: The value of the fellowship is R220 000 per annum and is tax exempt. A generous allowance will be provided for international travel and research expenses on application as well as attendance to international conferences during the fellowship period. TENURE: The tenure of the fellowship is two years at the outset, with the possibility of extension subject to progress and the availability of funding and compliance with all NRF rules. ABOUT CAPE TOWN: Cape Town is a quite Mediterranean (equivalent to San Francisco or Vancouver in Africa) and a spectacular place to live, with a range of indoor and outdoor activities. The nature, with two oceans coming together and Table Mountain, is also outstanding. We have excellent hiking, surfing, rock climbing and other ocean sports all within a short distance of the university. The cultural offer includes a vibrant theatre, opera performances and classical and contemporary music agenda throughout the year. The city is quite cosmopolitan with plenty of young professionals from all over the world settling here. Moreover, Cape Town lies in the winelands region, the source of many legendary Cape wines plenty of mountainous surrounds, grand heritage and sumptuous restaurants which have earned the Cape Winelands the right to call itself South Africa’s culinary capital. Email address for inquiries – alvaro.delacruzdombriz[AT]uct.ac.za . Please do not send applications or references to this address, they will not be considered. Email address for applications – Tania.jansen[AT]uct.ac.za Applications should include a curriculum vitae, a brief statement of research interests and a list of publications. Please arrange to have three letters of reference e-mailed to the application address by 31 May 2016 for full consideration. Applications will still be considered after this date until a suitable candidate is appointed, however considerations will begin on 1 June 2016. The University of Cape Town: reserves the right to disqualify ineligible, incomplete and/or inappropriate applications, and reserves the right to change the conditions of award, and/or to make no awards at all. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.3. Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Mathematics at the University of Otago, New Zealand ------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: http://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2016/04/19/lecturersenior-lecturer-in-mat... Deadline: 2016-05-20 Location: Dunedin, New Zealand Additional Information: https://otago.taleo.net/careersection/2/jobdetail.ftl?lang=en&job=1600643 Contact: joergf[AT]maths.otago.ac.nz DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS The department of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Otago invites applications for two positions in Mathematics. The appointments are expected to be made at the Lecturer/Senior Lecturer level. The U.S. equivalent level of appointment is Assistant Professor (Lecturer) and Associate Professor (Senior Lecturer). We welcome applications from candidates with research expertise in any area of Mathematics. Research areas of current Mathematics staff include algebra, complex analysis, fractional calculus with applications, functional analysis, graph theory, mathematical biology, mathematical physics, operator algebra, polar-marine physics, ring theory and stochastic PDE. Our expectation is that one position will be offered in pure mathematics and the other in applied mathematics. Otago has consistently been among the top-ranked research universities in New Zealand, with Pure and Applied Mathematics research at Otago topping the most recent national ranking assessment. The University values research and research-informed teaching, and teaching assignments and loads are structured accordingly. The University is located in the vibrant southern city of Dunedin, which is a gateway to the beautiful Otago region of New Zealand. We encourage academics to establish and maintain international research connections, and we support this with generous research/sabbatical and conference leave. Candidates for this position should have a PhD in Mathematics or equivalent, a demonstrated commitment to ongoing mathematical research with a potential to develop a research program of international repute, and demonstrated success and/or aptitude in teaching Mathematics. The successful applicant will be capable of teaching the full range of our Mathematics courses at the undergraduate level, from first-year to Honours courses, and will supervise postgraduate research students. The position is full time and permanent subject to the satisfactory completion of the confirmation-path objectives for new appointees. The confirmation-path process is similar to the process of gaining tenure but is entirely internal with predetermined objectives. We welcome international candidates and provide financial assistance for relocation and visa applications. There is a wealth of practical information available for migrants considering a move to New Zealand and Dunedin. Specific enquiries about this position may be directed to the Head of Department Professor Robert Aldred, contact details and other information can be obtained at https://otago.taleo.net/careersection/2/jobdetail.ftl?lang=en&job=160064.... Applications quoting reference number 1600643 will close on Friday, 20 May 2016. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.4. Multiple Project Staff Scientist (postdoctoral) openings at IUCAA,Pune, India ------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: http://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/?p=11815 Deadline: 2016-05-15 Location: Pune, India Additional Information: http://www.gw.iucaa.in/ Contact: sukanta[AT]iucaa.in Applications are invited from researchers with outstanding track record in (a) gravitational wave data analysis or detector characterization, (b) numerical relativity, (c) relativistic astrophysics, or a closely related research area, for multiple (postdoctoral) Project Scientist positions to begin this summer or fall. Each position is for three years, renewable annually, based on performance, and comes with a salary package that is quite a bit more attractive than what is typically offered by Indian institutions. Interested applicants must have a PhD degree and should email their curriculum vitae, publication list, and statement of research interests (PDFs preferred) to sukanta[at]iucaa[dot]in by May 15, 2016. They should also ask three referees to send recommendation letters directly to the same email address by the aforementioned deadline. Facilities required for research are provided institutionally. They include high performance computing clusters, high speed internet connections, mirror sites of important databases, a well equipped instrumentation laboratory, and a library with exhaustive collection of books and periodicals. IUCAA is a lead institution in the recently approved LIGO-India project. Financial support for attending international and national meetings and collaborative visits is available. Information on gravitational-wave research being pursued in IUCAA can be found at: http://www.gw.iucaa.in/ . +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.5. Postdoctoral position in black hole astrophysics at Fudan/INAF Bologna ------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: http://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2016/04/29/postdoctoral-position-in-black... Deadline: 2016-06-05 Location: Shanghai/China and Bologna/Italy Additional Information: http://www.physics.fudan.edu.cn/tps/people/bambi/ Contact: bambi[AT]fudan.edu.cn The high energy astrophysics groups at Fudan University (Shanghai, China) and at INAF Bologna (Bologna, Italy) invite applications for a postdoctoral position to work in X-ray astronomy and black hole astrophysics. The administrative institution will be Fudan University, but the successful candidate is supposed to spend his appointment period partly in Shanghai and partly in Bologna. He/she will work on projects in collaboration between Prof. Cosimo Bambi (Fudan University) and Dr. Paola Grandi (INAF Bologna). The appointment is for 2 years and can start from September to December. Interested candidates should send standard application material (CV, short statement of research interests, publication list) to: Prof. Cosimo Bambi E-mail: bambi[AT]fudan.edu.cn Please arrange also at least 2-3 recommendation letters to be sent separately to the same email address. Applications received by June 5 will receive full consideration. Inquires can be sent to: Prof. Cosimo Bambi E-mail: bambi[AT]fudan.edu.cn Dr. Paola Grandi E-mail: paola.grandi[AT]iasfbo.inaf.it More details on the group at Fudan University can be found here: http://www.physics.fudan.edu.cn/tps/people/bambi/ More details on the group at INAF Bologna can be found here: http://www.iasfbo.inaf.it +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ============================================== 3. News ============================================== 3.1. The Chalonge de Vega Meudon Workshop 2016, Meudon, France ------------------------------------------------------------ Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: http://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2016/04/14/the-chalonge-de-vega-meudon-wo... Additional Information: http://chalonge.obspm.fr/ Ecole Internationale d'Astrophysique Daniel Chalonge-Hector de Vega : The Chalonge de Vega Meudon Workshop 2016 Warm Dark Matter Astrophysics in Agreement with Observations and keV Sterile Neutrinos Place: CIAS Chateau de Meudon, Observatoire de Paris at Meudon Dates: 15, 16 and 17 June 2016 URL: http://chalonge.obspm.fr/Cias_Meudon2016.html Registration and call for papers on Warm Dark Matter is Open. Early registration is strongly encouradged. So far, not a single valid objection arose against WDM. A Turning Point operated recently in the Dark Matter research: Warm Dark Matter (WDM) emerged impressively over Cold Dark Matter (CDM) as the leading Dark Matter candidate. WDM solves naturally the problems of CDM and CDM + baryons , provides the same large scale and CMB results than ?CDM and agrees with the observations at the galactic and small scales. Warm Dark Matter (WDM) is hot topic in galaxies and cosmology and implies novelties in the astrophysical, cosmological, particle physics and nuclear physics context. Warm Dark Matter Cosmology (LambdaWDM) is more complete, correct and general theory than Cold Dark Matter (LambdaCDM) since it reproduces LambdaCDM at large scales and solves all the problems of CDM at small and intermediate scales. This workshop addresses the last progresses in WDM, including its distribution function and equation of state, the quantum mechanical framework to galaxy structure reproducing the observed galaxy cores and their sizes and the dwarf galaxies. This workshop puts together astrophysical, cosmological, particle and nuclear WDM, astronomical observations, theory and WDM analytical and numerical frameworks which reproduce the observations. The Workshop addresses as well the theorical and experimental search for the leading WDM particle candidate: keV sterile neutrinos. The recent impact of WDM astrophysics, its signatures and constraints with high redshift galaxies, clusters, cosmic recombinantion, 21 cm, with or for the JWST, HST, SKA, AstroH and gravitationnal lensing will be treated. Looking forward to Welcome you in Meudon at the Workshop Norma G. Sanchez and the Chalonge-de Vega School Team URL: http://chalonge.obspm.fr/Cias_Meudon2016.html URL: http://chalonge.obspm.fr ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 3.2. Reduced student registration fee for "The first observation of a binary black hole merger: Status and future prospects", Hannover, Germany ------------------------------------------------------------ Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: http://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/?p=11794 Additional Information: https://gw150914.aei.mpg.de/ Dear Colleagues, I am happy to announce that we are able to offer a reduced registration rate for the BBH detection meeting in Hannover, in May, but only for a limited number of spots. Students need to pay only 280 Euros (instead of the general participation fees of 440 Euros), and the places will be assigned on a first-come first-served basis. So please register as soon as possible. Our reservation of the block of rooms at the Crowne Plaza Hotel is now about to expire, so please book the rooms as soon as possible! Badri Krishnan ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 3.3. Death of Professor Liao Liu ------------------------------------------------------------ Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: http://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/?p=11839 Additional Information: Liao Liu passed away on Wednesday, 27.4.2016 by 88 years old after a long battle with illness. He is survived by his son and grandson. Liao was a Professor of the Physics Department at Beijing Normal University where he founded one of the few research groups in general relativity and gravitation in China in the late 1970’s. He had been the president of Chinese Society of Gravity and Relativistic Astrophysics from 1989 to 1996. His research was driven by a deep interest in the fundamental physical theories. Many of his papers were devoted to the discussion of the evaporation procedure of black holes, the backreaction of black hole radiation, the production of wormholes, and the significance of spacetime foam for quantum field theory. Messages of condolence will be forwarded to the funeral service committee and the family. Please send messages to: mayg[AT]bnu.edu.cn ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 3.4. Remembering Sergio Dain ------------------------------------------------------------ Announcement on Hyperspace@GU: http://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2016/05/02/remembering-sergio-dain/ Additional Information: http://springer.com/10714 By GRG's Editors in Chief: It is with profound sadness that we report on the sudden passing away of Professor Sergio Dain, an Associate Editor of the journal General Relativity and Gravitation. He succumbed to cancer on February 24th, 2016. Although only 46, he had already been an internationally recognized relativist for quite some time. Sergio received his Ph.D. from the Universidad Nacional de Cordoba, Argentina in 1999 for his numerous contributions to asymptotically flat space-times and gravitational radiation. Part of his thesis work was carried out at the Albert Einstein Institute for Gravitational Physics (AEI) in Golm, Germany, under the auspices of a Fellowship of the German Academic Exchange Service. In 2000 he returned to AEI as a post-doctoral research scientist in the Mathematical General Relativity group and remained there till 2007. During this period he made a transition to geometric analysis, specializing in elliptic aspects of Einstein's equations. His very first paper in the area, published as a single author Physical Review Letter, provided a family of initial data representing two spinning black holes. This was followed by a series of papers on conserved quantities in black hole collisions, the close limit approximation, and initial data sets tailored to isolated horizon boundary conditions. He then turned his attention to angular momentum, writing a series of seminal papers establishing inequalities between angular momentum and mass in general relativity. Many of these papers were written after he returned to Cordoba as a faculty member and an independent researcher with CONICET. These influential contributions were recognized by the International Society on General Relativity and Gravitation through an invitation to give a plenary lecture on the subject during the GR20 and Amaldi10 conference, held at Warsaw in 2013, and by the Fields Institute at Toronto, where he gave two invited lectures on the subject in 2015. He was fully engaged in first rate research until the very end. Indeed, his last paper, establishing sharp bounds on the minimum radius of a charged spherical body in general relativity, appeared in Physical Review D on February 23rd, 2016! It not only contains a hard theorem, but also some numerical simulations and a nice discussion of physical implications - a testimony of Sergio's intellectual breadth. Sergio was very engaged in the promotion of Science in Argentina at different levels. In particular, he led the Max Planck partner group at the Universidad Nacional de Cordoba from 2007 to 2012, where he also organized a series of international conferences. Ten students received their graduate degrees under his supervision and he also mentored 4 post-doctoral researchers. Since January 2014, he served on the Editorial Board of General Relativity and Gravitation. He made important contributions to the journal, remaining active on the Board till the very end. The Board fondly remembers him for his spontaneous sense of humor, his uplifting spirit and his passion for general relativity. The Board and Springer deeply regret that the journal will no longer receive his energetic contributions. We extend our sympathies to his family and many friends. Abhay Ashtekar Roy Maartens (Editors in Chief) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++