FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT "Hot and Cool: Bridging Gaps in Massive Star Evolution" November 10-12 2008, Caltech, Pasadena CA http://www.ipac.caltech.edu/hotandcool You are cordially invited to participate in the workshop on research topics focused on bridging the evolutionary and observational relationships between massive stars in the hot and cool regions of the upper Hertzsprung-Russel Diagram (HRD). Research communities addressing the hot and cool parts of the uppermost HRD have been stubbornly disjoint. This workshop aims to bridge the gap between researchers studying these different sides of the HRD. While morphologically separated, stars occupying these extremes of the HRD are intimately related via evolution, as well as both having atmospheric properties affected by extension and stellar wind outflow. At cosmological scales, like in distant starburst galaxies, the historical distinction between blue and red stellar populations becomes obsolete, and understanding the complex relation between the red and blue parts of the HRD is mandatory. This meeting will allow us to investigate similarities and differences between hot and cool stars, identify the most challenging questions in evolutionary connections, and discuss latest theoretical and observational progress and prospects in certain evolutionary or mass/temperature regimes which will provide a more unified understanding of massive stars and luminous extragalactic stellar populations. At the meeting, the relationships between hot and cool massive stars will be considered in observational and theoretical contexts in the following topic areas: 1. Evolutionary Connections * Evolution across the HRD at different metalicities * Evolution of angular momentum across the HRD * Role of magnetic fields * Binary vs. single-star evolution 2. Late and End Phases * Post-RSG and blue-loop stars * Supernovae from red vs. blue progenitors * Gamma-ray bursts and their relation to W-R stars * Gamma-ray burst hosts as star-forming galaxies 3. Atmospheres * Uncertainties of basic stellar parameters * State of the art models * Role of convection * Abundance determinations in hot and cool supergiants 4. Mass Loss * Mass-loss rates across the upper HRD * Mass-loss mechanisms for hot and cool stars * Non-standard mechanisms - convection, magnetic fields * Episodic mass loss and pulsations in hot and cool stars 5. Interacting Winds and Circumstellar Environments * Interaction between winds from different evolutionary phases * Role of shocks * Role of binaries, and relation to morphology * Resolved circumstellar material * Dust formation in RSGs, LBVs, OH-IR stars, W-R stars The meeting should be a milestone in bringing together two communities of stellar research experts. The program will consist of invited reviews, contributed talks, and posters. The conference talks and posters will be published in the Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series. A more detailed agenda and tentative speakers can be found on the conference website (see above). The conference will open with registration and a reception on Sunday evening November 9. Three full days of scientific sessions will follow November 10-12, including opportunity for discussion as a forum. REGISTRATION is now open on the conference website. The registration fee covers the opening reception, conference materials, coffee breaks, catered lunches, and transportation between the Pasadena Hilton and Caltech over the meeting dates. The fee is $275 for registration, which closes on October 3. The registration fee applies to participants only, but family members may attend the reception and/or lunches if arranged in advance with the LOC; please contact hotandcool@ipac.caltech.edu for more information. * --> Conference attendance must be limited to 80, to promote an effective workshop atmosphere, so register early! <-- * ABSTRACTS for posters and contributed talks should be submitted at the time of registration. Contributed talks will have a duration of 10-15 min plus 5 minutes of discussion. The number of contributed talks will be limited: speakers selected by the SOC will be notified by October 10. Talk requests that cannot be accommodated will be encouraged to be presented as posters. SUPPORT funding for a very limited number of junior researchers will be available. Please contact hotandcool@ipac.caltech.edu for more information. LODGING is available at the prevailing Caltech rate (currently $159 per night plus taxes) at the Pasadena Hilton Hotel. Links to the hotel reservation pages can be found on the conference website. These business-class lodgings are located adjacent to the Paseo shopping plaza which hosts a variety of dining and entertainment options. They are also located 15 min walking distance from Old Town Pasadena, one of the most popular restaurant districts in Southern California. Room reservations must be made by October 3. The number of rooms available to our attendees is limited, so reserve early to avoid the possibility of higher rates or more distant accommodations. Transportation to and from the hotel to the meeting at Caltech will be provided (included with the registration fee) over the meeting dates. Other local accomodations are available for participants providing their own transportation. PASADENA is best known as the host city for the Tournament of Roses Parade, but it is also home to Caltech, the Huntington Gardens, and the Norton Simon Museum of Art. The historic Griffith Observatory and Mt. Wilson Observatory are both a short drive. TRANSPORTATION from Los Angeles International or Burbank Regional Airports to the conference hotels is provided by a variety of van services. http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/PASPHHF-Hilton-Pasadena-California/directions.do contains information that will help plan your travel to Pasadena. Additional advice and links are provide on the conference Venue and Transportation page. For more information, or if you have any questions about the meeting, please send an email to hotandcool@ipac.caltech.edu. We look forward to seeing you in November! Sincerely yours, The Hot and Cool SOC The Hot and Cool LOC Phil Bennett (St. Mary's Univ) Adwin Boogert (NHSC) Gloria Koenigsberger (UNAM) Schuyler van Dyk (SSC) Claus Leitherer (STScI) - chair William Latter (NHSC) Jacco van Loon (Keele Univ) Alesia McCrary (NHSC) Phil Massey (Lowell Obs) M.E. McElveney (NHSC) Jon Monnier (Univ Michigan) Pat Morris (NHSC) - chair Pat Morris (Caltech/IPAC) Helga MyCroft (IPAC/JPL) Stan Owocki (Univ Delaware) Elena Scire (SSC) Nathan Smith (Univ Cal/Berkeley) Susan Stolovy (SSC) _______________________________________________ "Hot and Cool: Bridging Gaps in Massive Star Evolution" November 10-12, 2008 hotandcool@ipac.caltech.edu