(15-April-2025) THE SPECTRUM MANAGEMENT SCHOOL HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED!!
New Venue: Alcala de Henares, Madrid, Spain
New dates: 29 September - 3 October 2025
(15-April-2025)
THE SPECTRUM MANAGEMENT SCHOOL HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED!!
New Venue: Alcala de Henares, Madrid, Spain
New dates: 29 September - 3 October 2025
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RationaleThe 6th IUCAF School on Spectrum Management offers a comprehensive view of both technical and regulatory issues related to radio astronomers' use of the spectrum. Spectrum management is a task of rapidly growing importance, for radio astronomy as well as for other radio services; however, it is not part of any academic curriculum; radio astronomers have to learn it by doing it. The IUCAF School in Spectrum Management will be an opportunity to profit from the experience of colleagues. The expected audience would be members of the radio astronomy and related radio engineering community, who are becoming active in this area at the local, national or international level, and regulators whose task is to protect passive services and science services. These skills have critical application to science, commerce and government. IUCAF spectrum management schools were previously held in 2002 (Green Bank, USA), 2005 (Castel San Pietro Terme, Italy), 2010 (Mitaka, Japan), 2014 (Santiago, Chile) and 2020 (SARAO, South Africa) and were important milestones in radio astronomy's efforts to preserve access to the radio spectrum. (See links in the main IUCAF website).
PurposeThe School will train the next generation of Scientists, Engineers and Administrators in the skills enabling discoveries via observations using the radio spectrum. Over 90 years have passed since K. G. Jansky first detected radio emission from the Galaxy, while searching for the origin of the weak static that was causing interference to communications. Since then, radio astronomy has revolutionized our view of the Universe through the discovery of quasars, pulsars, the Cosmic Microwave Background, surveys of our Galaxy in the 21-cm hydrogen line, molecular lines, and many other phenomena. The radio window was the first non-optical window in the electromagnetic spectrum explored by astronomers, and radio techniques continue to be a prime tool in the exploration of the Universe. At the same time, radio astronomy retains close ties to the world of radio communications, adopting some of its leading technologies, and sometimes giving rise to technologies of its own adopted by radio engineers for commercial applications. During the 20th century, radio astronomers enjoyed relatively easy and interference free access to large portions of the spectrum, by locating telescopes far from potential sources of man-made noise. A small number of specialists took care of regulatory issues that arose in national and international fora that rarely required attention from the broader astronomy community. This state of affairs has been changing rapidly in the 21st century, as demands on the spectrum increase due to huge increases in the demand and availability of wireless applications (mobile phones, Wireless LANs, and many others), communication satellites and marketing of new technologies, such as ultra-wide band systems, power line telecommunication systems, cognitive radio systems and dynamic spectrum access (DSA). The development and health of radio astronomy depend critically on astronomers' continued access to the radio spectrum, and this in turn demands that astronomers and particularly radio observatories pay closer attention to the technical and regulatory issues that arise in relation to managing the radio spectrum, particularly as they relate to radio astronomy. Spectrum management is critical for the future of radio astronomy. It is also interesting and even challenging, as it requires a combination of scientific motivation, technical background, legal knowledge and diplomatic skills. These skills are normally not taught as part of science curricula. The IUCAF Spectrum Management School provides an introduction to a unique combination of technology, science and international diplomacy by experts in this field. Special emphasis will be given to spectrum issues related to new instruments such as the SKA and its precursors (MeerKat, ASKAP, MWA, LOFAR, ...). Issues related to the recent development of satellite megaconstellations will also be addressed. Due to logistic issues, participation in the IUCAF school may be limited to about 50 persons. Preference will be given to early career radio astronomers and engineers, who are or expect to be involved in spectrum management activities.
TopicsTopics to be Discussed will include:
Radio Astronomy Techniques and Observations ** A detailed program will be published closer to the date of the school.
Invited SpeakersTBD
School Location and Venue
The school is hosted by the
Yebes Observatory
at the following venue:
Accommodation
Please make your own bookings. Early booking of accommodation is strongly recommended.
Hotels:
Hostels:
Transport logistics
Detailed instructions for transport information from/to the airport, Madrid, Alcala de Henares and school venue are given in the transpor logistics file links below.
Transport logistics (word)
RegistrationParticipation at the workshop may be limited to ~50 people due to logistics issues.
Registration is essential and will be via online forms in 2 stages:
Stage 2: Registration confirmation & Payment of fees:
Registration and payments will close 29-August-2025.
Visa RequirementsPlease check the visa requirements for entry to Spain for your nationality.
Manual visa applications may take a long time, so please start the process as soon as possible!! If a letter of invitation is needed, please let the LOC know via email, and include what personal details may need to be specified.
Important Dates
Visit to Yebes Observatory
A visit to
Yebes Observatory
is planned for Wednesday 1 October 2025 after lunch, for a tour of the observatory and an informal dinner.
Fees, payments; Conference DinnerIt is planned that a registration fee of Euro 100 will be charged to participants. This fee includes small breakfast, coffee break, lunch and tea break each day during the week of the school. It also includes the visit to Yebes observatory. There will be an official Dinner organised for all participants. Cost will be included in the registration fee. Please indicate in your registration form if you will be attending the dinner and how many persons are in your group. (In the last school (2020) we secured generous support from sponsors and the registration fee was waived for all participants. We are actively seeking such support again but success is difficult to predict).
Financial assistanceLimited financial support may be available. If you need support please get in touch directly with the organisers.IUCAF may also offer limited support, especially for students. Please contact the organisers as soon as possible.
CommitteesSCIENTIFIC ORGANIZING COMMITTEE:
++ other community representatives TBD. LOCAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE:
Activities outside the school
Alcala de Henares and the wider Madrid area are world-renown tourist destinations, well worth a much longer vist.
The LOC has suggested a possible afternoon guided city tour of Alcala de Henares if there is enough interest. If there is demand for specific activities, the LOC will endeavour to help with the coordination and logistics.
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For more information email to: Tasso Tzioumis
