Save these dates and deadlines.

Jan. 16, 2023 Open for Abstract submission and Registration
March 10, 2023 Abstract Deadline
May 31, 2023 Deadline for early registration at reduced rate
Jul. 19, 2023 Deadline for Registrations including VISA assistance and other options
Jul. 23, 2023 Deadline for Excursion reservation
Aug. 7-11, 2023 APRIM 2023
Aug. 12, 2023 Public lecture at Koriyama city

Final announcement of the Asia-Pacific Regional IAU Meeting (APRIM 2023)

August 7-11, 2023, hybrid (in-person at Koriyama, Japan)

https://www.aprim2023.org/

Topics of this announcement:

Payment deadline of registration
Important notice for the opening ceremory
Tentative program posted
Women in Astronomy gathering
Payment deadline for lunch box and banquet
Deadline for childcare
Excursion
Hotel information
Satellite meetings
Weather
APRIM2023 official song

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– PAYMENT DEADLINE OF REGISTRATION

Registration to participate in APRIM 2023 closes at

*** July 20 9:00 in JST (0:00 in GMT) ***

Please make sure to complete your payment until the deadline

– IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR THE OPENING CEREMONY

The Opening Ceremony on August 7 takes place in Room1-1 “Bandai” (Multi-purpose Hall A) on the first floor of the venue from 13:00. Her Imperial Highness the Crown Princess Akishino will attend and give her words to congratulate the opening at this Opening Ceremony. For security reasons, all participants and carry-ons must go through a metal detector at the entrance of the venue. Make sure to have your name tag as the identification which will be supplied at the reception desk for participants. This reception desk will be at the second floor of the venue on the first day. Police will close the doors to the Opening Ceremony Hall promptly at 12:50. After this time nobody can enter the hall, and participation in the ceremony is only possible online. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. On this day, the reception desk will be open in the morning, and you will have special service (the details will be shown in our web site later), please come early enough.

– TENTATIVE PROGRAM

You can find tentative program of the meeting at

https://aprim2023.org/program/program-details/

Soon, the schedule of presentations will move to a different platform with tools to help organize your participation to the technical sessions.

– WOMEN IN ASTRONOMY

There is a gathering of “Women in Astronomy” on August 10 during lunchtime in the Room1-3 “Tsurugajo” (Convention Hall B). You can bring your lunch for this gathering.

– PAYMENT DEADLINE FOR LUNCH BOX AND BANQUET

The payment deadline of your lunch box request and registration for the banquet is

*** July 20 9:00 in JST (July 19 24:00 in GMT) ***.

Please make sure to check the respective cells in your registration form and make payment, via https://aprim2023.org/participate/registration/

The banquet will be seated, and individual meal will be served, namely not a buffet style. Lunch box has two options beside regular one – halal compliant and vegetarian option.

– DEADLINE FOR CHILDCARE

If you plan to use the daycare service, please register until July 20 9:00 in JST (July 19 24:00 in GMT) via

https://aprim2023.org/participate/registration/

– EXCURSION

The reservation page of excursion of APRIM2023 on August 9 and 12 is open!

There are four half-day courses on Aug. 9 and three one-day courses on Aug. 12.

You can find the course details from the web site and reserve your seat through the system.

https://aprim2023.org/program/social-events/

The deadline is

**** July 23 23:59 in JST (July 23 14:59 in GMT) ****.

Don’t miss this special arrangement!

– HOTEL INFORMATION

Hotel reservations through the APRIM2023 website have closed, but you can make reservations for hotels in Koriyama City on various websites such as booking.com. Please use them for your reservation. You can find the hotel list where you can use English via

https://aprim2023.org/travel-2/accommodation/

– SATELLITE MEETING

There are two satellite meetings, “Workshop for Astroinformatics” on Saturday, August 12 in Aizu-Wakamatsu (1.5 h from Koriyama), Fukushima, and “International Conference on K-12 Astronomy Education” on August 14-17 in Taiwan. For more information, please visit the following page.

https://aprim2023.org/program/satellite-meetings/

– WEATHER

In August, Koriyama City in Fukushima Prefecture experiences hot and humid weather with temperatures around 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit). There are frequent evening showers and thunderstorms, so carrying an umbrella or rain gear is recommended. Nighttime temperatures are relatively cool, but using air conditioning or fans may still be necessary.

– APRIM2023 OFFICIAL SONG

Now we have official song of APRIM2023, “ALMA” by ACIDMAN, a Japanese rock band group. You can enjoy it via https://youtu.be/4NwG2xocn6U with lyrics in English.

2nd announcement of the Asia-Pacific Regional IAU Meeting (APRIM 2023)

August 7-11, 2023, hybrid (in-person at Koriyama, Japan plus online)

https://www.aprim2023.org/

Main topic of this announcement: Abstract submission and Registration system opened, updated information on financial and VISA support

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CONFERENCE WEB PAGE AND NEW INFORMATION SINCE THE 1ST ANNOUNCEMENTS:

The Website has been significantly updated, including local information, registration procedures and fees, a list of the review and invited speakers, the tentative schedule, and other events.

Session details:

1. Planets In and Outside of the Solar System

2. Physics and Evolution of the Sun and the Stars

3. From ISM to the Stellar and Planetary Systems

4. Compact Objects and High Energy Astrophysics

5. Galaxy, Galaxies and their Beginnings

6. Multi-messenger Astronomy

7. Telescopes and Detector Projects On and Out Of the Grounds

7S. Sub-session Future of research cooperation in Asia-Pacific Region (Invited ONLY)

8. Networking the Public Outreach, Development and Sustainability

9. Astroinformatics in Big Data Era

Program: https://aprim2023.org/program-schedule/

The abstract submission and registration system has been open since January 16, 2023.

Further detailed information is available at <https://aprim2023.org/>.

REGISTRATION AND ABSTRACT SUBMISSION:

Registration and abstract submission have been opened. Please visit the website and submit your contribution and application.

Registration: https://aprim2023.org/registration/

Abstract submission: https://aprim2023.org/abstract-submission/

VISA AND TRAVEL GRANT APPLICATION:

Visa application and travel grant application have been opened. Please visit the following website for more information.

VISA application: https://aprim2023.org/visas/

Travel grant application: https://aprim2023.org/travel-grants/

IMPORTANT DATE:

2023/01/16 Open for abstract submission and registration

2023/03/10 Deadline for abstract submission and financial support application

2023/05/31 Deadline for early registration

2023/06/15 Visa application deadline

2023/08/07 Meeting start

CONFERENCE WEB PAGE: https://aprim2023.org/

Further detailed information will be available and be timely updated.

CONTACT:

https://www.aprim2023.org/inquiry

1st Circular

RATIONALE:

We are pleased to invite you all to the 2023 Asia-Pacific Regional IAU Meeting (APRIM 2023) in Japan at the BIG PALETTE FUKUSHIMA in Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture, from August 7 to August 11, 2023.

Taking place once every three years, APRIM is one of the largest regional meetings of the IAU, where astronomers in the Asia-Pacific region gather to discuss common scientific interests and contribute to astronomy advancement internationally. New Zealand hosted the first APRIM in 1978, and since then, the meeting has been held regularly until 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced its cancellation. Japan has hosted this IAU Regional meeting twice, in 1984 in Kyoto and 2002 in Tokyo. 2023 will be the third APRIM held in Japan.

For this edition, we are planning to provide the participants with an enriched full IAU experience while making a significant impact in the astronomy and related science in the region through international collaboration. By being mindful of regional and national contexts in this diverse communities in Aria-Pacific region, we strive to make this APRIM 2023 Japan be respectful, tolerant and inclusive throughout all its discussions, thus promote competitiveness in research and bring innovation through regional collaborations.

APRIM2023 will be one of the first large regional conferences in astronomy after the pandemic, and we all will be cautious in its implementation drawn from recent lessons learnt from the international community and the previous experience in organizing hybrid and accessible meetings. The LOC wishes APRIM 2023 to be a relevant and impacting experience for both participants online and onsite.

Additionally, we are honored that Fukushima Prefecture was selected as the venue, aiming to support the recovery from the earth-quake accompanied by the major nuclear power plant disaster in 2011. We wish that this hosting area also reflects meaningfully on the participants’ personal experience: by visiting the ‘tsunami afflicted’ area and meeting first-hand the community that is hosting us; and to participate in astrotourism and astrophotography activities under the mesmerizing dark skies of Fukushima.

Although we are still in a difficult situation with the COVID-19 pandemic, the LOC has diligently started all preparations in hopes of giving you a warm and friendly welcome to APRIM 2023 Japan.

SESSION:

The session will be decided by the SOC based on those planned for APRIM2020.

VENUE:

The Asia-Pacific Regional IAU Meeting 2023 (APRIM 2023) will be held from August 7-11, 2023, at the BIG PALETTE FUKUSHIMA in Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.

Fukushima Prefecture is located on the Pacific Ocean side in the Tohoku (literally north-east) region of Japan. Fukushima is famous for its beautiful nature, fruits and rice grown in that area, delicious sake (alcohol drink), hot springs, traditional crafts such as Aizu-nuri. There are beautiful mountains and lakes, and there is a starry sky.

In 2011, the Tohoku region, including Fukushima, suffered from a big earthquake, followed by a tsunami, a huge tidal wave (more than nine meters in maximum) at the ocean side. The tsunami has caused the ocean-faced nuclear power plant disaster, as you already know. Even today, the people in Fukushima continue their efforts for reconstruction and decontamination.

You can learn the work that has been done within Fukushima post-disaster and general background into the prefecture through the brochure in multiple languages prepared by the Fukushima local government. https://www.pref.fukushima.lg.jp/sec/16005e/pamphlet.html

Koriyama City is located at the Naka-dori (Central region) of Fukushima Prefecture. You can reach Koriyama Station from Tokyo in 80 minutes by Shinkansen (high-speed train). You can find out more about Koriyama in the brochure

The conference site BIG PALETTE FUKUSHIMA is located at approx. 4 km from Koriyama Station in 15 minutes by bus, 10 minuets by taxi.

IMPORTANT DATES:

Jan. 16, 2023 Open for Abstract submission and Registration
March 10, 2023 Abstract Deadline
May 31, 2023 Deadline for early registration
Jun. 01, 2023 Deadline for VISA assistance
Aug. 7, 2023 Meeting start