CASSA Colloquium 12: Between Stars and Planets
2025-12-18 14:30 - 16:00 UTC | CASSA, IUB Main Building Rooftop, Plot 16, Aftabuddin Ahmed Road, Block B, Bashundhara RA (Main Building Rooftop), Dhaka, 1229, Bangladesh
Title: Between Stars and Planets: Unveiling the Hidden World of Transiting Brown Dwarfs
Speaker: Md Redyan Ahmed, PhD candidate, Sydney Institute for Astronomy (SIfA), University of Sydney, Australia.
Abstract: Transiting brown dwarfs occupy the mass range between stars and planets, placing them in a unique regime where the physics of both worlds begin to overlap. Wide-field surveys have identified more than 1,000 isolated brown dwarfs in the Solar neighbourhood, yet only about 50 systems are known to transit their host stars. With the arrival of the TESS mission, this picture has begun to change: the sample of transiting brown dwarfs is growing steadily, providing more systems with precisely measured masses and radii and opening new opportunities to study how these objects form and evolve. In this talk, I will give a short introduction to transiting brown dwarfs, how they are detected, and how their known population has been expanding over time. I will then present TOI-2155 b, a newly characterised transiting brown dwarf lying right at the hydrogen-burning mass limit. With a mass of 81 $M_J$ (Jupiter mass), it contributes an important new data point to the growing population of transiting brown dwarfs and helps us probe the structure, cooling, and formation pathways of objects near the low-mass star boundary.

Journal Talk 10: Tudorache et al. 2005
2025-12-23 13:00 - 13:30
A 15 Mpc rotating galaxy filament at redshift z = 0.032
Link: https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/staf2005
Presenter: Radit Raian, Adamjee Cantonment College .
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Journal Talk 11: Giacintucci et al. (2024)
2026-01-06 13:00 - 14:00
Are Radio Minihalos Confined by Cold Fronts in Galaxy Clusters? Minihalos and Large-scale Sloshing in A3444 and MS 1455.0+2232
Link: https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ad12bc
Presenter: Ashratul Zannati Purnota.
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Journal Talk 12: Hossain et al. (2025)
2026-01-13 13:00 - 14:00
Detection of Exoplanets with Machine Learning Techniques Through Transit Light-curve Analysis.
Link: https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-3881/ae1ba3
Presenter: Md. Sadman.
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Durbin Workshop 2
2026-01-15 10:00 - 2026-01-17 18:00
Durbin Workshop 2 will be a 3-day intensive workshop focusing on observational techniques, telescope optics, and astronomical image processing for astrophotography.
Topics covered

Day 1: Introduction to Durbin 2.0, Observation Basics, Telescope Optics, and Intro to Image Processing.
Day 2: Science Writing (with Dr. Asad), Remote Imaging via iTelescope (with Shahal), and Deep Sky Image Processing.
Day 3: Advanced Image Processing workflows, Final Presentations, and Evaluation.

Important Notes

Attendance: Participants are expected to attend all three days to receive a certificate.
Equipment: You must bring a laptop to participate in the hands-on software sessions.
Lunch: Lunch breaks are 1:00 – 2:30 PM (self-arranged, but an allowance of BDT 200 will be provided).

Participation
The current Durbin Volunteers are all expected to participate. Aside from the Durbin Volunteers, we have 10 seats available for women participants only. Fill the form to secure your spot.
Deadline: January 11, 2026 (11:59:59 PM)
Selected Participants

Name
Institute
City

M.O.B. Jihad
AIUB
Dhaka

Tanmoy Das
AIUB
Dhaka

Adita Ferdous
BracU
Dhaka

Farhana Ferdous
BracU
Dhaka

Fariba Nehreen Binti
CU
Chattogram

Md. Hasan Mahmud Sajib
CU
Chattogram

Rownok Shahariar
Edward College
Pabna

Afrin Rahman Purba
IUB
Dhaka

Ashratul Zannati Purnota
IUB
Dhaka

Asmaul Husna Juhana
IUB
Dhaka

Kashfia Rahman
IUB
Dhaka

Md Iman shak
IUB
Dhaka

MD Mahbub Uz Zaman
IUB
Dhaka

Mozammal Hossain Masum
IUB
Dhaka

Sornali Akter Tayeba
IUB
Dhaka

Tanzila Tabassum
IUB
Dhaka

Tonima Tasnim Satu
IUB
Dhaka

Mahin Istiaz Jahan Tithy
JnU
Dhaka

ZARIN ANAN RIFAH
SEU
Dhaka

Mahjan Sabibia Aban
UIU
Dhaka

Program

Jan 15: Thu
Jan 16: Fri
Jan 17: Sat

10:00 – 11:30
Introduction to Durbin 2.0; group creation
iTelescope image processing (Shahal)
Telescope optics (Asad)

11:30 – 11:45
Tea break
Tea break
Tea break

11:45 – 01:00
Measuring the sky (Asad)
iTelescope image processing (Shahal)
Hands-on groupwork: image processing and writing

01:00 – 02:30
Lunch break
Lunch break
Lunch break

02:30 – 04:00
Measuring the sky (Asad)
Writing about astronomical objects (Asad)
Hands-on groupwork: image processing and writing

04:00 – 04:15
Tea break
Tea break

Presentation, evaluation, and selection of Durbin Volunteers for the year 2026.

04:15 – 06:00
iTelescope imaging (Shahal)
Hands-on groupwork: image processing and writing

Journal Talk 13: Li et al. 2026
2026-01-27 12:00 - 12:40
Large Language Models for Limited Noisy Data: A Gravitational Wave Identification Study
Link: doi:10.48550/arXiv.2512.04031
Presenter: Siddhartho Sen, DIU.
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CASSA Colloquium 13: Modelling the Last Major Merger that Shaped the Milky Way
2026-01-27 14:30 - 16:00
Speaker (in person): Istiak Akib, PhD candidate, Laboratoire d’Instrumentation et de Recherche en Astrophysique (LIRA), Observatoire de Paris, Paris Sciences et Lettres University (PSL), France.
Abstract: The last major merger of the Milky Way (MW) occurred 9-10 Gyr ago with an incoming galaxy known as the Gaia-Sausage Enceladus (GSE). We present the first hydrodynamical modelling of this collision using GIZMO. Our simulation reproduces the observed kinematic signatures of GSE. Furthermore, the merger model successfully recovers key structural and dynamical properties of the present-day MW, such as, the bulge, disk, bar and its rotation, four spiral arms, surface mass density, rotation curve, gas fraction, and star formation history. The simulations also show evidence for the Galactic warp and flare.

Journal Talk 14: Hardcastle et al. (2023)
2026-02-03 12:00 - 12:40
The LOFAR Two-Metre Sky Survey. VI. Optical identifications for the second data release.
Link: https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202347333
Presenter: M.O. B. Jihad (CSE, AIUB)
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Journal Talk 15: Clews et al. (2025)
2026-02-17 12:00 - 12:40
Radio-loud AGN morphology and host-galaxy properties in the LOFAR Two-metre Sky Survey Data Release 2.
Link: https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/staf966
Presenter: Deba Priyo Guha (graduated from the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, RUET)
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Durbin Talk 6
2026-02-21 19:00 - 20:00
Black Holes Across the Universe: One Physics, Many Scales
In alignment with the global theme Women and Girls in Astronomy led by the International Astronomical Union (IAU), we are pleased to present Durbin Talk 6, featuring cutting-edge research and reflections on inclusion in science.
Hosted at CASSA, Independent University, Bangladesh, this session continues the Durbin mission of connecting Bangladeshi students and young researchers with leading scientists from around the world.
The Durbin Talk series is part of the CASSA Durbin program, designed to connect students, early-career researchers, and science enthusiasts with leading scientists working at the frontiers of knowledge. Each talk brings global research perspectives to a Bangladeshi audience, creating space for scientific dialogue, mentorship, and inspiration.
Durbin Talk 6 continues this vision by exploring one of the most extreme yet fundamentally unifying phenomena in astrophysics: black holes.
“Black holes may seem mysterious and extreme, yet they follow surprisingly universal rules. In this talk, I will explore how the same physical processes power both stellar-mass black holes in our Galaxy and the supermassive black holes at the centers of distant galaxies. By combining global optical monitoring with ultra-high-resolution radio observations, my work tracks how black holes feed, flare, and launch powerful jets of energy. Studying these systems across different wavelengths allows us to uncover patterns that connect objects separated by billions of times in size, revealing a unifying picture of how black holes grow and influence their environments.
Alongside the science, I will also reflect on the experience of women in astronomy and the broader landscape of gender differences in scientific achievement. Through these reflections, I hope to highlight how research is shaped not by talent alone, but also by access, representation, mentorship, and opportunity​; and why building a more inclusive scientific community is essential for discovery.”
Speaker (Online): Payaswini Saikia, PhD
Associate Research Scientist, Department of Astronomy and Physics, Yale UniversityPhD from Radboud UniversityFormer Postdoctoral Researcher at New York University Abu DhabiResearch focus: Accretion and ejection processes in compact objects
Audience: In-person at CASSA, IUB.

Journal Talk 16: Chen et al. (2023)
2026-03-03 13:30 - 14:10
Detecting the H I power spectrum in the post-reionization Universe with SKA-Low.
Link: https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stad2102
Presenter: Jannatul Feardous Nishi (graduated from the Department of Electrical & Electrical Engineering, RUET)
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Durbin Training Camp 2
2026-03-06 10:00 - 2026-03-07 21:00
In alignment with the International Astronomical Union (IAU) global theme, Women and Girls in Astronomy, we are excited to announce Durbin Training Camp 2. This event will be hosted at CASSA, Independent University, Bangladesh, from 6–7 March.
Durbin facilitates a series of intensive workshops and training camps designed to identify and recruit dedicated new volunteers through an exclusive fast-track process. This journey began in January 2025 with an inaugural workshop led by Dr. Lamiya Mowla at the Asian University for Women (AUW), Chattogram, followed by a second session hosted at CASSA in January 2026. Complementing these are the Durbin Training Camps; the first was organized by Dr. Lamiya Mowla along the banks of the Dhaleshwari River in Keraniganj, while the upcoming second Training Camp is set to take place at CASSA.
While Durbin recruitment remains open year-round via the standard procedures outlined in the Durbin Manual, these sessions offer a high-intensity entry point for aspiring members. Participants who excelled in the second workshop have already joined the ranks as Volunteer Applicants, and the same pathway will be available to those attending the upcoming March camp. If you are eager to contribute to our cosmic mission and accelerate your involvement, we encourage you to review the application details below and prepare to join our growing community of explorers.
Please note that mastery of the Durbin Workshop 2 materials is a prerequisite for this Training Camp; we expect all applicants to be familiar with those core concepts before applying.
Program

Day 1: Mar 6 (in person at CASSA)
Day 2: Mar 7 (in person at CASSA)

10 am: Observing the Night Sky
02:00 pm: Hands-on solar observation

11:30 am: Telescopes and Detectors
07:00 pm: Planetary and Deep Space Observation

03 pm: Citizen Science with Unistellar

* The observations have to be done by each group separately. The participants will be divided into 6 groups.
Resources: (https://astro.unl.edu/naap/)
Topics:
1. Basic Coordinate and Seasons
2. The Rotating Sky
3. Cosmic Distance Ladder
word version: naap_distance_sg_08

Assessment Pretest: Must be completed together as a group.
Assessment Posttest: Must be completed and submitted individually.

Instructor

Dr. Syed Ashraf Uddin Associate Professor Department of Physical Sciences Independent University, Bangladesh

Participation

Seats: 30. We have 60% seats available for women participants only. Financial aid available for women participants outside Dhaka.
Application form: https://forms.gle/xpLHCkN5HBmVoV5F9
Deadline: February 24, 2026 (11:59:59 PM)
Decision Announcement: February 28, 2026

Participant List

Adiba Habiba
Dhaka
United International University

Adita Ferdous
Dhaka
Brac University

Ali Newaj
Chattogram
University of Chittagong

Ashratul Zannati Purnota
Dhaka
Independent University, Bangladesh

Asmaul Husna Juhana
Dhaka
Independent University, Bangladesh

Avranil Mitra
Dhaka
Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University

Fabia Farzana Tisha
Dhaka
American International University Bangladesh

Farhana Ferdous
Dhaka
BRAC University

Fariba Nehreen Binti
Chattogram
University of Chittagong

Farzana Yasmin
Dhaka
Daffodil International University

Hredeta Nag
Dhaka
Independent University, Bangladesh

Iman Sheikh
Dhaka
Independent University, Bangladesh

Kashfia Rahman
Dhaka
Independent University Bangladesh

Kazi Nusrat Tasneem
Sylhet
Shahjalal University of Science and Technology

Laboni Akter Setu
Barishal
Barishal University

M.O.B. JIHAD
Dhaka
American International University Bangladesh

Mahdi Hasan Mahi
Dhaka
BCIC College

Mahin Istiaz Jahan Tithy
Dhaka
Jagannath University

Mahjan Sabibia Aban
Dhaka
United International University

Masuk Ridwan Saumo
Dhaka
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology

MD MUNEM SHAHRIAR
Gazipur
National University (On-Campus)

Mizanur Rahman Howlader
Dinajpur
Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University

Most.Maftahul zannat
Dhaka
American International University Bangladesh

Mozammal Hossain Masum
Dhaka
Independent University, Bangladesh

MST. MARIA KHATUN
Pabna
Govt. Edward College

Mst. Nusrat Jahan Tabassum
Noakhali
Noakhali Science and Technology University

Mubashira Rahman Ibnat
Dhaka
Summerfield International School

Nafia Papry
Dhaka
BRAC University

Nafisa Tabbassum
Dhaka
United international University

Raiyan Kawsar
Dhaka
University of Dhaka

Rownok Shahariar
Pabna
Govt. Edward College

SADIA AFRIN
Jashore
Jashore University of Science and Technology

Shanjida Nahar
Gopalganj
Gopalganj Science and Technology University

Sujana Tanjin
Dhaka
Daffodil International University

Tanmoy Das
Dhaka
American International University Bangladesh

Tanzila Tabassum
Dhaka
Independent University, Bangladesh

Tasmia Tabasum Ami
Jashore
Jashore University of Science and Technology

Tasnin Ara
Pabna
Govt. Edward College

Yead Muhammad Ivan
Dhaka
BRAC University

Journal Talk 17: Bonaldi et al. (2026)
2026-03-10 13:30 - 14:15
SKA-LOW SIMULATIONS FOR A COSMIC DAWN/EPOCH OF REIONISATION DEEP FIELD.
Link: https://arxiv.org/html/2506.09533v2
Presenter: Muhammad Jobair Hasan (BSc and MSc in Physics from Shahjalal University of Science & Technology)
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CASSA Workshop 4: Numerical Methods in Astronomy
2026-05-20 08:00 - 2026-05-24 17:00
Principal instructor: Syeda Lammim Ahad, PhD; WCA Postdoctoral Fellow, Waterloo Centre for Astrophysics, University of Waterloo, Canada. PhD from Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, The Netherlands.
