CASSA

CASSA Colloquium 2: Exploring the Co-Evolution of Star Clusters and Galaxies Since Cosmic Dawn with JWST
2024-12-19 13:00 - 14:00 UTC | Lecture Gallery MK9006, DMK Building, IUB, Plot 16, Aftabuddin Ahmed Road, Block B, Bashundhara RA, Dhaka, 1229, Bangladesh
Speaker:
Lamiya Ashraf Mowla, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Wellesley College, USA.
Abstract:
The most distant galaxies observed date back to when the Universe was only 5% of its current age, with progenitors of galaxies like the Milky Way being about 10,000 times less massive. Using JWST and the magnification provided by gravitational lensing, these low-mass galaxies can be detected and studied in detail. In this work, we present JWST observations of the “Firefly Sparkle,” a strongly lensed galaxy at (z = 8.3) in the CANadian Unbiased Cluster Survey (CANUCS). This galaxy features massive star clusters cocooned in a diffuse arc, showcasing characteristics of a young, gas-rich galaxy in the early stages of formation. The unresolved clusters display exceptionally high surface densities, surpassing those of Milky Way globular clusters and nearby young star clusters, along with nebular-dominated spectra, low metallicity, high gas density, and elevated electron temperatures, suggesting a top-heavy initial mass function (IMF). These observations provide the first spectrophotometric view of a typical galaxy at Cosmic Dawn, highlighting JWST’s capability to investigate the co-evolution of galaxies and star clusters. I will also discuss plans to expand this work using future JWST cluster observations, aiming to deepen our understanding of the evolution of galaxy.
Relevant reading:

Mowla et al. 2024, “Formation of a low-mass galaxy from star clusters in a 600-million-year-old Universe,” Nature.
Mowla et al. 2024, “The Firefly Sparkle: The Earliest Stages of the Assembly of A Milky Way-type Galaxy in a 600 Myr Old Universe,” submitted.
ওয়েবের দেখা গ্যালাক্সি ফায়ারফ্লাই স্পার্কল যেন এক ঝাঁক জোনাকি; কাসা নিউজ।

Dr. Mowla will give the talk in-person at IUB. The event is open to students and researchers of all universities both offline (at IUB) and online. If you RSVP and want to join online, a google meet link will be shared with you before the event begins.

Astronomy Night 9: Technocultures in the Milky Way
2024-12-12 17:30 - 19:30
Organized by Durbin. More information here: https://durbin.cc/event/an9/

CASSA Colloquium 1: Galaxy Evolution in High-Density Environments: Insights from Hydrodynamic Simulations and Multi-Wavelength Observations
2024-11-28 13:00 - 14:00 | Lecture Gallery MK9006, DMK Building, IUB, Plot 16, Aftabuddin Ahmed Road, Block B, Bashundhara RA, Dhaka, 1229, Bangladesh
Speaker:
Syeda Lammim Ahad, PhD, WCA Postdoctoral Fellow, Waterloo Centre for Astrophysics, University of Waterloo, Canada; Associate Member, CASSA.
Abstract:
Galaxies in the Universe are distributed along the intricate framework of the Cosmic Web. Groups and clusters of galaxies comprise the densest regions in this network and therefore, are excellent cosmic laboratories to study different aspects of galaxy evolution in extreme environments. With the development of realistic cosmological hydrodynamic simulations, we now have an excellent opportunity to study such galaxy evolution in extreme environments combining theory and observations. In this colloquium, I will present the results from several studies exploring different properties of cluster galaxies and their host systems, such as the spatial distribution of mass in galaxies within clusters, the faint and diffuse stellar halo in groups and clusters, and processes that quench star formation in massive galaxies in high-redshift clusters. I will discuss major questions, current understanding, and future research directions. Finally, I will discuss the scope for conducting such research from Bangladesh, illustrating the potential for local contributions to the global astrophysics community.
Relevant reading:

Ahad et al., 2024, An environment-dependent halo mass function as a driver for the early quenching of z ≥ 1.5 cluster galaxies, MNRAS.
Ahad et al., 2023, How to interpret measurements of diffuse light in stacked observations of groups and clusters of galaxies, MNRAS.
Ahad et al., 2021, The stellar mass function and evolution of the density profile of galaxy clusters from the Hydrangea simulations at 0 < z < 1.5, MNRAS.
আইইউবিতে গ্যালাক্সির বিবর্তন নিয়ে সৈয়দা লাম্‌মীম আহাদের সেমিনার, বিজ্ঞানচিন্তা, প্রথম আলো।

Zoom Q&A session on Astronomy PhD admission for Bangladeshi students
2024-10-26 20:30 - 22:00
Many Bangladeshi astronomers are currently engaged in research and teaching positions in various countries, including many PhD, postdoc, and faculty members. On Saturday, October 26, at 8:30 PM, I will be participating in an online panel discussion with five people from North American to talk about opportunities for pursuing a PhD in astronomy abroad, specifically for Bangladeshi students.
The panel discussion is organized by Shajib, a postdoc at the University of Chicago. Joining the panel will also be Lammim, a postdoc at the University of Waterloo in Canada; Lamiya, a faculty member at Wellesley College, USA; Pritom, a postdoc at UCLA; and Niranjan, a PhD student at the University of Connecticut.
Registration link is available on Shajib’s website: https://www.astrobridge.org/events.

67th Anniversary of Sputnik Flight to Outer Space
2024-10-24 09:30 - 11:30
Khan Asad is invited as the Chief Guest for the 67th Anniversary of the Sputnik Flight to Outer Space, taking place on Thursday, 24th October 2024, at Legend International School. This significant event will celebrate humanity’s groundbreaking achievement of venturing into space, marking the launch of the first artificial satellite, Sputnik, which continues to inspire generations.

Open Discussion at Quantum Foundation
2024-10-12 16:00 - 18:00

SCOSTEP/ISWI International School on Space Science 2024
2024-09-15 - 2024-09-19
SCOSTEP/ISWI International School on Space Science 2024 will be held in Kathmandu, Nepal. The event is sponsored by International Space Weather Initiative (ISWI) and the Scientific Committee on Solar-Terrestrial Physics (SCOSTEP) and hosted by Nepal Physical Society (NPS). The school is meant for mainly graduate students and anyone with at least a BSc in physics or a related field can apply for participating in the event.
Students can apply using this Google Form.
Deadline for application: 31 May 2024.

LOFAR-EoR Plenary Meeting 2024
2024-04-24 - 2024-04-26

Astronomy Night 4
2023-11-02 19:00 - 21:00 | IUB Room BC2022, Digital Classroom, IUB, Plot 16, Aftabuddin Ahmed Road, Block B, Bashundhara RA, Dhaka, 1229, Bangladesh

IUB Astronomy Night III
2023-10-12 19:00 - 21:00 | IUB Room BC2022, Digital Classroom, IUB, Plot 16, Aftabuddin Ahmed Road, Block B, Bashundhara RA, Dhaka, 1229, Bangladesh
Regular Astronomy Nights (stargazing events) are beginning at IUB starting from this Thursday. You will get the chance to take images of the sky using a Unistellar eQuinox telescope and see the images on a large monitor at the Digital Classroom of IUB (BC2022).
If more than half of the sky is covered in clouds, the images taken by eQuinox so far will be shown in BC2022 accompanied by an informal discussion and Q&A with an astronomer.
The event is open to people of all ages from anywhere. However, please remember to RSVP before you come and also to check-in at Room BC2022 on time.

COALab Colloquium 1
2023-10-12 14:00 - 15:00 | IUB Room BC2022, Digital Classroom, IUB, Plot 16, Aftabuddin Ahmed Road, Block B, Bashundhara RA, Dhaka, 1229, Bangladesh
Title: Pulsars: The Incredible Physics of Incredible Stars
Speaker: Afiq Abdul Hamid, PhD student, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.
Abstract: Pulsars/ Neutron Stars are exotic stellar remnants that exist as laboratories of extreme physics. Since their discovery 60 years ago, the study of pulsars has expanded to become a fertile field of radio astronomical research. This talk will give a broad view of the current field of radio pulsar astronomy to date with an additional look to the future horizons of the field in order to entice students to further pursue a potential future this in the area.

You can see a Famelab Heats talk by the speaker at this google drive link.

IUB Astronomy Night II
2023-04-13 19:30 - 21:30
Join us on the roof of the academic building of IUB for Astronomy Night II on 13 April 2023, 7:30 pm. Tanweer Hasan, PhD, the honorable Vice Chancellor of IUB, announced the beginning of astronomy nights on 9 March 2023 and ARGI will organize these nights of stargazing and open discussion regularly. Most of the astronomy nights will be open to everyone, but this week we are welcoming only IUB students, faculty and staff. Hope to see you all under a starry night!
Weather permitting, you can see the sky via the screen of our eQuinox telescope on the roof. Looking at the solar system objects through the eyepiece of a Celestron telescope or through a couple of binoculars are also possible. You can engage with our ‘astronomy nighthawks’ (undergraduate students) and ask an astronomer (Dr. Khan Asad) your questions about the universe.
Please register for the event by clicking on the Going (RSVP) button on the sidebar.
This Astronomy Night will also be a celebration of the last day of the Bangla calendar, 30 Chaitra 1429.

IUB Astronomy Night I
2023-03-09 17:00 - 21:00 | IUB Auditorium, Independent University, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
The first IUB Astronomy Night was on 9 March 2023. Please see the poster of the event below.

National and Regional volunteers of Durbin after an evening of hard work.
