Accelerating the Rate of Astronomical Discovery

This meeting marks the the International Year of Astronomy by reviewing the extent to which astronomers are achieving the optimal rate of astronomical discovery. Can we identify and overcome the limits to progress? What steps can be taken to accelerate the rate of expansion of astronomical knowledge? What lessons can be learnt both from the recent and distant past? As the public announcements regarding the 2009 IYA have emphasized, new astronomical discoveries are currently being made at an extraordinary rate, while the invention of the telescope ushered in an equally momentous “golden age of discovery” 400 years ago. The meeting addresses a range of potential limits to progress—paradigmatic, technological, organizational, and political—examining each issue both from modern and historical perspectives, and drawing lessons to guide future progress. The program focusses on how astronomy actually progresses, using careful historical studies and real data, rather than anecdotes and folklore.

Sessions
Main session
Session 1: BACK TO THE FUTURE
Session 2: CREATIVITY and INNOVATION
Session 3: FUTURE TELESCOPES AND INSTRUMENTATION
Session 4: DATA AND INFORMATION
Session 5: USING TELESCOPES
Session 6: DISCRIMINATION
Session 8: EDUCATION
Session 9: CROSS-FERTILISATION AND COLLABORATION
Session 10: ASTRONOMY IN CULTURE

Main session
Introduction: Accelerating the Rate of Astronomical Discovery PoS(sps5)034 pdf R.P. Norris
Session 1: BACK TO THE FUTURE
Discovery and the Culture of Astronomy PoS(sps5)001 pdf R. Williams
Back to the Future PoS(sps5)002 pdf D.H. DeVorkin
Rapid Progress and Limitation of Observational Astronomy in Japan PoS(sps5)003 pdf N. Kaifu
Session 2: CREATIVITY and INNOVATION
Scope and Training for Amateur Astronomers of Developing Countries for contribution towards Astronomical Discovery PoS(sps5)006 pdf P.S. Mahajani
The Exploration of the Unknown PoS(sps5)005 pdf K.I. Kellermann, J.M. Cordes, R.D. Ekers, J. Lazio and P. Wilkinson
Session 3: FUTURE TELESCOPES AND INSTRUMENTATION
Big and Small PoS(sps5)007 pdf R.D. Ekers
Expert prognosis of the future of astronomy PoS(sps5)010 pdf O.Y. Malkov
Major Radio Astronomy Telescope RT70-Suffa: Preparation for Future PoS(sps5)033 pdf A.S. Hojaev
Session 4: DATA AND INFORMATION
Making access to astronomical software more efficient PoS(sps5)013 pdf P. Grosbol and D. Tody
Using large surveys, multiwavelength catalogs, and databases for new discoveries PoS(sps5)030 pdf A.P. Mickaelian
Towards a Resource-Centric Data Network for Astronomy PoS(sps5)032 pdf A. Accomazzi, S.S. Murray and M.J. Kurtz
Session 5: USING TELESCOPES
Next-generation astronomy PoS(sps5)015 pdf R.P. Norris
The Stagnation of Contemporary Stellar Astronomy PoS(sps5)016 pdf P. Škoda
Reflections on the discovery of pulsars PoS(sps5)014 pdf J. BellBurnell
Time allocation scheme for the WSO-UV mission PoS(sps5)031 pdf O.Y. Malkov, M. Sachkov, B. Shustov, P. Kaygorodov, F.J. Yanez and A.I. Gomez de Castro
Session 6: DISCRIMINATION
The Legacy of Discrimination PoS(sps5)018 pdf E. Griffin
Astronomy and Development in Southern Africa PoS(sps5)019 pdf P.A. Whitelock
Catching them young: The need for education-research connect in astronomically developing countries PoS(sps5)017 pdf R. Kochhar
Session 8: EDUCATION
Astronomy heritage for Education PoS(sps5)022 pdf M. Stavinschi
New trends in outreach PoS(sps5)023 pdf J.F. Gossman
What PhD students really want PoS(sps5)024 pdf M.Y. Mao
Session 9: CROSS-FERTILISATION AND COLLABORATION
The Role of Provenance Management in Accelerating the Rate of Astronomical Research PoS(sps5)027 pdf G.B. Berriman
Cross-disciplinary research in modern astronomy PoS(sps5)025 pdf E.D. Feigelson
Session 10: ASTRONOMY IN CULTURE
The influence of society on astronomical discovery PoS(sps5)028 pdf G.G.K. Miley
Indigenous astronomies and progress in modern astronomy PoS(sps5)029 pdf C.L.N. Ruggles