IYA 2009 - Lebanon

(Download in pdf) The 1st Lebanese Astrophysics Meeting (1st LAM), organized by the Task-Force Astronomy and Astrophysics, within the activities of the International Year of Astronomy 2009 in Lebanon, was held April 14-17 at AUB, with the support of the Lebanese National Council for Scientific Research (L-CNRS), Notre Dame University – Louaize, the Center for Advanced Mathematical Sciences at AUB, the French Embassy (Ambassade de France au Liban), Observatoire Midi-Pyrénnées, and the French CNRS. The attendance of the meeting included two Spanish, four French, two Jordanian, ten Lebanese and/or Lebanese-descent astronomers working in Lebanon and abroad, two Lebanese physicists, and six graduate Lebanese students studying in Lebanon or abroad. The participants to the meeting convened for scientific talks and a round-table to discuss the status and future of Lebanese astronomy and astrophysics. At the end of the meeting, the Participants to the 1st LAM:

1. Thank the L-CNRS for supporting this meeting. They also thank AUB, NDU, and the French Embassy for their support, as well as all other sponsors. They consider the presence of a public Lebanese institution along with two private universities as an indicator of the interest and collective commitment to the development of astronomy and astrophysics in Lebanon.
2. Express their appreciation for this initiative and the scientific quality of the talks delivered at the meeting. They consider it an important milestone in the development of astronomy and astrophysics in Lebanon and consider such meetings as an example to emulate for developing countries in the course of their scientific development.
3. Recommend holding such meetings periodically to encourage Lebanese astrophysicists to network. They also encourage Lebanese astronomers to participate to the Middle-East and Africa Regional Meeting to advertise the results of the Lebanese Astrophysics Meetings.
4. Recommend preparing those meetings and announcing them well ahead of time to allow for a larger and wider participation from friends, colleagues, collaborators, and graduate students, as well as astronomers and astrophysicists interested in building bridges, strengthening ties, and developing collaborations with Lebanese astronomers and astrophysicists.
5. They consider the Lebanese National Observatory project a very important milestone in the development of astronomy in Lebanon since it will provide a focal point for research collaborations, education, and outreach. They consider that the National Observatory should not be an end by itself and should not deter the development of other important avenues for the growth of astronomy and astrophysics in Lebanon.
6. Recommend the identification of two or three broad research areas to be considered as priorities for the next five years, for the development of astronomy in Lebanon.
7. Recommend the development of a support network of willing individual scientists and institutions wishing to support the development of astronomy through:
a. Exchange and mobility programs from scientists to and from Lebanon,
b. Co-advising of graduate students,
c. Development of joint research programs,
d. Providing a place of choice for Lebanese students willing to pursue advanced studies in the field.
8. Encourage an inter-university collaboration for the creation and implementation of a graduate program, leading to the PhD in astronomy and astrophysics.
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