“Into the Red Dragon’s Lair:
Four-in-One Workshop Tackling Outstanding Problems in
Heliophysics and Space Weather”
Clayton Hotel, Cardiff, Wales, UK (03-08 December 2017)
- This Workshop encompasses four themes.
- The “Fourth Remote-Sensing of the Inner Heliosphere” (previous workshop here http://www.sciesmex.unam.mx/workshop2015/),
- “Where are we on Bz” (a SEREN follow-on),
- “Novel Ionospheric Studies with Advanced Observing Techniques”, and
- The “11th LOFAR Solar Physics and Space Weather Key Science Project”.
Workshop Overview:
The workshop aims to gather experts from the various fields of remote-sensing observations of the inner heliosphere, including EUV, white-/visible-light, and radio observations, together with modellers, in order to tackle key outstanding heliophysics issues. The science learned from remote-sensing observations is critical to improving our capabilities of space-weather forecasting as well as having an impact on the fundamental physics behind how the Sun creates and drives the heliosphere. It is also intended to establish closer working relations and devise the best ways our group can move the field forward as a whole with observational capabilities that can be used to aid the upcoming Solar Orbiter and Parker Solar Probe Communities as well as Space Weather science and forecasting enhancements in general. The workshop also aims to look at ways in which we can more easily and efficiently share and access the various types of data between individual groups and across the different techniques.
We intend investigations into ways in which we model the inner heliosphere, by looking at the advantages and disadvantages of the available modelling. We will discuss updates on present and future remote-sensing capabilities and ways in which these data sets complement each other to help in understanding fundamental physical processes that are vital to both heliophysics science as well as space-weather operations and forecasting.
- Science Organising Committee (SOC):
- Mario M. Bisi (STFC RAL Space, UK) (Chair)
- Michael (Mike) A. Hapgood (STFC RAL Space, UK)
- Richard A. Fallows (ASTRON, NL)
- Kent Miller (EOARD, UK/AFRL, USA)
- Bernard (Bernie) V. Jackson (UCSD, US)
- David (Dave) F. Webb (BC, US)
- Biagio Forte (University of Bath, UK)
- Alexander (Alec) MacKinnon (University of Glasgow, UK)
- Gottfried Mann (AIP, DE)
- Local Organising Committee (LOC):
- Mario M. Bisi (STFC RAL Space, UK) (Chair)
- Catherine A. Baker (Baker-Bisi Executive Assistance, UK)
- Annabel Cartwright (Cardiff University, UK)
The workshop will have five key strands:
- Remote sensing and modelling of the inner heliosphere and how a greater scientific understanding can be achieved by combining multiple techniques; (Mario, Bernie and Dave leading)
- Determining Bz and its ‘evolution’ between the Sun and Earth; (Mike, Kent and Mario leading)
- Novel ionospheric observations and modelling (especially at the mid and low latitudes); (Richard, Biagio and Kent leading)
- Future coronal/heliospheric/ionospheric remote-sensing instrumentation needs, designs, concepts, and capabilities; (Bernie, Alec, Dave, Richard and Mario leading) and
- How can we support the Solar Orbiter and Parker Solar Probe missions to ensure their science is maximised? (Dave, Mario and Gottfried leading)
The workshop will take up the following schedule:
Final Detailed Agenda
- Sunday (lunchtime onwards) – Worldwide IPS Stations (WIPSS) Network cross-analyses, science, and business meeting (open to all).
- Monday (morning): continued from Sunday.
- Monday (lunchtime onwards): Workshop opening, introductions, overview talks, scope, etc…
- Monday (evening): Welcome reception.
- Tuesday (all day): Science presentations and discussions.
- Tuesday (evening): Workshop dinner.
- Wednesday (morning): Science presentations and discussions.
- Wednesday (afternoon/evening): Excursion(s).
- Thursday (morning): Science presentations and discussions.
- Thursday (early afternoon): Open discussions and workshop close.
- Friday (Short day): LOFAR Solar physics and Space Weather Key Science Project (SSW-KSP) business meeting (closed meeting).
Abstracts
Important dates:
- Registration and abstract submissions are now closed
- Refund of registration fees ONLY under extenuating circumstances such as close family illness/bereavement which prevents your ability to travel (please contact the SOC ASAP if this is needed) by 31st October 2017 at 23:59 UK time (unfortunately, cancellation after this date cannot be accommodated for any reason)
- Meeting dates in Clayton Hotel, Cardiff, Wales, UK 03-08 December 2017 to immediately follow the European Space Weather Week (ESWW) in Belgium and precede the Fall AGU in the USA
Venue/Travel/Accommodation
Further details of local interest for visitors.
The address of the Clayton Hotel, Cardiff is:
St Mary Street
Cardiff
CF10 1GD
Wales (UK)
(located just South of the crossroads with Penarth Road above the Viva Brazil Restaurant - GPS 51.4761523,-3.1769736).
The hotel is almost adjacent to the primary train station in Cardiff, Cardiff Central, and directions to the hotel can he found here.

We have block-booked 40 rooms at The Clayton Hotel who are offering some discounts to delegates for various lengths of stay between the Sunday night and the Friday night (including offers with breakfast included); these are all subject to availability and can only be obtained by calling the reservations team directly between 08:00h and 19:30h UK time on: +442920668866 (or from inside the UK on 029 2066 8866). The block booking code to be used for your booking is 549200. Bookings can also be made by E-Mailing events.cardiff@claytonhotels.com or re.cardiff@claytonhotels.com – however, bookings are not confirmed until after the hotel does so in writing – whereas a booking over the phone can be confirmed while on the phone.
- Bookings from Sunday 03 December 2017 (checking in) to Friday 08 December 2017 (checking out) (using the above code including a 15% discount and a free breakfast each day - normally £10.00 per time for breakfast) the total cost for the five nights will be £349.35 (this is based on a single occupancy).
- For bookings from Monday 04 December 2017 to Friday 08 December 2017 the rate would be £294.95 for four nights (using the above code) including breakfast (this is based on a single occupancy).
- For a single night's stay the rate would be £80.00 inclusive of breakfast (this is also based on a single occupancy). The single-night's stay offers less discount that the four- or five-night stays.
- These offers are on a first-come, first-served basis and guaranteed at this fixed pricing from Thursday 22 June 2017 to Sunday 12th November 2017 (or until they are sold out) - please book before this time to guarantee your room at this rate and to guarantee availability. Other rates/offers may be available online from The Clayton or other vendors but are all subject to availability. For example, The Clayton is now already fully booked out for Saturday 02 December 2017 due to the Wales-South Africa Rugby Union Event (see below).
If you do not wish to stay at the Clayton, there are several other hotels within easy walking distance to suit all budgets including both chain and independent hotels (these are just some examples and not to be considered recommendations: Travelodge Cardiff Central, Marriott, Sleeperz, Meridian, Radisson Blu, The Big Sleep Hotel, Park Inn, Royal Hotel, Sandringham Hotel, The Angel Hotel, Holiday Inn, Jury’s Inn, Hilton, etc…).
The nearest and recommended airport for arrival by air is Cardiff International Airport (CWL) with transport from the CWL listed here; CWL is connected to hundreds of destinations worldwide via Amsterdam, Paris Charles de Gaulle, and Dublin International Airports with several connecting flights each day from/to CWL. In addition, Bristol Airport (BRS) is the next closest (with some transport links to Cardiff), and Birmingham Airport (BHX - but reaching Cardiff is not straightforward from BHX) and for those coming in from London (e.g. by Eurostar or plane), there is a direct train from London Paddington to Cardiff Central or a Bus-Rail link from London Heathrow (LHR) via Reading Train Station to Cardiff Central.
If you require a letter for your visa application to enter the UK, then please urgently contact the SOC Chair with your full title, name, institution name, and institution address.
Further details will appear in due course. Last modified Friday, 07-Aug-2020 12:48:00 BST
We look forward to seeing you in Cardiff!