IAU 2027 FM6

IAU 2027 Lemaître Focus Meeting

 

Cosmology 100 Years After Lemaître’s Expanding
Universe: Open Questions and New Frontiers
a Focus Meeting at the XXXIII International Astronomical Union General Assembly, August 2027, Rome, Italy
Abstract and grant applications due January 15th, 2027: visit https://iaurome2027.org to submit, this is FM-6
ABSTRACT

In 1927 Georges Lemaître first established the linear relation between recession velocity and distance, marking the theoretical discovery of the expansion of the Universe. The 2027 Lemaître Focus Meeting commemorates the centenary of this groundbreaking achievement while exploring the scientific questions that continue to shape modern cosmology.

Today, some of the most pressing challenges include the Hubble tension, the nature of black holes and spacetime singularities, the role of gravitational waves as cosmological probes, and the status of cosmic inflation.

By bringing together experts in observational cosmology, gravitational-wave astronomy, black-hole physics, and quantum gravity, the meeting will provide a unique interdisciplinary forum to assess how forthcoming observations and theoretical advances can jointly test the limits of the standard cosmological model.

Following the spirit of Georges Lemaître's scientific legacy, the Focus Meeting aims to strengthen the dialogue between theory and observation while identifying concrete pathways toward resolving some of the most fundamental open questions in cosmology.

Georges Lemaître
Key Topics
1.  The legacy of Georges Lemaître: historical overview
2.  The legacy of Georges Lemaître: impact on modern cosmology
3.  Cosmic expansion and the Hubble tension: observational perspective
4.  Cosmic expansion and the Hubble tension: theoretical perspective
5.  Space-time singularities and quantum gravity: future probes
6.  Space-time singularities and quantum gravity: theoretical perspective
Chairs of SOC
•  Piero Benvenuti (University di Padova, Italy; IAU commission C3, division B and C)
•  Wendy L. Freedman (University of Chicago, USA; IAU division J)
•  P. Gabriele Gionti, S.J. (Vatican Observatory, Vatican; IAU division D and J)
•  Adam D. Hincks (University of Toronto, Canada)
•  Michael S. Turner (University of Chicago, USA; IAU division J)
SOC Members
•  Piero Benvenuti (University di Padova, Italy; IAU commission C3, division B and C)
•  Wendy L. Freedman (University of Chicago, USA; IAU division J)
•  P. Gabriele Gionti, S.J. (Vatican Observatory, Vatican; IAU division D and J)
•  Adam D. Hincks (University of Toronto, Canada)
•  Michael S. Turner (University of Chicago, USA; IAU division J)
•  Elia Battistelli (Università La Sapienza, Italy)
•  Ileana Chinnici (INAF, Italy; IAU division C)
•  Ruth Durrer (Université de Geneve, Switzerland)
•  George Ellis (University Cape Town, South Africa; IAU division F and J)
•  Macarena Alejandra Lagos Urbina (Universidad Andrés Bello, Chile; IAU division D)
•  Dominique Lambert (University of Namur, Belgium)
•  Jia Liu (Kavli IPMU, University of Tokyo, Japan)
•  Jean-Pierre Luminet (Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille, France; IAU commission C3, division C, D and J)
•  Priyamvada Natarajan (Yale University, USA; IAU division A, C, D and J)
•  Hiranya V. Peiris (University of Cambridge, UK)
•  Costantino Sigismondi (Icranet, Italy; IAU commission C3)
LOC Members and Editors of the Proceedings
•  P. Gabriele Gionti, S.J. (Vatican Observatory, Vatican; IAU division D and J)
•  Matteo Galaverni (Vatican Observatory, Vatican; IAU division D and J)
•  Massimo Bianchi (Università di Roma “Tor Vergata”)
•  Sergio Cacciatori (Università dell’Insubria)
•  Pasquale Mazzotta (Università di Roma “Tor Vergata”)
•  Fabio Scardigli (Politecnico di Milano)
Deadlines
The following are important deadlines:
•  Abstract submission and grant application open: July 20th, 2026
•  Abstract submission and grant application deadline: January 15th, 2027 (23.59 CET)
•  IAU GA early registration deadline: March 5th, 2027 (23.59 CET)
•  IAU GA normal registration deadline: June 30th, 2027 (23.59 CET)
•  Focus Meeting: 11-12 August 2027
Program
Session plan:
Each of the six 90 minute sessions will begin with invited talk to appropriately set the scene (25+5 minutes) followed by contributed and invited talks (12+3 minutes).
Program:
TBD
CONTACT
For any inquiries regarding the IAU Focus Meeting 6, please contact the Local Organizing Committee:
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IAU 33rd General Assembly Rome 2027
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