Since the beginning of computer science there has not been any other discipline more closely related to astrophysics and cosmology. Astrophysics has recently entered a new big-data multimessenger era. We are constantly acquiring more and more new astrophysics knowledge, but we are still using obsolete ways of processing and representing it. In the next few years the field of astrophysics will see a revolution across multiple messengers, which will only make things worse. Upcoming experiments will generate an immense amount of data that will likely remain largely unused if we do not find new and creative ways to handle, structure and represent them.
Closer collaboration between computer scientists and astrophysicists can be extremely beneficial for both. The same data can be used by astrophysicists to draw physical conclusions, and by computer scientists for analytics/processing/mining purposes. In addition, many AI frameworks have become publicly available and are slowly becoming a significant part of our every day lives and activities. However, the introduction of AI to the broader public has not happened without some amount of controversy. Astrophysics and cosmology are among the very few, if not the only, disciplines where AI applications can explore their full potential without ethical constraints.
Building cross-disciplinary partnerships between astrophysics and computer science groups can lead to lasting collaborations focusing on the application and development of advanced methodologies for the solution of complex astrophysics problems. However, for that to happen requires that we find ways to overcome language barriers and communicate efficiently, and the best way to achieve that, is through joined interdisciplinary conferences and workshops where astrophysicists and computer scientists can meet and discuss ways forward.
UniverseAI will be the first IAU interdisciplinary symposium between astrophysics and computer science to take place in Greece, the birth place of the first computer to be used for astronomical applications. The symposium will cover a wide range of topics related to AI and deep learning, astronomical databases, current and upcoming large scale surveys, pressing problems in astrophysics and cosmology, and ultimately plant the seed for a new worldwide community of computer scientists and astrophysicists to grow.
When: June 2-6, 2025
Where: Athens, Greece (Venue)