School: 3–6 March 2026
Workshop: 9–11 March 2026
Registration deadline: 30 January 2026 (Registration closed)
The Cosmic Dawn and the Epoch of Reionization mark the Universe’s last major phase transition: the formation of the first stars and black holes, and the transformation of the intergalactic medium from cold, neutral hydrogen into a hot, ionised plasma. Despite rapid progress, central questions remain open—when reionisation began and ended, how extended and patchy it was, and which sources dominated the ionising photon budget. We are now entering a decisive observational era: pathfinder low-frequency arrays (LOFAR, HERA, MWA, NenuFAR, uGMRT) are delivering increasingly stringent constraints on the redshifted H I 21-cm signal, while JWST is rapidly sharpening our empirical view of galaxies and black holes at –12. In this landscape, SKA-Low is the step-change facility expected to deliver precision 21-cm statistics—making this an especially timely moment to consolidate training and community readiness.
Organised under the Epoch of Reionization & Cosmology Working Group of the SKA India Consortium (SKAIC), this event combines a four-day School with a three-day Workshop to strengthen national capability and accelerate SKA-Low preparedness. The School (aimed at ~50 graduate students and early-stage researchers) will provide structured training in both foundations and modern practice, combining lectures with guided tutorials and hands-on sessions. The Workshop will bring together the broader community for project updates, focused topical discussions, and dedicated time for collaboration—culminating in shared priorities and concrete plans for the coming year.
School focus areas (lectures + hands-on tutorials):
- Instrumentation basics and measurement systematics
- Calibration concepts and practical workflows
- Foreground modelling and mitigation strategies
- Signal modelling and astrophysical interpretation
- Power-spectrum estimation and validation
- End-to-end simulations and parameter inference
- Multi-wavelength cross-correlation and synergies with JWST-era constraints
Workshop format and goals:
- Sessions on methods, data challenges, and lessons from current pathfinder datasets
- Progress reports from ongoing Indian projects
- Collaborative planning for SKA-Low readiness and high-impact science
Participation and selection
- Mode: In-person (TIFR Colaba campus)
School participants will be selected via a short application to maximise scientific fit and national representation. Travel support will be prioritised for early-career researchers without other funding.
