Venue
Nordita, Stockholm, Sweden
Scope
This Nordita program explores the forefront of galaxy disk formation and evolution, propelled by transformative discoveries from ALMA and JWST. These instruments have revealed a wealth of high-resolution insights into the physical properties of galaxy disks across cosmic epochs, challenging long-held models. Recent findings highlight an unexpectedly high abundance of disk galaxies at high redshift, exhibiting diverse dynamical properties and structural features, including massive clumps, spiral arms, and stellar bars, just a few billion years after the Big Bang. These discoveries have fundamentally reshaped our understanding of galaxy formation, yet critical gaps persist between observations and theoretical models.
Themes and preliminary program schedule
The workshop will focus on the following key themes in disk formation and evolution:
Bridging the Near and Far Universe
Understanding the physical mechanisms driving the observed differences between gaseous and stellar disks in nearby and distant galaxies. We will explore how the environment influences disk formation, evolution, and morphological transformation across cosmic time.
The Origin of Disk Structure
Identifying the key processes that shape disk structures and properties over time, including the buildup of angular momentum, the growth of dark matter halos, galaxy mergers, and the complex interplay between gas accretion and outflows.
Interplay Between Disk Formation and Central Galactic Structures
Examining how disks coevolve with central galactic components, bulges, bars, inner disks, rings, and nuclei, to uncover the physical processes that drive the assembly of these structures.
The Turbulent Interstellar Medium
Investigating the origin and evolution of turbulence in the interstellar medium (ISM), and the roles of feedback, gravitational instabilities, and other physical mechanisms in shaping its multiphase structure. Particular emphasis will be placed on the formation of massive gaseous clumps and star clusters within gas-rich, turbulent disks.
Participants
Week 1
Alessandro Romeo
Angela Adamo
Benoit Famaey
Beth Westoby
Camilla Thune Nyhagen
Eleonora Parlanti
Filippo Fraternali
Floor van Donkelaar
Göran Östlin
Jeremy Fensch
Jonathan Freundlich
Joss Bland-Hawthorn
Lucie Rowland
Lucio Mayer
Matthieu Schaller
Melanie Kaasinen
Raghav Arora
Tze Goh
Victor Rufo Pastor
Oscar Agertz
Adélaïde Claeyssens
Francesca Pinna
Enrico Di Teodoro
Arianna Dolfi
Pavel Enrique Mancera Piña
Sandra Zamora Arenal
Mahsa Kohandel
Week 2
Amelia Fraser-McKelvie
Sijing Shen
Anna Esselink
Camilla Thune Nyhagen
Eric Emsellem
Eric Murres
Floor van Donkelaar
Francesca Rizzo
Göran Östlin
James Wadsley
Jesse van de Sande
Joss Bland-Hawthorn
Lola Danhaive
Lucio Mayer
Martin Rey
Matthieu Schaller
Mengyuan Xiao
Natanael de Isídio
Raghav Arora
Sowmya Parthasarathy
Takafumi Tsukui
Tommaso Zana
Victor Rufo Pastor
Leonard Romano
Timothy Davis
Enrico Di Teodoro
Arianna Dolfi
Ulrich Steinwandel
Luca Costantin
Sergey Khoperskov
Mahsa Kohandel
Week 3
Andrea Ferrara
Anna Esselink
Antonio Pensabene
Camilla Thune Nyhagen
Cecilia Bacchini
Deanne Fisher
Eric Emsellem
Eric Muires
Evangelia Ntormousi
Floor van Donkelaar
Florent Renaud
Göran Östlin
Katarina Kraljic
Lingrui Lin
Livia Vallini
Martin Rey
Natanael de Isídio
Oscar Agertz
Paola di Matteo
Raghav Arora
Santi Roca Fabrega
Sowmya Parthasarathy
Takafumi Tsukui
Tommaso Zana
Victor Rufo Pastor
Andrea Pallottini
Leonard Romano
Weichen Wang
Barnali Das
Jiayi Sun
Mahsa Kohandel
Travel and accommodation support
Nordita can arrange accommodation for all participants. Limited travel and accommodation supports are available.
Please indicate in the application form if you need travel and/or accommodation support.
If Nordita covers a participant’s stay, the support applies to a Studio Small (single occupancy) at Biz Apartment, at the extended stay rate of SEK 1030/night (excluding breakfast). These rooms have a small kitchenette and are very convenient for longer visits. Participants can upgrade to a Studio Medium (SEK 1130/night), Studio Large (SEK 1230/night), or One-Bedroom Apartment (SEK 1330/night). Additional guests cost SEK 100/night, and breakfast can be added for SEK 120/day. Any extra costs are paid personally at check-in.
Participants whose accommodation is covered by the program will be assigned a room. Those arranging their own stay will receive a booking code to access the same negotiated rates.
Cancellation policy (from the hotel): Free cancellation is possible up to four days before arrival. Cancellations made later, or early departures, will be charged for three nights. For arrivals after 18:00, a credit card guarantee is required.
Application/Registration
Registration to be considered for on-site participation will close on the 10th of January 2026. Registrants will receive an on-site/remote participation confirmation from the organizers after this date.
Sponsored by:
