MW-Gaia WG5 School
Better Inclusion, Better Science, Building Impact in MW-GAIA

Vilnius, Lithuania, July 3 - 5, 2023
http://mao.tfai.vu.lt/mwimpact

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Molėtai observatory research cources - Better Inclusion, Better Science, Building Impact in MW-GAIA

Better Inclusion, Better Science, Building Impact in MW-GAIA
This 3 day school will cover topics related to improving inclusion in the science process, how this leads to better science, and more impactful science. In the school the MW-Gaia community will discuss, with the help of professionals from several scientific and social disciplines, current best practice in inclusion and impact and learn about possible new initiatives and solutions.
Speakers will show how their Equality/Diversity/Inclusion commitment is fundamental in underpinning their research. 
Topics for the School include: 
  • public engagement with research
  • practical skills on engagement with different audiences (including policy-makers)
  • practical development of a public engagement project about Gaia. 
  • training in social innovation
  • applying scientific knowledge to tackle social issues
  • gender and diversity training
  • contribute to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals

  • Day one will focus on EDI - what is equity, diversity and inclusion? Participants will consider how they identify. How improving diversity, inclusion, in a project can increase the science impact of the project.
  • Day two will consider the application to the case of Gaia. A distributed, Pan European project, with science impact across astronomy, across domains. How the project culture within Gaia aims to promote greater understanding between the team, leading to better science outputs.
  • Day three will provide training in communication of ideas, and how this can help reinforce students ability to actively participate in and promote the development of a positive and inclusive culture within the MW-Gaia network.
 
The meeting is part of the project “Revealing the Milky Way with Gaia” (MW-Gaia) funded by a COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) Union action.
MW-Gaia’s main purpose is to provide a better understanding of the Galaxy, its stars and planets, to enhance the potential of the community in its scientific exploitation of the observations of more than a billion stars with the European Space Agency's Gaia satellite, and to enhance the development of the next steps in astrometry and space astrometry missions.
The meeting is especially aimed at WG5 members of the project, who will discuss the current state of their work and discuss the future decisions to be taken. Participants are mainly expected from countries that are part of the COST MW-Gaia Action, but the workshop is open to scientists from all over the world, an international participation that we want to encourage. Researchers who are in the early stages of their careers and those from underrepresented countries will play a key role. The presence of some of the leads of the MW Gaia project, scientists of recognized international prestige, is also expected; as well as high-level astronomers as guest speakers.
In order to enable participation by people who might be unable to attend physically due to travel or time zone constraints or through a wish to reduce the carbon footprint of the event, the school will happen in hybrid format.
Very limited financial support is available for Early Carrier researchers and researchers from ITC countries coming to the event with the talk (abstract should be submitted during registration). 
 
 
 

Molėtai observatory research cources - Venue
Venue

Venue - National Center for Physical Sciences and Technology (NFTMC)

The school will be held at the Center for Physical Sciences and Technology (FTMC), Saulėtekio ave. 3, Vilnius, Lithuania where Instotute of Theoretical Physics and Astronomy is located.

Please use this location on Google Maps (https://goo.gl/maps/KhNvPs6UG9vDZLQF7) to to find the best way for transportation to the venue. Generally troleybus No 2 is the best way to go from center to the venue.

Travel to Vilnius

If you are traveling by air, the closest international airport is Vilnius (VNO). Instructions for traveling from thet airport to are here.
It is easy to travel by the bus around Baltic countries, ticket can be reserved with eurolines or ecolines .
Public transport to the venue and Airport
The easy way is to use TRAFI app on the smartphone and buy 30 min or 90 min or 1 day tickets with credit card
To get to venue from the centre you can use trolleybuses No 2 or 4 or bus 4G.
Airport - city center you can use busses No 3G, 1, 2 or 88, depending on the location of your hotel.
Please check routes and timetables here: (https://www.trafi.com/lt/vilnius) or in TRAFI app.
Uber and Bolt are convenient and cheap options to go around Vilnius, and you should expect to pay up to 7-12 EUR to go to the venue or airport.
Hotels
Booking.com and Airbnb are simple options to book your hotel. If you plan to use public transport and also want to have some Vilnius experience, probably the best is to stay closer to the Cathedral square.
For example:

Hotel Vilnia 

  Molėtai observatory research cources - Map
Map

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Virtual walktrough in National Center for Physical Sciences and Technology (NFTMC)

 

Molėtai observatory research cources - Programme
Programme

To be updated

 

Day 1

Activity

Title

9h30 - 10h00

Registration and Opening Session

 

10h00 - 10h30

Opening session

 

10h30 - 11h00

Coffee break

 

11h00 - 12h30

First session

 

12h30 - 14h00

Lunch

 

14h00 - 15h30

Second session

 

15h30 - 16h00

Coffee break

 

16h00 - 18h00

Workshop / Hands on activities

 

Day 2

  

9h00 - 10h30

Third session

 

10h30 - 11h00

Coffee break

 

11h00 - 12h30

Forth session

 

12h30 - 14h00

Lunch

 

14h00 - 15h30

Project

 

15h30 - 16h00

Coffee break

 

16h00 - 18h00

Project

 

19h00 - 22h00

School dinner

 

Day 3

  

9h30 - 10h30

Presentation of group projects

 

10h30 - 11h00

Coffee break

 

11h00 - 12h00

Presentation of group projects

 

12h30 - 14h00

Lunch

 

14h00 - 17h00

Excursion

 

 

 

Molėtai observatory research cources - Participants
Participants
Participant list to be updated
 

Molėtai observatory research cources - Online material
Online material
will be included later