Keynote Speakers and Events

Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell

Department of Physics, Oxford University

Keynote talk: 'Astronomy and Poetry', Friday 13th June

Jocelyn Bell Burnell inadvertently discovered pulsars as a graduate student in radio astronomy in Cambridge, opening up a new branch of astrophysics - work recognised by the award of a Nobel Prize to her supervisor.

She has subsequently worked in many roles in many branches of astronomy, working part-time while raising a family. She is now a Visiting Academic in Oxford, Department of Astrophysics. She has been President of the UK’s Royal Astronomical Society, in 2008 became the first female President of the Institute of Physics for the UK and Ireland, and in 2014 the first female President of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. She was one of the small group of women scientists that set up the Athena SWAN scheme.

She has received many honours, including a $3M Breakthrough Prize in 2018.

The public appreciation and understanding of science have always been important to her, and she is much in demand as a speaker and broadcaster.

In her spare time, she gardens, listens to choral music and is active in the Quakers. She has co-edited an anthology of poetry with an astronomical theme – ‘Dark Matter; Poems of Space’.

Professor Tom Ray

Dublin, Institute for Advanced Studies

Keynote talk: 'From Newgrange to the Extremely Large Telescope: Monuments of Ingenuity in the Quest to Understand Our Universe', Thursday 12th June

Prof. Tom Ray is a distinguished astrophysicist specialising in star and planet formation, particularly supersonic jets from young stars and surrounding disks. He is Co-Principal Investigator of the Mid-Infrared Instrument on the James Webb Space Telescope and the ARIEL mission exploring exoplanet atmospheres. At the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, he leads research on Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors for astronomy. His career includes fellowships at the University of Sussex and the Max Planck Institute before becoming a professor at DIAS in 1986. Prof. Ray is the Robert Ball Professor at Trinity College Dublin, a member of the Royal Irish Academy, and a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. He has served on numerous national and international scientific committees, including those for the Hubble Space Telescope, ESA, NASA, and the European Southern Observatory, where he represents the Irish government. His interests also extend to historical astronomy and ancient astronomical sites like Newgrange. He is currently head of the European Southern Observatory, which is building the largest telescope in the world.

Professor Clive Ruggles

School of Archaeology and Ancient History, University of Leicester

Keynote talk: "Sighting the Sun — and Moon? — at Stonehenge"?, Monday 9th June

Professor Ruggles is an Emeritus Professor of Archaeoastronomy at the University of Leicester, where he has significantly contributed since 1982. With a diverse background in mathematics, astrophysics, and archaeology, he began his career focusing on statistical applications in archaeology before transitioning to archaeoastronomy and becoming a full professor in 1999.

Ruggles has served as President of several prestigious organisations, including the International Society for Archaeoastronomy and Astronomy in Culture. His research emphasises the integration of scientific and anthropological methods to enhance our understanding of how ancient cultures perceived the sky.

A notable aspect of his work involves research on Stonehenge, where he investigates its astronomical alignments, particularly with lunar cycles. His studies suggest that the builders may have aligned the monument with significant lunar events, revealing its cultural significance in prehistoric Britain.

Ruggles has published extensively, impacting the preservation of astronomical heritage. His achievements include receiving the Royal Astronomical Society’s Agnes Mary Clerke Medal, recognising his distinguished contributions to archaeology, astronomy, and the history of science.

Social and Cultural Events

Sunday 8th June

Welcome Reception at Belfast City Hall

At City Hall delegates will have the chance to explore Belfast's rich history, and the experience will be enriched further by poetry readings by a number of renouned local artists, creating a unique blend of history and literary artistry.

Darcey Dugan is a poet based in Belfast whose poems have recently appeared in journals such as The Rialto, The Waxed Lemon, and Abridged. This past year she has been the recipient of the Freedom to Write Award by the John Hewitt Society and PEN na hÉireann, and the Listowel Writer’s Week Cill Rialaig Residency. Darcey enjoys exploring themes of disconnection, relationships, place, and dreams, and is currently working towards an MA in Poetry at The Seamus Heaney Centre.

Kali Joy Cramer (he/she) is from the Chicago suburbs. He won a 2024 Ireland Chair of Poetry Student Award while completing an M.A. in Poetry at Queen's University Belfast. She is published in Querencia Press, Impossible Archetype, Sparks Literary Journal, and Sunday Mornings at the River, and has poems forthcoming in Metachrosis Literary Magazine, Hive Poetry, The Broken Spine, and Relief: A Journal of Art & Faith.

Matthew Rice is from Belfast. He holds an MA in Poetry from Queen’s University, Belfast, and is a PhD student at The Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s. His debut collection, The Last Weather Observer (Summer Palace Press), was published in 2021 and was included on the Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s top ten books of the year. His new book is forthcoming from Fitzcarraldo Editions (UK/Europe) and Soft Skull Press (US).
Monday 9th June

Wine Reception with Jazz Music

Delegates will have the opportunity to relax after Monday's sessions with a glas of wine in the oppulent Great Hall, followed by a performance by local jazz musician Ben McCleary.

Ben McCleary is a jazz guitarist based in Belfast and has been performing publicly since the age of 15. He recently completed a degree in music at Queen’s University Belfast. While his main focus is jazz, he also works in theatre and event settings. For this performance, Ben will play a selection of solo jazz guitar pieces, drawing on both classic standards and gypsy jazz influences.
Tuesday 10th June

Belfast City Bus Tour

Enjoy a sightseeing tour of Belfast city aboard a distinctive double-decker bus! An expert tour guide will lead you on a journey to uncover the city's history, showcasing its most important monuments and world-famous murals.
Wednesday 11th June

Irish Traditional Music

Join us for an evening at the Dark Horse Pub with live traditional Irish music.
Thursday 12th June
Conference Dinner

This iconic mansion, situated in Cave Hill Country Park, stands 400 feet above sea level, offering breathtaking views over the City of Belfast and Belfast Lough. With its stunning location, Belfast Castle provides the perfect backdrop for a "stellar" banquet.

The dinner will feature captivating cabaret entertainment by Lynda Williams, "The Physics Chanteuse".

Friday 13th June

Tour of Armagh Observatory and Planetarium

The conference will take place in the Copernicus Hall at Armagh Planetarium and will feature a tour of the Observatory. Bus transportation to and from Armagh has been arranged for attendees.
Saturday 14th June
Excursion to Newgrange

The Megalithic Passage Tombs of Newgrange, Knowth, and Dowth in County Meath date back to around 3,200 BC, predating Stonehenge and the Pyramids of Giza. These ancient structures, part of the Boyne Valley Mounds, are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

These sites, rich in history and megalithic art, are subjects of debate regarding their original purpose, whether as burial tombs, sacred temples, or astronomical observatories.

Due to exceptional demand, a second excursion to Newgrange has been arranged for Tuesday 10th June.