The aim of this special session is to discuss and position the role of very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) at radio wavelengths in the context of the challenges and open questions of astrophysics as we approach the next decade. VLBI arrays are the only instruments capable of reaching milliarsecond scale resolution and below, and in this special session we aim at addressing those astrophysical key areas where VLBI will prove to be crucial for a major improvement of our knowledge. This special session is part of an ongoing effort to shape the VLBI roadmap for the next decade, and will be an excellent good chance to gather many experts within and outside the VLBI community, to discuss the most fundamental astrophysical questions VLBI will be able to address, complementing the other main forthcoming astronomical facilities. The speakers have been selected, but we still accept and encourage poster submission.

Programme

• Topic 1
OBSERVATIONAL COSMOLOGY: Cosmology and Gravity; Galaxy and AGN co-evolution
• Topic 2
EXTREME PHYSICS: Towards the horizon of events; Transient events
• Topic 3
THE LOCAL UNIVERSE: Masers, stars and planetary systems
• Topic 4
THE FUTURE OF HIGH RESOLUTION RADIO ASTRONOMY IN EUROPE

Invited speakers

• Andreas Brunthaler MPIfR, Bonn, Germany
• John Conway Onsala Space Observatory/Chalmers University, Sweden
• Heino Falcke Radboud University, The Netherlands
• Jason Hessels ASTRON, The Netherlands
• Andrea Merloni MPE, Garching, Germany
• Tom Muxlow University of Manchester/Jodrell Bank Observatory, UK
• Hans Olofsson Chalmers University, Sweden
• Miguel Perez-Torres IAA, Spain
• Cristiana Spingola Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, The Netherlands
• Tullia Sbarrato University Milano Bicocca, Italy
• Andrew Williamson Radboud University, The Netherlands

Scientific organisers
Tiziana Venturi (tventuri @ ira.inaf.it), Istituto di Radioastronomia, INAF
Zsolt Paragi (zparagi @ jive.eu) Joint Institute for VLBI ERIC (JIVE)
Michael Lindqvist (Michael.Lindqvist @ chalmers.se) Onsala Space Observatory

Contact
Tiziana Venturi - tventuri @ ira.inaf.it
Zsolt Paragi - zparagi @ jive.eu
Michael Lindqvist -Michael.Lindqvist @ chalmers.se