18 – 22 May 2026 · Lorentz Center@Omega, Leiden
Opening Day — Setting the Scene
| 10:00 – 10:25 | 25 min |
Welcome & Workshop OverviewLorentz Centre introduction (15 min) + workshop goals (Aditya Parthasarathy, 10 min) |
| 10:25 – 11:00 | 35 min |
Introductory Science Sparklers — Session A~30 participants: short ~1-minute introductions — who you are, expertise, what you want from the workshop |
| 11:00 – 12:00 | 60 min |
Keynote 1 PTA / GW ScienceThe first inroads into the low-frequency gravitational-wave spectrum: Results and Challenges |
| 12:00 – 13:30 | 90 min | Lunch |
| 13:30 – 14:30 | 60 min |
Keynote 2 ISM PropagationThe interstellar medium in space and time: current state-of-the-art in scintillometry and imaging techniques |
| 14:30 – 15:00 | 30 min | Coffee break |
| 15:00 – 16:00 | 60 min |
Keynote 3 VLBI AstrometryPrecision astrometry on compact objects with VLBI and avenues for advancements |
| 16:00 – 16:30 | 30 min | Coffee break |
| 16:30 – 17:00 | 30 min |
Introductory Science Sparklers — Session B~25 participants |
| 17:00 onward | — |
Welcome Reception |
PTA: Challenges & Solutions
| 10:00 – 10:40 | 40 min |
Keynote 1Daniel Reardon (30 min + 10 min Q&A) |
| 10:40 – 11:05 | 25 min |
Discussion Plenary Discussion AFacilitated: prioritise topics/questions emerging from Keynote 1 |
| 11:05 – 11:45 | 40 min |
Keynote 2Speaker to be confirmed |
| 11:45 – 12:00 | 15 min |
Discussion Plenary Discussion BFinalise shortlist of breakout questions + key ideas |
| 12:00 – 13:30 | 90 min | Lunch |
| 13:30 – 14:15 | 45 min |
Interactive PTA Tutorial Session"PTA observables → constraints → how they plug into timing" |
| 14:15 – 14:35 | 20 min |
Breakout Overview & Team Assignment |
| 14:35 – 14:55 | 20 min | Coffee break |
| 14:55 – 15:10 | 15 min |
Breakout SetupTeams settle, assign roles, review topic cards |
| 15:10 – 16:20 | 70 min |
Breakout PTA Breakout Sessions8 teams of 6–7: one PTA challenge + actionable solution |
| 16:20 – 16:40 | 20 min | Coffee break + teams finalise output |
| 16:40 – 17:20 | 40 min |
Discussion Breakout OutcomesModerator synthesis (10 min) + 8 × 3 min team pitches + wrap (6 min) |
| 17:20 – 18:00 | 40 min |
Discussion Guided DiscussionAll participants: shortlisted topics, define success criteria |
ISM: Challenges & Solutions
| 10:00 – 10:40 | 40 min |
Keynote 1 Pulsar ScintillometryAdvances in pulsar scintillometry techniques — Robert Main |
| 10:40 – 11:05 | 25 min |
Discussion Plenary Discussion APrioritise topics emerging from Keynote 1 |
| 11:05 – 11:45 | 40 min |
Keynote 2 VLBI Astrometry of Scintillation ScreensHigh-resolution VLBI astrometry of pulsar scintillation screens — Ashley Stock |
| 11:45 – 12:00 | 15 min |
Discussion Plenary Discussion BFinalise breakout questions + key ideas |
| 12:00 – 13:30 | 90 min | Lunch |
| 13:30 – 14:15 | 45 min |
Interactive ISM Tutorial Session"ISM observables → constraints → how they plug into timing" |
| 14:15 – 14:35 | 20 min | Breakout Overview & Team Assignment |
| 14:35 – 14:55 | 20 min | Coffee break |
| 14:55 – 15:10 | 15 min |
Breakout SetupTeams settle, assign roles, review topic cards |
| 15:10 – 16:20 | 70 min |
Breakout ISM Breakout Sessions8 teams of 6–7: one ISM challenge + actionable solution |
| 16:20 – 16:40 | 20 min | Coffee break + teams finalise output |
| 16:40 – 17:20 | 40 min |
Discussion Breakout OutcomesModerator synthesis + team pitches |
| 17:20 – 18:00 | 40 min |
Discussion Guided DiscussionAll participants: shortlisted topics, define success criteria |
VLBI: Challenges & Solutions
| 10:00 – 10:40 | 40 min |
Keynote 1 VLBI & AGN VariabilityVLBI and AGN variability |
| 10:40 – 11:05 | 25 min |
Discussion Plenary Discussion APrioritise topics emerging from Keynote 1 |
| 11:05 – 11:45 | 40 min |
Keynote 2Speaker to be confirmed |
| 11:45 – 12:00 | 15 min |
Discussion Plenary Discussion BFinalise breakout questions + key ideas |
| 12:00 – 13:30 | 90 min | Lunch |
| 13:30 – 14:15 | 45 min |
Interactive VLBI Tutorial Session"VLBI observables → constraints → how they plug into timing" |
| 14:15 – 14:35 | 20 min | Breakout Overview & Team Assignment |
| 14:35 – 14:55 | 20 min | Coffee break |
| 14:55 – 15:10 | 15 min |
Breakout SetupTeams settle, assign roles, review topic cards |
| 15:10 – 16:20 | 70 min |
Breakout VLBI Breakout Sessions8 teams of 6–7: one VLBI challenge + actionable solution |
| 16:20 – 16:40 | 20 min | Coffee break + teams finalise output |
| 16:40 – 17:20 | 40 min |
Discussion Breakout OutcomesModerator synthesis + team pitches |
| 17:20 – 18:00 | 40 min |
Discussion Guided DiscussionAll participants: shortlisted topics, define success criteria |
Synthesis & Roadmap
| 10:00 – 12:00 | 120 min |
Working Consolidation SessionsCollaboratively draft actionable research plans, grant proposals, and observing strategies based on the week's discussions. |
| 12:00 – 13:30 | 90 min | Lunch |
| 13:30 – 15:00 | 90 min |
Discussion Roadmap & Next StepsCulminating in a community roadmap document to guide future collaborative efforts across PTA, ISM, and VLBI communities. |
Day 5 schedule is preliminary and will be adjusted to accommodate participants who may need to travel.
~55 participants split into 8 teams of 6–7, each tackling one challenge with an actionable solution. Each team has a Chair/Timekeeper, Scribe, Reporter, and Skeptic.
70-minute working method:
Teams will select from topics like these (final selection made during the workshop):
Detect, model, and correct profile/TOA biases from time-variable scattering.
Define a minimum standard across wideband + multi-telescope data.
Turn arcs/anisotropy into constraints on screen distance, velocities, and timing priors.
Joint observables/products for robust screen localisation and validation.
Operational diagnostics to separate heliosphere from ISM propagation.
Inject ISM measurements into PTA analyses as priors and nuisance models.
Define a realistic, shareable product that lowers barriers across PTAs.
Shared simulations/real-data benchmarks + metrics to compare correction methods.