Liverpool wins bid to host European space science conference

Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) has emerged victorious in its effort to bring the European Week of Astronomy and Space Science (EWASS) to the city.

The university’s Astrophysics Research Institute collaborated with the ACC Liverpool in a bid to bring the 2018 event to the waterfront complex.

Organised by the European Astronomical Society, which promotes astronomy across the continent, EWASS is the biggest annual meeting of astronomers and space scientists in Europe.

Around 1,200 international delegates are forecast to attend the four-day conference and exhibition in April 2018 at ACC Liverpool, which comprises the BT Convention Centre, Echo Arena and Exhibition Centre Liverpool.

The head of LJMU’s Astrophysics Research Institute, Prof. Chris Collins, said: “This event will put Liverpool John Moores University, the city and the rest of the UK on the world-stage in showcasing our space technology and astrophysics research capability.

“As a university that thinks locally but acts globally, this event is testament to our legacy of international collaboration.”

He continued: “From our wide portfolio of internationally leading research projects, to our unique robotic telescope in La Palma, which is currently tracking the Gaia spacecraft with fellow astrophysicists in Germany, France and Chile, we not only look to the stars but to the rest of the world in pushing the boundaries of astrophysics.”

The event will represent a joint meeting between EWASS and the annual UK National Astronomy Meeting, which is organised by the Royal Astronomical Society.

The president of the Royal Astronomical Society, Prof. John Zarnecki, commented: “EWASS is the major astronomy and space science event in the European calendar.

“UK scientists are very much committed to collaboration with our peers across the continent, so I’m delighted that we will host the meeting in 2018.”

The bid was supported by Club Liverpool, an ambassador initiative headed up by Liverpool Convention Bureau in partnership with ACC Liverpool. Club Liverpool works to draw large international conferences to the city by utilising local academic, medical, scientific and business expertise.

ACC Liverpool’s director of conference and exhibition sales, Kerrin MacPhie, said: “Through Club Liverpool we have worked closely with our ambassadors to illustrate that we have the scientific expertise, the destination support and a world class venue to ensure a successful conference in 2018.”