In-person Location: Pembroke College, Cambridge. More location information The Institute of Astronomy is welcoming a select group of alumni, friends and supporters for an evening of food and drink at the spectacular Pembroke College in Cambridge.During the evening, we will share highlights from the Institute's recent successes and ongoing priorities, as well as hear about the work of Professor Debora Sijacki will share her world-leading work on the formation of cosmic structures, while Dr Will Handley will explore the properties of the Universe, from its earliest moments to its ultimate fate. Following dessert, there will be an opportunity for audience Q&A Speakers Professor Debora Sijacki Debora Sijacki is a Professor of Astrophysics and Cosmology at the Institute of Astronomy (IoA) and Deputy Director of the Kavli Institute for Cosmology, Cambridge (KICC), at the University of Cambridge. After completing her PhD studies at the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics in Germany, Professor Sijacki spent her postdoctoral years as an STFC Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the IoA and as a Hubble Fellow at the Center for Astrophysics, Harvard University.Professor Sijacki is a theoretical astrophysicist who develops numerical models of the Universe that capture the formation and growth of cosmic structures with an unprecedented level of realism. Professor Sijacki’s PhD work was recognised with the Otto Hahn Medal of the Max Planck Society. In 2015, she was awarded a European Research Council Starting Grant, and in 2019 she received the PRACE Ada Lovelace Award for High Performance Computing (HPC) for her outstanding contributions to and impact on HPC in Europe. In 2026, she was awarded the Eddington Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society for her outstanding contributions to our understanding of the role that black holes play in the evolution of galaxies, clusters of galaxies, and the Universe. Dr Will Handley Gonville & Caius College 2008 Will Handley is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge. His interdisciplinary research weaves together theory, observation, and statistical inference to tackle fundamental questions in cosmology and particle physics.Dr Handley's work focuses on fundamental questions in our universe, from the nature of dark energy and dark matter to gravitational physics. To address these questions, he develops advanced artificial intelligence and Bayesian statistical methods. His research creates computational tools that help scientists analyse complex data and test fundamental theories against observation.He has created widely-used software packages adopted by research groups worldwide, working at the intersection of AI and modern cosmology. More details about his research can be found at handley-lab.co.uk. Related Links Institute of Astronomy Contact information Events Team Location Pembroke College Cambridge CB2 1RF United Kingdom Location information Are you receiving the latest news from your department?Update your contact details to ensure you receive the latest news, events, and updates from your department. 52.201601, 0.118486 Directions on Google Maps
