25-27 June, 2025

AN Bourns Science Building (ABB), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

This conference will honour the distinguished career of Ralph Pudritz, bringing together experts from around the world in the communities of star formation, planet formation, and astrobiology to celebrate his impact on these fields.

Ralph's pioneering work has shaped the direction of modern astrophysics and inspired generations of students and researchers. His innovative contributions —ranging from the role of magnetic fields in star formation, the dynamics of molecular clouds, the diversity of exoplanetary systems, and the chemical pathways leading to life— have left a profound mark on the scientific community.

His collaborations have fostered an environment of intellectual curiosity and interdisciplinary engagement, linking fields like astrochemistry, planetary science, and biochemistry. This conference is not only a tribute to Ralph's remarkable career but also an opportunity to forge new collaborations that will further advance these vital areas of study.

Beyond his field-shaping scientific contributions, Ralph's mentorship has been instrumental in shaping the careers of many young scientists, guiding them through the complexities of astrophysical research with his sharp insight and unwavering support. Ralph has instilled a spirit of inquiry and camaraderie that continues to thrive among his students, colleagues, and the wider astrophysical community.

This meeting is designed for researchers and highly qualified personnel in star formation, planetary formation, and astrobiology. It will feature talks focused on Ralph Pudritz's impact on these fields, alongside cutting-edge research and recent advances. Participants will consist of a diverse group of researchers (e.g., disciplines, career levels, locations) and will gain insights into the latest discoveries and methodologies, while engaging in discussions that bridge theory, observation, and experimentation. This conference will foster collaboration, enhance professional networks, and provide a unique opportunity to reflect on Ralph's contributions, benefiting all attendees by strengthening connections across these interdisciplinary areas.

The conference starts on Wednesday June 25th at 8:30 AM, and finishes on Friday June 27th at 5:15 PM (Eastern Daylight Time), followed by a special social celebration on Friday evening.

Program Highlights:

• Invited speakers: Distinguished experts in star formation, planet formation and astrobiology

• Contributed talks: 31 oral presentations

• Daily schedule: Talks of mixed dicipline daily, not confined to strict sessions

• Hybrid format: Inclusive approach for online interaction

• Poster sessions: Interactive poster pop-up sessions

• Lunch: 80-minute lunch breaks with lunch provided

• Breaks: Multiple 30-minute coffee breaks each day

Special Social Events:

• Wednesday Evening (19:00): Banquet Dinner at The Diplomat in downtown Hamilton (https://thediplomat.ca/)

• Friday Evening (18:30): End of conference social celebration at Ralph & Patricia's, catered by the LOC/SOC

Full Schedule:

All times are Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).

Optional Activities:

• Wednesday (13:30-13:45) & Thursday (14:00-14:15): Guided tours of the Origins of Life Laboratory, led by Maikel Rheinstädter (in-person, ABB 242)

• Thursday (8:30-9:00 and 12:45-13:45): 3D Virtual Social Space demonstration and exploration of the JAXA Station, led by Elizabeth Tasker (in-person and online). The initial demo will take place Thursday morning (8:30-9:00; ABB 102), with the main event later that afternoon (12:45-13:45; in meeting rooms). More info below.

• Thursday (14:30-15:30): Planetarium Show at the W. J. McCallion Planetarium titled Onekwá:tara - The Seven Dancers of the Pleiades & The Celestial Bear: The Six Nations' Night Sky led by Bennett Neil Skinner (in-person, BSB B149)

• Thursday (12:00-15:00): A joint screening of the online CASCA Business Meeting for CASCA members (in-person, ABB 102)

• Thursday (12:00-15:00): Free small classroom / meeting rooms (in-person, ABB 272, 326, 326A)

• Friday (8:30-9:00): Meet & Greet with Ralph over Zoom (online only)

Participants can sign up for the Origins of Life Laboratory tours and Planetarim Show at registration on Wednesday morning. Free spaces (small classroom & meeting rooms) are booked for exploring the JAXA Station 3D Virtual Social Space with online attendees, and/or for social/science discussions/chats.

3D Virtual Social Space: JAXA Station

Let's head to space! Take a virtual trip to a space station where you can check out some of the small body missions run by JAXA (Japanese space agency), and even take a walk on asteroid Ryugu! Developed by Elizabeth Tasker (together with OmniScope and The Future of Meetings), the space is designed to demonstrate what can be created online to improve online meetings and events so that we can stay connected, even when we're miles apart.

Our space station is hosted on spatial.io, and you can connect via a web browser (any computer), smart phone (via a free app), or a Quest VR headset. You don't need an account to explore the virtual space, but if you'd like to unmute and chat to your fellow travellers, you'll need to make a free account on spatial.io (and hit "m" to unmute). Elizabeth with risk a live demonstration of the space on Thursday morning, before the first keynote session!

Maps & Floorplans:

The conference talks will take place in the A.N. Bourns Building (ABB) in room ABB 102.

Posters, coffee breaks, and lunches will be held in room ABB 166 (across from ABB 102). Lunches are provided and catered by local businesses.

The only on-campus event taking place outside of ABB is the Planetarium Show, which will be held in the Burke Science Building (BSB) in room BSB B149 (basement).

Maps and floorplans of the ABB and BSB buildings can be found below (PDFs scroll vertically).

• Chris McKee (University of California, Berkeley)

• Tom Ray (Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies)

• Lee Hartmann (University of Michigan)

• Jim Stone (Princeton University)

• Farzana Meru (University of Warwick)

• Alexandra Pontefract (Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory)

• Paul Higgs (McMaster University)

• Ryan Cloutier (McMaster University)

• Norm Murray (Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics)

Abstracts for contributed talks are due by May 16th. Abstracts submitted after May 16th will be considered for posters.

Abstract submission is done through the Registration Form.

During completion of the form, you'll have the opportunity to upload a document containing the title and abstract of your contribution (talk or poster). Follow the naming convention LastName_FirstName_DocumentTitle.pdf.

--

Please note: If the "Abstract Upload" page does not appear for you as you proceed through the registration pages, please submit your abstract PDF over email directly to our LOC Chair, Rachel Pillsworth pillswor@mcmaster.ca

1. Navigate to https://register.mcmaster.ca/.

--

2. Create an account by clicking "Create one here". You'll receive a confirmation email from meet@mcmaster.ca. Note: Even if you have a MacID you must first create an account on the platform.

--

3. Log in. Once you have created your account, then you will be able to login using either your MacID Login or Guest Login. Throughout this process, please do not press refresh or go to the previous page. If you wish to correct your booking, please use the GO BACK button and the bottom of the page when it is available.

--

4. Click "General Registration".

--

5. Enter the Event/Group code: RALPOSIUM. Select "RalPosium 2025 - Event Registration & Accommodations".

--

6. Complete the Personal Information page. Dietary restrictions are relevant for the provided lunch. Answer the "Do you require on campus accommodation" question with a "Yes" or "No" only.

--

7. Select your desired registration type. Early registration options are:

--

8. If you said "Yes" to Overnight On-campus Accommodations, choose your preferred arrival and departure dates. Accomodation is available for four (4) nights: June 24th, 25th, 26th, and 27th. See more details here.

--

9. Read the Guest Expectations document and sign with your account email address.

--

10. Abstract submission. Upload a document containing the title and abstract of your contribution (talk or poster) following the naming convention LastName_FirstName_DocumentTitle.pdf.

If this page does not appear for you, please submit your abstract PDF over email directly to our LOC Chair, Rachel Pillsworth pillswor@mcmaster.ca.

--

11. Add a RalPosium Banquet Dinner Ticket. Wednesday night, June 25th, at The Diplomat Restaurant in Hamilton!

--

12. Review and pay. All fees are due upon time of booking. Cancellation and refund requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis; a non-refundable $25 administrative and credit card processing fee will apply. Accommodations can be cancelled with 48hr notice for a full refund.

--

13. Check your inbox (or junk folder) for a confirmation email.

--

If you have any questions, please write to: ralposium2025@gmail.com.

Special Thanks to Ralph

The SOC/LOC is organizing a little something extra special. If you would like to celebrate Ralph's retirement beyond participating in the meeting, click below.

Please find the list of all participants in the following dropdown (final as of 23 June 2025).

• Early registration opens March 25, 2025 and closes May 16, 2025.

• Late registration opens May 17, 2025 and closes June 16, 2025.

• The deadline for purchasing a Banquet Dinner ticket is June 9, 2025.

• Abstract submission deadline for talks: May 16, 2025 (same as early registration).

• Abstract submission deadline for posters: June 16, 2025 (same as late registration).

The meeting will have a hybrid format, with both audience and speakers being able to join on-site at McMaster University, and online. Ralph's professional connections during his career have extended around the world, and this format ensures that there are no borders to joining this collaborative meeting. While we would all like to be with Ralph in Hamilton to celebrate this week, Ralph's influence has stretched around the globe and it is not always possible for everyone to be together physically. For those who cannot be with us in-person, we hope you will join us online.

• Rachid Ouyed, Chair (University of Calgary)

• Ben Pearce (Purdue University)

• René Heller (Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research)

• Elizabeth Tasker (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency)

• Yasuhiro Hasegawa (Jet Propulsion Laboratory)

• Rachel Pillsworth, Chair (McMaster University)

• Tamara Koletic (McMaster University)

• Jess Speedie (University of Victoria)

• Yasuhiro Hasegawa (Jet Propulsion Laboratory)

• Ateş (Olcay) Göksu (McMaster University)

• Bennett Neil Skinner (McMaster University)

To contact the SOC or LOC write to: ralposium2025@gmail.com

We, the organizers of RalPosium, are dedicated to making this meeting productive and enjoyable for everyone, regardless of age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, nationality, political affiliation, religion, ability status, physical appearance or educational background. We are committed to providing a harassment-free meeting for everyone attending. We expect attendees to:

• Behave professionally.

• Be kind to and respectful of each other.

• Retain from demeaning, or harassing behavior, materials, and speech.

• Anyone asked to stop unacceptable behavior is expected to comply immediately.

The members of the Local Organizing Committee and Science Organizing Committee are designated as the contact points for all matters related to this code.

Transportation to McMaster University

Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ) to McMaster:

• GO Bus: Route #40 from Terminal 1. Use the GO transit fare calculator for exact fares.

• GO Train:

  • UP Express train from Pearson to Union Station. CAD$12.35 one-way ticket, CAD$24.70 return ticket.

  • Lakeshore West (LW) GO train line from Union Station to West Harbour Station (Hamilton). CAD$13.60 one-way ticket.

• Pearson Airport Taxi: ~$130 from Pearson to Hamilton.

University of Guelph to McMaster:

• GO Bus: Route #17

University of Toronto/York University to McMaster:

• Take subway line 1 to Highway 407 stop

• GO Bus: Route #41 from Highway 407 Bus Terminal to McMaster

Western University to McMaster:

• Flixbus: Route #2702 from Downtown City Plaza

• Train:

  • Via Rail from London to Brantford

  • GO Bus Route #15 from Brantford to McMaster

University of Waterloo/Wilfrid Laurier University to McMaster:

• GO Bus: Route #17

Transportation within Hamilton

• Hamilton Street Railway (HSR): McMaster is well connected by many HSR bus routes that can get you to and from campus. More info here.

• Taxi Service: Hamilton Cab.

• Uber: Uber services are widely available.

On Campus at McMaster

A block of thirty (30) Single Suites has been set aside in Les Prince Hall for guests looking to stay on campus during the conference. Each Single Suite features 1 twin bed, a private washroom and includes bed linens, toiletries, and WIFI. These rooms are first-come-first-serve, and are intended for students and postdocs as a cheaper option. They can be booked on the Registration Form. More information on the rooms can be found here.

Hotels

Visitor's Inn

• CAD$123 per night

• 10 minute HSR bus ride or 30 minute walk to McMaster

• LOC choice for invited/keynote speakers

Hampton Inn

• CAD$170 per night

• 15 minute HSR bus ride or 45 minute walk to McMaster

Homewood Suites by Hilton

• CAD$170 per night

• 15 minute HSR bus ride to McMaster

Staybridge Suites Hamilton

• CAD$175 per night

• 15 minute HSR bus ride to McMaster

Sheraton Hamilton Hotel

• CAD$180 per night

• 20 minute HSR bus ride to McMaster