Theoretical Astroparticle and Cosmology Symposium Held
The inaugural TACOS event was organized by The University of Texas at Austin's Kimberly Boddy & held at Southern Methodist University.
The inaugural annual meeting of the Theoretical Astroparticle and Cosmology Symposium (TACOS) in Texas was held, and researchers discussed the latest scientific advancements at the intersection of theoretical particle physics, astrophysics, and cosmology.
Kimberly Boddy, assistant professor of physics and lead organizer of TACOS, jumpstarted this initiative to foster interactions and collaborations among researchers across Texas. The location of TACOS rotates between host institutions around the state.
The inaugural meeting, held earlier this month at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, brought participants from seven universities in Texas. UT Austin had a strong turnout including faculty, postdocs, and graduate students, who represented one-third of the invited speakers, nearly 30% of the 75 registered participants, and nearly 30% of those who contributed short summary presentations. Contributions from UT Austin facilitated conversations and allowed young researchers to introduce themselves to one another.
The newly established Texas Center for Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics in the Weinberg Institute provided travel support for UT Austin attendees from the Departments of Physics and Astronomy. Upcoming TACOS meetings will be held at Rice University in October 2023 and at UT Austin in Fall 2024.
