Registration

In-person registration places update [16th April 2025]

Registrations places are now available on a first-come-first served basis to those on the waiting list.

In-person registration places update [8th April 2025]

Thank you to all those who have expressed interest in additional in-person registration places at the 2025 SKAO General Science Meeting, “A New Era in Astrophysics: preparing for early science with the SKAO”. Thank you for your patience as we investigated the options available to ensure that as many members of the science community as possible can attend the meeting in person. 

We are now able to provide an update, and we have good news to share. Following discussions with our colleagues in Görlitz and a second site visit last week, we are in a position to increase the capacity of the plenary session venue, the Gerhart-Hauptmann-Theater, by 130 places. All in-person registration places will therefore be allocated to the same venue, and we will not be using an overflow venue.

The additional places will be offered first to all those on the waiting list who will be presenting a poster at the meeting. Places for poster presenters will be reserved until 14th April, after which any remaining places will be offered on a first-come-first-served basis to those still on the waiting list. 

Communications containing an invitation to register will be sent directly to poster presenters on Tuesday 8th April. On Tuesday 15th April, we will advise everyone on the waiting list on the availability of remaining places and invite registrations for the remaining seats. 

An important update concerning in-person registration places [March 2025]

Due to a very high level of interest in the meeting, we have now reached a limit on the current number of in-person registration places available. Those still planning to register for an in-person place will now be offered a place on our waiting list (please see below). Registrations already made are secure, and places for plenary and parallel session speakers who have not yet registered will remain reserved until 14 April.

We want to ensure that this event provides the opportunity for as many members of the science community as possible to attend in person, so we are currently exploring solutions to enable us to provide additional registration places. One option we are considering is to provide registration places allocated to an overflow venue. The overflow space would only be needed during the plenary sessions, as the current total number of in-person registration places is limited by the capacity of our plenary session venue. 

The additional space would stream all plenary sessions live, and attendees would be able to interact with speakers where time is available for questions after each talk. The option would enable us to accommodate an additional 100 participants in person, who would be able to attend the full social programme and the full parallel session programme in the originally planned venues. Registration places would be created specifically for this option and would be made available at a slightly reduced price. 

In order to gauge interest and determine whether this option would be suitable, we would like to invite all those interested to complete an Expression of Interest form. All respondents will also be added to the waiting list for places at the main plenary venue.  If you would not be interested in the overflow venue option but would still like to be added to our waiting list, please use the same form to indicate your preference. An expression of interest in the overflow venue will not affect your position on the waiting list for the main venue.

--

Sign up for the meeting here

Prices for in-person delegates include full meeting registration, refreshment breaks and lunches each day, welcome reception and social dinner. All rates are in Euros.  On booking, please refer to our refund policy.  All delegates will be required to complete the registration in full and agree to the SKAO meeting and events code of conduct. Payment is required at the time of booking. 

Travel assistance/grants available 

The organisers have made some funds available to help with expenses for those who may need travel support. You must have been selected to give an oral (if chosen) or poster presentation to receive support. Preference will be given to students and early career researchers, or those requiring childcare. All travel support will be through reimbursements after the meeting has been held unless otherwise approved. The application window closed on 31 March 2025. All applicants will be notified of the outcome by 14 April.

Travel visas and letters of invitation 

Be sure to check visa requirements for travel to Germany and Poland (our first night’s welcome event is a short walk across the border to a venue in Poland!) If you need an official invitation to secure a travel visa, please send your request to skaosci2025@skao.int as soon as possible. Please include your name, address, affiliation, nationality and passport number along with any other information you need included on your letter of invitation.

Refund and cancellation policy

For in-person places, cancellations are subject to an administration fee of 50 Euros. Cancellation and refunds can be requested up until registration closes on 1 June 2025. Please contact skaosci2025@skao.int. After this date, no refunds will be processed.

For virtual places, cancellations are subject to an administration fee of 10 Euros. These can be requested up until 9 June 2025 (one week before the meeting begins.) After this date, no refunds will be processed.

For UK Early Career Researchers (ECRs)

STFC has kindly provided funding for UK ECRs to help with payment of the meeting on-line registration fee.

 UK ECR requests to cover the cost of on-line registration should be sent to George Madden (george.madden@stfc.ukri.org) and Simon Haynes (simon.haynes@stfc.ukri.org) by 20th May for consideration and include:

•    Institute and Job Title
•    Your science interests
•    The reason why you want to attend this event
•    The amount of funding needed and confirmation from your supervisor that funding is not available through other routes