Unveiling ALMA Band 2
workshop
24-26 February 2026 (Bologna, Italy)
Workshop rationale
Installation and testing of the ALMA Band 2 receivers, covering 67 to 116 GHz, is currently underway. These are the first receivers belonging to the ALMA Wideband Sensitivity Upgrade (WSU) Programme. Band 2 includes the Band 3 frequency range (84 – 116 GHz) and extends this down to 67 GHz, offering thus a new frequency domain for spectral line and continuum observations uncharted before by ALMA.
In anticipation of Band 2 being offered in the near future, this workshop brings together astronomers and ALMA/ARC staff to discuss the new potential for various scientific fields. We plan to have a dedicated session focused on looking at the Band 2 Science Verification data.
>> Call for abstracts now open! <<
The workshop will have a number of invited talks to provide information about the Band 2 receiver, and cover the main scientific areas for which Band 2 is expected to be important. In addition, there will be space for several contributed talks and posters. Participants that are interested in presenting their science and ideas, including synergies with other wavelength regimes, are encouraged to submit an abstract by October 31st. Abstract evaluation will be done anonymously.
Confirmed invited speakers:
- José Cernicharo (CSIC, Spain)
- Claudia Cicone (U. Oslo, Norway)
- Carlos De Breuck (ESO, Germany)
- Greta Guidi (U. Grenoble, France)
- Luca di Mascolo (U. Groningen, the Netherlands)
- Neil Philips (ESO, Germany)
- Anna Puglisi (U. Southampton, UK)
- Victor Rivilla (CAB, Spain)
- Eva Schinnerer (MPIA, Germany)
- Olli Sipilä (MPE, Germany)
- Fabrizio Villa (INAF-OAS, Italy)
Important dates
- Abstract submission deadline: 31 October 2025, abstract submission form
- Registration deadline: 16 January 2026, registration form, no fee requested
- Unveiling ALMA Band 2 Workshop: 24 – 26 February 2025
Organising committees
SOC:
- Kazi Rygl (INAF-IRA & Italian ARC node, Italy, chair)
- Maria T. Beltran (INAF-OAA, Italy)
- Leindert Boogaard (U. Leiden, the Netherlands)
- Chiara Circosta (IRAM, France)
- Giuliana Cosentino (IRAM & IRAM ARC node, France)
- Elvire De Beck (Chalmers, Sweden)
- María Díaz Trigo (ESO, Germany)
- Gary Fuller (U. Manchester & UK ARC node, UK)
- Stanislav Gunar (CAS, Czech Republic)
- Pavel Jáchym (CAS & Czech ARC node, Czech Republic)
- Izaskun Jiménez-Serra (CAB, Spain)
- Neil Philips (ESO, Germany)
- Daniel Tafoya (Chalmers & Nordic ARC node, Sweden)
- Joshiwa van Marrewijk (U. Leiden & Allegro ARC node, the Netherlands)
- Catherine Walsh (U. Leeds, UK)
LOC – INAF-IRA & Italian ARC node:
- Elisabetta Liuzzo (chair)
- Ivano Baronchelli
- Matteo Bonato
- Nicola Marchili
- Marcella Massardi (co-chair)
- Rosita Paladino
- Kazi Rygl (co-chair)
- Alice Tabellini
- Marco Tugnoli
Venue, logistics and contact
The meeting is hosted by the Italian ALMA Regional Centre node. It will be held in person at the Congress Centre of the CNR-campus, via Gobetti 101, Bologna, Room 216, from Tuesday February 24 to Thursday February 26, 2026.
Directions to reach the campus can be found here
Different bike-sharing services are available in the city, and the most widespread one is RideMovi
The social dinner will be in the Bologna Center at the Vamola Restaurant . Here’s a map showing nearby hotels to the restaurant.
Possible accommodations close to the campus are listed here (with names of Hotels and distances from the venue)
No registration fee is requested. Lunch and coffee breaks will be provided. We will organise a conference dinner on Wednesday 25 February (not provided, should be paid by the participant). When registering you will be asked whether you wish to participate, and whether you have dietary requirements.
We kindly ask all participants to take note of our Code_of_Conduct.
Please contact the Italian ARC node for any questions: help-desk@alma.inaf.it.