This 40th annual IAP Symposium "Unveiling the physics of early galaxy and black hole formation with JWST" is dedicated to the formation of the first galaxies and black holes.

After two years of ground-breaking results from the James Webb Space Telescope, this is an excellent opportunity to take stock of the latest results and try to understand what they imply for the physics of galaxy formation. In a remarkably short time, the JWST has revolutionized our view of the early Universe, revealing many galaxies and black holes at record distances. However, the existence and properties of these objects present severe challenges to theoretical models in many ways. Firstly, the overabundance of UV-luminous galaxies at z>10 has led to many scenarios attempting to reconcile observations with current simulations of galaxy formation. The unexpected observation of “quenched” galaxies already in place in the first few billion years after the big bang is equally challenging to understand. In addition, a new population of high-redshift active galactic nuclei is seen in the early Universe with anomalous black hole masses relative to their stellar masses. Finally, the unexpectedly high ionizing properties of star-forming galaxies during the epoch of reionization may lead to an earlier reionization than what is observed from current opacity measurements. 

This conference will be dedicated to synthesizing our knowledge of the formation of the first galaxies and supermassive black holes and their respective contributions to the reionization of the Universe. Open questions will be discussed in light of new simulations and semi-analytical models that attempt to reproduce a wealth of unprecedented observational constraints. We will bring together observers, numericists and theoreticians to tackle the following main topics:

• The statistical properties and environment of star-forming and quenched galaxies at high redshift
• The star-formation histories of early galaxies
• Physical properties of high-redshift AGNs and the formation scenarios of massive black holes and quasars at early times
• Confronting theoretical predictions with the most recent observations of early galaxies and AGNs
• The reionization history of the Universe

The participation fee for the conference is €350. This includes access to all conference sessions, the welcome reception, and the conference dinner. Accompanying persons are welcome to join the conference dinner for an additional fee of €120 per person.

Abstract Submissions

Abstract submission is closed.

Registration Process

Registration is now closed.

The conference program is available here: Scientific Program

Sarah Bosman (University of Heidelberg)
Benedetta Ciardi (MPIA)
Laure Ciesla (LAM)
Anna de Graaff (MPIA)
Andrea Ferrara (SNS)
Mélanie Habouzit (University of Geneva)
Vasily Kokorev (UT Austin)
Pascal Oesch (University of Geneva)
Masami Ouchi (University of Tokyo)
Joakim Rosdahl (CRAL)
Dan Stark (University of Arizona)
Maxime Trebitsch (Paris Observatory)

A welcome cocktail party will take place on the evening of Monday 2nd December, at the town hall of the 14th arrondissement of Paris.  

The conference dinner will take place on Wednesday 4th December at the Georges restaurant, on the rooftop of the Centre Pompidou

Participants of this conference must follow the IAP Code of Conduct.

• Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris
• DIM ORIGINES
• Initiative Physique des Infinis
• Programme National Cosmologie et Galaxies
• Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales

• 1st June 2024 
  Abstract submission opens
• 10th June 2024
  Registration opens
• 13th September 2024 
  Abstract submission closes
• 30th September 2024
  Results of abstract selection 
• 30th October 2024
  Registration closes
• 2nd-6th December
  Conference at IAP

Hakim Atek, IAP (Co-chair)
Pierre Guillard, IAP (Co-chair)
Henry Joy McCracken, IAP (Co-chair)

Contact