Programa Internacional de Astrofísica Avanzada
"Guillermo Haro"

The Programme	Guillermo Haro
Getting to Puebla	Local information
Past events	Contact addresses

El programa

This Programme is in honor of the remarkable Mexican astronomer Guillermo Haro and will take place at INAOE, an institute founded by Haro, where he carried out most of his astronomical research.

Introduction

Astrophysics is an interdisciplinary science of increasing complexity. Understanding the nature and evolution of astronomical objects and phenomena leads to interrelations between diverse theoretical fields such as high energy physics, nuclear and plasma astrophysics, general relativity, physics of rarefied gases and chaotic dynamic systems, as well as observational techniques spanning the complete electromagnetic spectrum. The study of elementary particles of extremely diverse energies is accomplished by a variety of numerical simulations techniques as a partial substitute to direct experimentation.

Thus, advances in modern astrophysics usually demand interaction amongst researchers of many fields. The collaborations established amongst scientist coming from different fields of astronomy lead to new working procedures enriched by the diversity of ideas from experts with all sorts of astronomical backgrounds. These constitute the basis of any step towards the frontiers of knowledge. Such philosophy can not be alien to the surroundings where it is developed. Experience proves that locations of natural beauty with intense and lively cultural traditions are an incentive towards a wholesome expression in human spirit. The region of Cholula combines its rich cultural tradition with
INAOE's presence, outgrowth of the former Tonantzintla-Tacubaya Astrophysical Observatory which was a cornerstone in the modern history of Mexican Astronomy.

Stimulated by these ideas we propose to create a research programme in advanced astrophysics with the following goals.

Objectives

   1.To create a working atmosphere that favours research in specific topics of Astrophysics,  encouraging collaboration amongst researchers and advanced students.
   2.To promote the development of Astrophysical research at INAOE.

Structure

   1.A Panel will be responsible for the setting of the Programme.
   2.The Panel will carry out the Programme objectives through workshops, conferences and  postdoctoral fellowships oriented towards high standard current astronomical topics.
   3.The Programme will provide the conditions needed for researchers, students and postdoctoral  fellows to meet at INAOE to develop advanced research activities. The Programme will guarantee financial support, computing and library facilities and offices for the efficient work of  simultaneous participation of about 20 scientists.
   4.Participants are expected to stay for a period of not less than 3 weeks.

The Panel

   1.The Panel will consist of internationally renowned scientists.
   2.The Panel functions will be to establish the Programme norms, to choose the topics to be developed within the framework of an annual schedule, to nominate the members to a scientific committee responsible for the annual schedule, to evaluate periodically the Programme results,  to appoint new members to the Programme and to revise and update the Programme objective and policies.
   3.The Panel will appoint one of its members to act as the Executive Secretary who will carry out the Programme policies. His/her functions are detailed below. The Executive Secretary will be in office for 2 years and will be alternated by the Panel members.
   4.The INAOE Director General will be a Panel member.

The Coordinator

The Coordinator's duties are the following:

   1.To represent the Programme.
   2.To solve the logistic and organisative problems related to the workshops and postdoctoral fellowships.
   3.To guarantee that the Panel agreements are meet.
   4.To organise the Panel meetings.
   5.To present an annual report.

Programme Development

   1.The scientific committee appointed by the Panel will design the programme of each event. The scientific committee will be formed by one or more members, and will be responsible for inviting experts in the chosen subject as well as selecting the participants. The Panel will issue partial evaluations about the workshop development suggesting to the Executive Secretary measures neccesary to guarantee the event's success.
   2.The postdoctoral fellowships will span the interval between two consecutive Programmeevents, never lasting for less than a year. The postdoctoral researchers will participate throughout a complete programme and will be expected to work on the chosen subject.
   3.The programme of each event will include at least one Public Lecture.

He was a remarkable Mexican intellectual and is best known internationally for his important contributions in the field of Astronomy. In particular, his name is linked to the discoveries of Herbig-Haro objects and blue galaxies, but he also contributed to the growth of other areas of science and technology in Mexico. His professional studies were not in science; rather, he obtained degrees in Law and Philosophy. A lawyer by training, but an astronomer by heart, he devoted great effort to the creation and development of the most important astrophysics research institutes in Mexico today. First, during the fifties and the sixties, he was Director of the Instituto de Astronomía-UNAM, and of the Astrophysical Observatory of Tonantzintla, Puebla. Later, in 1972, he founded and was the first Director of INAOE, located right next to the Observatory in Tonantzintla. With this, he gave a solid push to the fields of Optics and Electronics and, for the first time in the recent history of Mexico, a research and graduate studies center was established outside Mexico City. INAOE has grown steadily, first in Optics and later on in Electronics and Astrophysics, in these 25 years. At present, it is a very active and world renowned center in the three fields.

Professor Haro became member of the prestigious Colegio Nacional in 1953, and was a co-founder of La Academia de la Investigación Científica. These institutions are the most important national academic societies and gather the most important intellectuals of Mexico in all the areas of Science, Technology, Humanities, and Arts. Also, he was one of the main promoters for the transformation of the old Instituto Nacional de la Investigación Científica into the new Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología, the organization that distributes federal government grants for basic and technological research, graduate studies programs, and scholarships for Mexican students in foreign countries. Prof. Haro was also a key person in the creation of two important publishing companies originated in Mexico: Fondo de Cultura Económica, and Editores Siglo XXI.

Transportation from the Mexico, D.F. airport to Puebla: there is a comfortable bus service by "Estrella Roja" which runs from Mexico City airport to the city of Puebla every 30 minutes. These leave from the airport zone D, next to International Arrivals (zone E). The fare is 170 Pesos (as of June 2007) and is paid in a kiosk located in front the bus departing zone. The ride takes about two hours. Those wanting to see the landscape (once outside Mexico City!) should sit on the right hand side of the bus.

Buses departing at the hour (13:00, 14:00, 15:00, etc...) arrive to Puebla bus station (known locally as CAPU) while those departing at the half-hour (13:30, 14:30, 15:30, etc...) arrive to station of "4 Poniente" located nearer to Puebla's downtown. For more information, including an update timetable see www.estrellaroja.com.mx. Taxis at CAPU have fixed prices; taxis from 4 Poniente do not.

If arriving to CAPU we recommend that you get a regulated taxi ticket (at one of the kiosks with a TAXIS sign on it) to Tonantzintla (80 Pesos, add 8 Pesos -approx- if you arrive after 10:00 PM, the ride to Tonantzintla takes some 20 minutes) or to "Puebla centro" if you are hosted in downtown ($22 pesos to Puebla's downtown). Make sure you take a yellow and white taxi. Tell the taxi driver to drop you at "El Observatorio" in Tonantzintla. If you are hosted in a hotel on the city centre, just tell the taxi driver the hotel's name. From the "4 Poniente" station there are only standard (black) taxis. It is recommended to fix the prize in advance (it should also be less or equal to $100 Pesos to Tonantzintla, $40 pesos to downtown).

We strongly advise you against taking taxis from Mexico City airport to Puebla as the fare will be astronomical (at least 500 pesos).

If you are highly adventurous and insist on driving to Tonantzintla, the basic instruction is to go to the city of Puebla (120 kms East), then after entering town head to Cholula (8 kms West) and from there to Tonantzintla (5 kms South). Simple, isn't it? To make life easier, exiting the airport you have to take "boulevard aeropuerto" to the south, after some 3 to 5 kms take "Calzada Ignacio Zaragoza", a wide kind of freeway road, towards the East. After some 15 kms it leads to the beginning of the motorway. Mind: take "Puebla cuota" and NOT" Puebla libre" (a rather bad road).

Local information

Money:The Mexican currency is the peso ($). The present exchange rate with the U.S. dollar is about $11.0 = 1.0USD, but this changes more rapidly than we would like. Please make sure you have some pesos with you BEFORE leaving the Mexico City airport, where there are plenty of currency exchange offices. Once in Mexico, not all places take US dollars or traveler's checks. Foreign credit cards are accepted in major restaurants, stores, and hotels. Best exchange rates are found in CASAS de CAMBIO (exchange houses) open only on weekdays, usually from 9 am to 5 pm. Most banks open only on weekdays, also from 9 am to 5 pm. The airport has 24 hour money exchange counters. USA cash or travelers checks are easier to change into pesos than other types of currency.

Weather: Puebla is located at an altitude of 2200 meters (7100 feet). There is usually no rain during the spring, but it gets rainy during the summer and about the middle of autumn. The temperature varies from some 30 C (85-90 F) in the daytime to about 10 C (50 F) in the night/morning. Note that the air is thin, and it can get cool at night.

Language: Spanish is the official language in Mexico. Because Puebla is not overly frequented by tourists, very few people speak English. We advise you to have a good dictionary and a phrasebook when you venture out.

• Food: Mexican cuisine is among the best in the world, but those visiting for the time should take some precautions. There are some spicy sauces (salsas picantes) which could be very aggressive to unaware mouths: before adding any sauce to your food, try a small amount of it in a piece of bread. Also, to avoid traveler's diarrhea (or any other stomach disease), do not drink tap water and do not eat raw fruits or vegetables without skin. Drink only bottled water.
• Accommodation and food at INAOE: Rooms are usually reserved for workshop attendants. We will reserve you a room as soon as we have your dates of arrival and departure. Breakfast and lunch during weekdays are provided inside the premises of INAOE.
• Mexican culture and archeological sites in the region

• Email:   secregh@inaoep.mx
• Fax:      +52.222.2472231; within Mexico: 01.222.2472231
• Phone:  +52.222.2663100 ext 2117; within Mexico: 01.222.2663100 ext. 2117
• Postal:
  • Secretaria del Programa Guillermo Haro
  • Instituto Nacional de Astrofísica Optica y Electrónica
  • Luis Enrique Erro 1
  • Tonantzintla, Puebla 72840, MEXICO