EXPLORE 2026 Workshop: Cosmic Probes of Dark Matter

26 Mar 2026, 15:00 → 31 Mar 2026, 20:40 Europe/Berlin

Zoom (Online)

Laura Sagunski, Nassim Bozorgnia (University of Alberta), Camilla Juul Hansen, Leo Kim, Jürgen Schaffner-Bielich, Adam Smith-Orlik (York University), Sean Tulin (York University)

EXPLORE stands for "EXPeriential Learning Opportunity through Research and Exchange”. It is the first German-Canadian-US undergraduate student research collaboration in theoretical astroparticle physics and brings together students and faculty from Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany, York University in Toronto, Canada, and the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada. The EXPLORE project is mentored by:

Nassim Bozorgnia (University of Alberta, Canada)

Camilla Hansen (Goethe University, Germany)

Leo Kim (York University, Canada)

Laura Sagunski (Goethe University, Germany)

Jürgen Schaffner-Bielich (Goethe University)

Adam Smith-Orlik (York University, Canada)

Sean Tulin (York University, Canada)

In EXPLORE, the students from all participating universities work together in diverse, international research teams to explore the most fascinating and yet unsolved mysteries of modern physics. The EXPLORE students will present the outcome of their research at this workshop. Everyone interested, whether they are student, postdoc, or faculty, is invited to join the workshop!

 

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The EXPLORE project is supported by the Academic Innovation Fund (AIF) at York University, the DFG Collaborative Research Center CRC-TR 211 “Strong-interaction matter under extreme conditions”, the Goethe Research Experience Program (GREP), and the International Laboratory Visits Program at Goethe University.

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Thursday 26 March

15:00 → 15:05 EXPLORE Workshop 2026: Welcome

15:05 → 16:05 EXPLORE Workshop 2026: Project 2: Gravitational waves from dark phase transitions

16:15 → 16:45 EXPLORE Workshop 2026: Project 1: Impact of the Large Magellanic Cloud on the Milky Way dark matter halo

16:55 → 17:25 EXPLORE Workshop 2026: Project 4: RR lyr stars as probes of the mass and chemistry of the Milky Way

16:55 Break

Tuesday 31 March

19:00 → 19:40 EXPLORE Workshop 2026: Project 3: Self-interacting dark matter in massive galaxies

19:50 → 20:40 EXPLORE Workshop 2026: Project 5: Navigating the landscape of self-interacting dark matter