**FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT**


"THE ASTROCHEMICAL UNIVERSE UNVEILED WITH HERSCHEL"
European Week of Astronomy and Space Science, Symposium 2 (http://www.ast.leeds.ac.uk/ewass12/)

 July 2nd and 3rd, 2012 in Rome (Italy)


*MOTIVATION*

Since its launch in 2009, the Herschel Space Observatory has unveiled the far-IR window with its high sensitive instrumentation, collecting spectra of important molecules towards a variety of different objects: from comets to protoplanetary disks; from the diffuse interstellar medium and photodissociation regions (PDRs) to dense cloud cores; from star forming regions to the circumstellar environment of evolved stars; from local to early-universe galaxies. In doing so, new molecular species have been discovered; unbiased spectral surveys have unveiled an extraordinary rich chemistry; high spectral resolution line profiles of hydrates and important coolants such as water and carbon monoxide have revealed complex chemical/physical processes and shocked material. In summary, Herschel has emphasized the crucial role of astrochemistry in the whole astrophysical community. It is now time to summarize and compare the results obtained in different environments and to discuss their int
erpretation with the available models, with the aim of advancing our understanding of astrochemical processes in the universe.

This symposium consists of 5 blocks focused on Herschel spectroscopic and modelling results in different environments, plus one final block where astrochemical models will be presented and discussed. Schematically:

Block 1: Solar System and Evolved Stars
Block 2: The Interstellar Medium and Photodissociation Regions
Block 3: Star Forming Regions
Block 4: Protoplanetary disks
Block 5: External Galaxies
Block 6: Astrochemical models

The six sections will allow different communities to present their major results and discuss together common problems linked to the interpretation of Herschel observations. The final block will be dedicated to the data interpretation and available models. Here, open questions, major problems and future developments for data interpretation techniques and chemical/physical models will be jointly discussed.


*CONFIRMED INVITED SPEAKERS*

Simon Bruderer
Sylvie Cabrit
Stephanie Cazaux
Cecilia Ceccarelli
Jose Cernicharo
Leen Decin
Maryvonne Gerin
Javier Goicoechea
Paul Hartogh
Michiel Hogerheijde
Inga Kamp
Lars Kristensen
Edo Loenen
Gwendolyn Meeus
Eckhard Sturm
Mario Tafalla
Serena Viti


*SCIENTIFIC ORGANIZING COMMITTEE*

Paola Caselli (Chair) – School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
Frank Helmich – SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research, Groningen, The Netherlands
Brunella Nisini – INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma, Monteporzio Catone, Italy
Ewine van Dishoeck – Max-Planck-Institut fur extraterrestrische Physik, Garching, Germany; Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands


*REGISTRATION AND ABSTRACT SUBMISSION*

To register and send an abstract, please follow the instructions in http://www.ast.leeds.ac.uk/cgi-bin/ewass12/registration.pl. Please note that you will need to register and pay the conference fee on the main EWASS2012 website (http://www.ifsi-roma.inaf.it/ewass2012). Early registration will be possible from the 15th of February to the 11th of May (see http://www.ifsi-roma.inaf.it/ewass2012/?page_id=179).

A limited financial support for young astronomers will be provided by the European Astronomical Society and by the Organization of the Meeting. Information on grants will be posted on http://www.ifsi-roma.inaf.it/ewass2012.