Kruger Gate Hotel, August 19-21, 2024

Understanding the formation and evolution of galaxies within a cosmological context is one of the grand challenges in modern astrophysics.  It requires bringing together multi-wavelength data from the latest observational facilities with forefront supercomputer simulations in order to study the full range of relevant processes from star formation and black holes deep within the interstellar medium, to the effects of large-scale environment on scales of millions of light years.  The landscape in between is littered with pitfalls that are the bottlenecks towards progress, from unchallenged assumptions to underappreciated systematics, that could bias our interpretations.

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Lurking Lions is a small interactive three-day meeting aimed at bringing together a diverse cohort of scientists working on disparate aspects of galaxy evolution to highlight the primary bottlenecks, assumptions, and pitfalls in a frank discussion of some of the under-appreciated issues impeding progress.  By connecting people working in different sub-fields of galaxy formation and evolution, we hope to spark fruitful new ideas and directions, and establish collaborations that will make progress on the core issues lurking below the conventional approaches.  To this end, talks will be kept intentionally very short and will be unlike standard conference presentations, but rather designed to spark discussion, brainstorming, and an exchange of ideas.

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The meeting will be held at the world famous Kruger Gate Hotel, overlooking the Sabie River just outside the main gate of South African's premier game park, Kruger Park.  All conference activities, including all meals and the sessions, will be on-site.  This meeting occurs the week after the IAU 2024 General Assembly in Cape Town. There will be a conference registration fee of ZAR 3000 (approx. $160, £130) which covers lunch, coffee breaks, and conferencing costs for the participants.  You must stay at the hotel in order to attend this conference, and full-board accommodations is ZAR 3600 per night for a single, and ZAR 4290 per night for two people sharing a room.  Families are welcome, and there are a limited number of family rooms available.  We recommend staying for 4 nights from 18-22 August, and a block of rooms has been reserved for that period.

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Registration has closed as of 1 April, and unfortunately we are significantly over-subscribed.  We have let all accepted participants know, and have sent regrets to the remainder.  For those who have been accepted, please return the accommodations form attached to the acceptence email promptly, after which an invoice and payment information will be forthcoming.  Accepted participants must book their hotel and pay their registration fee by 15 May 2024.  Our block of rooms may be released shortly after that, and as of now the hotel is otherwise fully booked for our dates.

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ORGANISING COMMITTEE

Arif Babul

Romeel Davé (chair)

Neal Katz (co-chair)

Ilani Loubser

Ros Skelton

Kate Whitaker

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Post-meeting update:  Thanks to all the participants for a wonderful and productive meeting!  If you would like to upload relevant photos, the shared folder is https://photos.app.goo.gl/iLxjUSaQwTHGnoqy9

[Thanks Connor Bottrell!]

Safari Highlights from Participants:

[credits: Crocodile-Neal Katz; Kudu-Neal Katz; Rhino-Leon Koopmans; Hippos-Neal Katz; Leopard-Pieter van Dokkum; Water buffalo-Neal Katz; Female Lions-Pieter van Dokkum; Male Lions-Neal Katz; Giraffes-Leon Koopmans; Elephant at night-Connor Bottrell; Bush baby-Connor Bottrell; Elephant@hotel (video)-Romeel Davé]

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