Wonders of the Universe

Overview

Modern physics explores nature across vast length and energy scales: from the smallest fundamental particles to the largest structures in the universe. This workshop introduces students to key ideas in particle physics, astronomy, and cosmology, and highlights how these fields are deeply connected.

The programme combines introductory theory, hands-on data analysis, and guided discussion, with approximately equal emphasis on particle physics, astrophysics and cosmology.

Who should attend

MSc and BSc Physics students. No formal prerequisites are required, though a basic understanding of undergraduate-level physics is assumed. Familiarity with Python programming will be advantageous, though not necessary — the programme is designed to be self-contained.

Theoretical concepts elucidated by experts

Hands-on sessions with real LHC experimental (open) data

Online astronomical data resources and Stellarium

The workshop is mentored by faculty of the Department of Physics, St. Joseph's University, Bengaluru, whose research spans astrophysics, theoretical physics and particle-physics phenomenology.

Prof. Arun Varma Thampan

Associate Professor, Department of Physics, St. Joseph's University, Bengaluru

Prof. Arun Varma Thampan works in astrophysics, with particular emphasis on neutron-star physics. The Department of Physics lists his areas of specialisation as neutron-star structure, accreting neutron stars and rotating neutron stars. His academic background includes a PhD in Physics from Bangalore University based on work at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, followed by postdoctoral work at IUCAA and SISSA, including work on neutron stars.

His research has included relativistic models of rotating and magnetised neutron stars, accretion onto compact objects, neutron-star equations of state, strange stars and observable signatures from compact stellar systems. He has formerly participated in a major research project on the computation of general-relativistic rotating magnetised neutron stars and their X-ray emission. Currently, he is involved in a major research project with ISRO under the RESPOND scheme on the Development of Processing Tools for Generation of UV Point Source Catalog using AstroSat/UVIT Data.

SJU profile Google Scholar ORCID ResearchGate

Prof. Poulose Poulose

Professor, Department of Physics, St. Joseph's University, Bengaluru

Prof. Poulose Poulose is a theoretical physicist working in high-energy physics phenomenology and related areas of theoretical physics. St. Joseph's University lists his research interests as theoretical physics, high-energy physics phenomenology, CP violation, mass-generation mechanisms and low-energy gravity.

His research has included collider phenomenology, physics beyond the Standard Model, CP-violating observables, dark matter and leptogenesis. His INSPIRE record includes work on the Alternative Left-Right Model, including studies of dark matter, neutrinoless double-beta decay and leptogenesis, as well as collider signatures of new gauge bosons and other new-physics states.

SJU profile Google Scholar INSPIRE ORCID ResearchGate

Profiles above are based on the current St. Joseph's University faculty pages and the linked researcher profiles. Publication examples are drawn from the researchers' indexed records and are included only as a brief guide to their areas of research.

09:30 – 11:00	Smallest vs largest scales, astrophysics and cosmology.
11:00 – 11:30	Tea Break
11:30 – 13:00	Physics at Small Scales: Matter particles, forces, symmetries
13:00 – 14:00	Lunch
14:00 – 16:00	Solar System – Stellarium: Descriptions – Hands-on
16:00 – 16:15	Tea Break
16:15 – 17:30	Particle Scattering Experiments – Preliminaries – Tutorials
17:30 – 18:30	Group discussion and reflection — an interactive session encouraging questions, discussion, and reflection.

09:00 – 11:00	Particle Physics Experiments – Part 1: Accelerators and Detectors; Interpretation of particle physics results
11:00 – 11:30	Tea Break
11:30 – 13:30	Stars and Galaxies: Details and Demos — Part 1
13:30 – 14:30	Lunch
14:30 – 16:30	Particle Physics Hands-on: Data Analysis – Part 1
16:30 – 16:45	Tea Break
16:45 – 18:00	Particle Physics Experiments – Part 2: Signal vs Background

09:00 – 11:00	Hands-on – Stars and Galaxies – Data Analysis
11:00 – 11:30	Tea Break
11:30 – 13:30	Particle Physics Hands-on: Data Analysis – Part 2
13:30 – 14:30	Lunch
14:30 – 16:30	Stellar Graveyard: Compact Objects
16:30 – 16:45	Tea Break
16:45 – 18:00	The Standard Model of Particle Physics: Experimental Status

09:00 – 11:00	Hands-on – Counting Galaxies
11:00 – 11:30	Tea Break
11:30 – 13:30	The Early Universe: Particle Physics in Cosmology — Big Bang / Inflation / BBN / CMBR
13:30 – 14:30	Lunch
14:30 – 15:30	Particle Physics in Cosmology: BAU / Dark Matter
15:30 – 17:00	Hands-on – Dark Matter / Compact Objects / Lensing
17:00 – 17:30	Summing up and Valedictory
17:30 – 18:00	Tea and Closing

Overview

Who should attend

Topics

Particle Physics

Astronomy & Astrophysics

Cosmology

Programme

Mentors

Prof. Arun Varma Thampan

Prof. Poulose Poulose

Workshop Poster

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Note

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