The 40th COSPAR Scientific Assembly took place from August 2-10, 2014 in Moscow and was organized by the Lomonosov Moscow State University, one of the leaders of the Russian educational system and the oldest university in the country. Lomonosov Moscow State University, one of the leaders of the Russian educational system and the oldest university in the country.
The opening ceremony of the Assembly was held in the Assembly Hall of Lomonosov Moscow State University. The guests were welcomed by Victor Sadovnichy, Rector of Lomonosov Moscow State University, and Vladimir Fortov, President of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The speakers also presented greetings from President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Arkady Dvorkovich, who also heads the National Assembly Organizing Committee, and Mayor of Moscow Sergey Sobyanin.
Now one of the most renowned scientific meetings in the world, the COSPAR Scientific Assemblies were conceived to promote research in astrophysics, astronomy, space science, space biology and medicine through free and unbiased information exchange and open discussion. Its contribution to international cooperation can hardly be overestimated, as well as its role in the further development of space education.
COSPAR President Giovanni Bignami addressed the Assembly and also named the venues for the next COSPAR Assemblies: in 2016 in Istanbul, Turkey, and in 2018 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Oleg Ostapenko, head of the Federal Space Agency, spoke about Russian activities in space in his welcoming address, whose address had a «space» continuation — the Assembly participants were greeted by Russian cosmonauts on board the International Space Station.
The second part of the ceremony was devoted to the COSPAR Medals, awarded for outstanding achievements in space exploration.
The Assembly will last nine days, from August 2 to 10. More than 2,000 scientists, undergraduate and graduate students from more than 60 countries take part in the Assembly. The program includes more than 2,700 oral presentations and more than 1,500 poster presentations.
COSPAR Assembly (English abbreviation COSPAR — short for «International Committee on Space Research», «Committee on Space Research») — is the most representative conference on space science, a kind of «cross-section» of the current state of our knowledge about space, since almost all directions of its research are discussed here. For the first time in its history the Assembly is held in Moscow.
Moscow — being on the one hand one of the global cities of the world — also preserves a rich historical and cultural heritage dating back more than 8 centuries. The spirit of the past as well as the signs and conveniences of the modern city make Moscow one of the most attractive places for visitors, especially during August, the mildest period of the year in the region. More than 60 museums, 100 theaters and 700 Russian Orthodox churches in the city and even more in its immediate vicinity are reasons why a stay in Moscow is never boring.
Moscow
A special part of the Moscow Assembly was a specially prepared program for high school physics teachers and young scientists, as well as excursions to branch space centers, museums of space corporations and the Russian Academy of Sciences.
***COSPAR or COSPAR — the International Committee on Space Exploration was formed in 1958 to help scientists from different countries to exchange information obtained by space satellites and automatic interplanetary stations. COSPAR Scientific Assemblies have been organized since 1960, in 1970. 13th Assembly was held in Leningrad. 40 The Scientific Assembly in Moscow is held at the Lomonosov Moscow State University. The Assembly is held in Moscow at Lomonosov Moscow State University with the support of the Russian Presidential Administration, the Federal Space Agency, the Russian Ministry of Education and Science, the Russian Academy of Sciences, and the Moscow City Government. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Dvorkovich was appointed Chairman of the National Organizing Committee.
Assembly website www.cospar2014moscow.com/
