Meeting: Recovery plan for Ukrainian astronomy

📅 Date: June 10–11, 2025
📍 Location: Leiden University | Oude Sterrewacht (Old Observatory Leiden), B1.04
👥 Organisers: IAU E-ROAD
💡 Funded partially by the Erasmus+ Programme (ICM)

Want to participate?

If you're interested in joining this meeting, please get in touch with us via the email below and include a short motivation outlining your interest and how you envision your role or contribution.

Kateryna Frantseva
📩 frantseva@strw.leidenuniv.nl

Program Overview

Workshop Day 1 – 10 June

Welcome and Opening

09:00 - 09:20
By Igans Snellen (STRW Director), Willy Benz (IAU president), Sara Lucatello (EAS president) and Embassy of Ukraine in the Kingdom of the Netherlands (TBD)

Keynote: Strategic Innovation and Research Funding of Ukrainian Science & Technology

09:20 - 10:05
Innovation Strategy for Ukrainian Recovery by Oksana Berezhna
Director General of Innovation and Science Liaison with the Real Sector of Economy Directorate at the Ministry of Education and Science) *online

10:05 - 10:50
Funding research in Ukrainian universities by Ganna Tolstanova
Vice-Rector for Research of the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv

Session: The current state of Ukrainian astronomy
Short presentations from Ukrainian institutions on infrastructure damage, research capacity, science funding, and priorities:

10:50 - 11:10 (15 + 5 Q&A)
Iryna Vavilova, Yaroslav Yatskiv | Main Astronomical Observatory | National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine | Kyiv

11:10 - 11:25 (10 + 5 Q&A)
Ihor Lukianyk, Volodymyr Reshetnyk | Department of Astronomy and Space Physics & Astronomical Observatory | Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv | Kyiv

11:25 - 11:45 (15 + 5 Q&A)
Vyacheslav Zakharenko | Radio Astronomy Institute | National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine | Kharkiv

11:45 - 12:00 (10 + 5 Q&A)
Vadym Kaydash | Department of Astronomy and Space Informatics & Astronomy Research Institute | V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University | Kharkiv

12:00 - 12:15 (10 + 5 Q&A)
Bohdan Novosyadlyj | Department of Astrophysics & Astronomical Observatory | Ivan Franko National University of Lviv | Lviv

12:15 - 12:30 (10 + 5 Q&A)
Liubov Yankiv-Vitkovska | Astronomical Observatory at the Department of Higher Geodesy and Astronomy | Lviv Polytechnic National University | Lviv

12:30 - 12:45 (10 + 5 Q&A)
Olena Panko | Astronomical Observatory and Department of Physics and Astronomy | Odesa I. I. Mechnikov National University | Odesa

12:45 - 13:00 (10 + 5 Q&A)
Vladislava Marsakova | Department of Math, Physics and Astronomy | Odesa National Maritime University | Odesa

13:00 - 14:00 Lunch

Session: International collaborations – presentations from European partners (NOVA, EAS, ESA, ESO, ASTRON, SRON, NRC) on potential collaborations with Ukrainian researchers and institutions.

14:00 - 14:25 (20 + 5 Q&A)
NOVA: Current Status of Dutch Astronomy by Michiel Rodenhuis (NOVA)

14:25 - 14:50 (20 + 5 Q&A)
Astronet: A Strategic Plan for European Astronomy by Saskia Matheussen (NWO)

14:50 - 15:15 (20 + 5 Q&A)
SRON: Michael Wise (SRON)

15:15 - 15:40 (20 + 5 Q&A)
ASTRON: Violette Impellizzeri (ASTRON)

15:40 - 16:05 (20 + 5 Q&A)
EAS: Sara Lucatello (EAS president)

16:05 - 16:30 (20 + 5 Q&A)
The European VLBI Network: Giuseppe Cimo (Head of Space Science and Innovative Applications at JIV-ERIC)

16:30 - 16:55 (20 + 5 Q&A)
Research Cooperation with Ukraine by Barbara Dammers (NWO)

17:00 - 20:00 Networking Reception

Workshop Day 2 – 11 June

Working Parallel Sessions
09:00 - 13:00

• Human Capital and Research Networks – supporting Ukrainian scientists through research projects, mobility programs, training, and partnerships.
• Rebuilding infrastructure and research facilities – models for reconstruction, potential for Ukraine’s integration into LOFAR, SKA, CTA, and space programmes.
• Astronomy, Innovation and Economic Development – the multidisciplinary role of astronomy in ICT, data science, and space industry development.
• Education & Public Engagement & Development – the role of astronomy in pre-University Education, public engagement with astronomy and astronomy for development (e.g., Astrotourism).

13:00 - 14:00 Lunch

Session: Summary from the Working Sessions, including draft recommendations
14:00 - 15:00

Session: Towards a Strategic Roadmap for Ukrainian Astronomy Recovery: – working groups draft recommendations for infrastructure, funding, policy, and collaboration.

15:00 - 17:00
Next steps in finalising the strategic plan

Closing Remarks
17:00 - 18:00