Center for Decoding the Universe Annual Conference

The brings together researchers across scientific disciplines to answer the biggest questions about our Universe by leveraging complex data with the most advanced computational methods.

From anomaly detection in massive data sets and foundation models that compactly describe multi-modal data, to simulation-based inference that bridges the gap between the observed and simulated Universe, new methodologies will enable new insights from large and complex datasets. These new approaches are poised to impact the next big thing in astrophysics: data from the Vera C Rubin Observatory’s Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST). This meeting will gather leading researchers in astrophysics, AI/ML, data science, and statistics, and will identify new opportunities for inference and data-driven discovery with the imminent LSST data.

With time devoted to small group discussion and half a day of unconference, the two-day conference is designed to promote discussion about the hard questions and methodological innovations that will be especially relevant in the upcoming large astronomical data era. Three sessions that combine an astronomical subfield with a data science/AI methodology will focus on:

1. Anomaly detection with applications to variable and transient science
2. Astronomical foundation models and applications to galaxy evolution
3. Inference, including simulation-based inference, with applications to cosmology

• Josh Bloom, UC Berkeley
• David Fouhey, New York University
• Marc Huertas-Company, Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (Spain)
• Ben Nachman, UC Berkeley
• Laurence Perreault-Levasseur, Université de Montréal
• Ashley Villar, Harvard University
• Ben Wandelt, Johns Hopkins University

8:30am: Breakfast & Registration

9:00am: Welcome and big-picture framing talks

9:30am: Session 1: Time-Domain Data and Anomaly Detection

12:30pm: Lunch and posters

2:00pm: Session 2: Galaxies and Foundation Models

5:00pm: Reception and posters

6:30 - 7:30pm: Panel discussion

9:00am: Session 3: Cosmology and Modern Inference Frameworks

12:00pm: Lunch

1:00pm: Half-day “unconference”

4:00pm: Closing Keynote

We invite you to submit an abstract to present a 5-10 minute short talk and/or poster at the upcoming 2025 Center for Decoding the Universe Annual Conference. Abstracts for short talks and/or posters should showcase any aspect of your research relevant to data‑driven discovery at scale from anomaly detection in time‑domain surveys and foundation models for multi‑modal data, to simulation‑based inference that links theory and observation. Talks should be accessible to researchers spanning astrophysics, AI/ML, data science, and statistics. Work in progress is welcome. Postdocs and graduate students are strongly encouraged to submit an abstract.

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