IUCAA–RSET Workshop 2026
Programme Schedule
A three-day academic workshop on signal processing and imaging using the MeerKAT Telescope,
moving from astronomy foundations to hands-on MeerKAT data workflows and student presentations.
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📅 2–4 July 2026
📍 RSET, Kakkanad, Kochi
🔭 MeerKAT Telescope
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Day 1 | 2 July 2026
Foundations: Astronomy → Radio Astronomy → SKA → Instruments
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09:30 – 10:00
🎙️ Opening
Registration and Inauguration
Welcome, workshop introduction, objectives and expected outcomes
10:00 – 10:45
📘 Lecture 1
Astronomy Fundamentals for Beginners
Resource Person: Dr. Joe Jacob
10:45 – 11:30
📘 Lecture 2
SKA: Science Goals and Technical Challenges of the World’s Largest Telescope
Resource Person: Prof. Neeraj Gupta
11:30 – 12:00
☕ Break
Tea Break
12:00 – 12:40
📘 Lecture 3
Basics of Radio Astronomy and Radio Signals
Resource Person: Dr. Joe Jacob
12:40 – 13:00
📘 Lecture 4
Radio Antennas, Receivers and the Signal Chain
Resource Person: Dr. Mathew George
13:00 – 14:00
🍽️ Break
Lunch Break
14:00 – 16:30
🛠️ Hands-on Session 1
Antenna Demonstration, Signal Acquisition and 21 cm H I Line Demo
Resource Persons: Dr. Mathew George and Mr. Sudheesh T. P.
Outcome: Participants will see a real signal pipeline and understand how raw radio signals become scientific data.
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Day 2 | 3 July 2026
Signal Processing, Big Data and MeerKAT Imaging Workflow
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09:30 – 10:30
📘 Lecture 5
Signal Processing in Radio Astronomy
Resource Person: Mr. Sudheesh T. P.
10:30 – 11:00
☕ Break
Tea Break
11:00 – 12:00
📘 Lecture 6
MeerKAT, SKA and Big Data Challenges in Radio Astronomy
Resource Person: Prof. Neeraj Gupta
12:00 – 13:00
🛠️ Hands-on Session 2
How do Radio Telescopes “See”? — Aperture Synthesis and Visibilities
Resource Person: Prof. Neeraj Gupta
Focus: Introduction to aperture synthesis, baselines, uv coverage, visibility data and the connection between measurements and image formation.
13:00 – 14:00
🍽️ Break
Lunch Break
14:00 – 15:30
🛠️ Hands-on Continued
Aperture Synthesis, Visibility Data and Imaging Workflow
Resource Person: Prof. Neeraj Gupta
Outcome: Participants will understand how a radio interferometer sees the sky through visibilities and aperture synthesis.
15:30 – 16:30
💬 Interaction
Discussion, Doubt Clearing and Preparation for Day 3
Software/workflow readiness, team formation and instructions for student presentations
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Day 3 | 4 July 2026
MeerKAT Imaging, Student Presentations and Feedback
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09:30 – 11:30
🛠️ Hands-on Session 3
From Visibilities to Images: Image Reconstruction Techniques
Lead Resource Person: Prof. Neeraj Gupta | Mentors: All resource persons
Outcome: Participants will understand how radio images are reconstructed from visibility measurements.
11:30 – 13:00
👥 Team Work
Output Preparation and Mentor Interaction
Teams will consolidate their learning and prepare short presentations based on the guided hands-on sessions.
13:00 – 14:00
🍽️ Break
Lunch Break
14:00 – 15:20
🎤 Presentation
Participant Presentations and Discussion
Panel: All resource persons | Chair: Prof. Neeraj Gupta
15:20 – 15:45
📝 Feedback
Feedback and Open Discussion
Participant feedback, resource person feedback and discussion on future learning opportunities
15:45 – 16:00
🏁 Closing
Valedictory Session and Closing Ceremony
Final remarks, certificate distribution, vote of thanks and closing of the workshop
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Note: The schedule may be slightly refined based on speaker availability, hands-on session requirements and institutional arrangements.