Exoplanets
Laura Affer
I am a Senior Research Scientist at INAF - Osservatorio Astronomico di Palermo. Over the last several years, my research has focused on the detection and characterization of extrasolar planets and the fundamental properties of their host stars, including chemical composition, rotation, and magnetic activity. Since 2012, I have been an active member of the GAPS (Global Architecture of Planetary Systems) and HARPS-N GTO programs, utilizing the high-resolution HARPS-N spectrograph at the Telescopio Nazionale Galileo to search for terrestrial exoplanets with radial velocity precision below 1 m/s. Furthermore, I serve as the Principal Investigator and Coordinator of the HADES (HARPS-N Red Dwarf Exoplanet Survey Radial Velocity) program. This international collaboration aims to determine the occurrence rate of small, Earth-like planets orbiting low-mass stars, which represent the most promising candidates for potential habitability.
Discovery methods and Exoplanets Demography
This lecture provides a comprehensive overview of the observational methodologies that have driven the field of exoplanetary science from initial discovery to the current era of statistical characterization. The core of the course focuses on the two primary detection techniques responsible for the vast majority of known exoplanets: Doppler Spectroscopy and Transit Photometry. We will examine the underlying physical principles of each method, focusing on the derivation of fundamental planetary parameters such as minimum mass (M sin i), radius (Rp), and orbital architecture. A portion of the discussion will be dedicated to the technical challenges and noise sources—such as stellar activity and instrumental precision—that define the current limits of these techniques.
Complementing the main focus, we will provide an overview of Gravitational Microlensing and Direct Imaging, highlighting their unique sensitivity to planets in wide orbits and those beyond the snow line. Finally, we will synthesize these methods to discuss Exoplanet Demographics. By analyzing the synergy and selection biases of different detection channels, we will explore the distribution of planetary masses, sizes, and orbital periods, providing a modern picture of the diversity of planetary systems in our Galaxy.
Luca Malavolta
I’m an Associate Professor at the University of Padova, and as an observational astronomer, my research focuses on the characterisation of exoplanets in the presence of stellar activity, using both photometric and spectroscopic data. In my work, I use state-of-the-art statistical methods, such as multivariate Gaussian Regression and Bayesian evidence calculation, to carefully characterise the architecture of planetary systems and derive accurate exoplanetary densities, fundamental for the correct interpretation of planetary atmosphere and interior modelling.
Hands-on MC
After an empirical overview of Bayesian statistics and the most popular computational implementations, we will use open-source software to implement a model-fitting procedure, explore the effects of priors on parameter estimation, analyse the results, and reduce parameter degeneracies through different parameterisations. Although we will work with exoplanetary data, our methods will be general enough to apply to a wide variety of cases.
Francesco Marzari
their morphology, as well as the collisional and dynamical evolution of Main Belt asteroids. I am involved in several space missions, including Rosetta, BepiColombo, JUICE, and PLATO.
Lorenzo Pino
I am a staff researcher at INAF - Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri (Florence, Italy). My research focuses on exploiting ground-based, high dispersion spectroscopic data (HDS data, R ~ 100,000) to characterize the atmospheres of exoplanets: transiting ones and, more recently, spatially separated ones. My interests range from resolving the three-dimensional atmospheric structure of hot gas giants, to informing planet formation theories via accurate and precise atmospheric abundance determinations, to enabling the characterization of small exoplanets - including those in the habitable zone of their host stars. I am involved in next generation instruments such as ELT ANDES and PCS and I serve as the instrument scientist of the MICHELANGELO spectrograph, a concept for a high efficiency L/M-band high resolution spectrograph to be mounted at an 8-meter telescope. In addition to my research, I take action towards building an inclusive and diverse work environment, which I consider key to perform excellent science.
website: https://www.arcetri.inaf.it/lorenzo.pino/
Present and future of atmospheric characterization of exoplanets
The main focus of this lecture is to understand and familiarize with the landscape of the field of exoplanet atmospheres in the next 10 - 20 years. In this time-window, the ELT will dominate the scene and revolutionize the field through HDS observations, pushing to sensitivities and spatial resolutions one to two orders of magnitude better than currently possible.
We will start with an overview of the most recent achievements in the field of exoplanet atmospheres, identifying the key unsolved questions that the ELT could help to answer - perhaps through your work! We will review state-of-the-art techniques in HDS observations of transiting and spatially separated planets, which form the backbone of future exploitation of ELT data in the field. We will conclude with a discussion of the future after the ELT (Habitable Worlds Observatory and the Large Interferometer For Exoplanets). The lecture will include suggestions and material to go deeper into the subject.
Gamma Rays
Marco Tavani
Gamma-ray astronomy
Razmik Mirzoyan
Antonio Stamerra
I am a senior researcher in INAF, sometimes located at the Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma. Since the age of five, I have wanted to be an astrophysicist; I am still trying hard. In the meanwhile, I keep busy collecting GeV-TeV gamma-rays using my preferred toys — the Cherenkov telescopes like MAGIC and ASTRI — extracting TeV signals from blazars and GRBs, and constructing multi-frequency SEDs.
I use these data and diagnostic tools to get an understanding of the different questions unraveling my mind: how can TeV emission be detected from GW counterparts? Is TeV emission important to understand the emission processes? (spoiler:yes). I am also very much puzzled by how to remove the degeneracies hidden in the measurement of the intergalactic magnetic fields using gamma-rays as probes; fascinating and frustrating. Looking ahead, I am focusing on the future with the CTAO, particularly on the follow-up of gravitational wave counterparts.
Elena Amato
Francesco Gabriele Saturni
Antonio Pagliaro
This lecture provides a practical guide to the application of advanced Machine Learning (ML) algorithms for data analysis in High Energy Astrophysics, bridging the gap between Monte Carlo simulations and high-level physical reconstruction. We will start with an overview of the specific challenges in discriminating gamma-ray signals from the hadronic background in Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes (IACTs). The core of the session will focus on the implementation of specific ML techniques. We will explore Ensemble Methods, such as Random Forests and Extra Trees, demonstrating their effectiveness in feature selection and event classification. Subsequently, we will discuss Deep Learning architectures, including Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) for image-based analysis. The lecture will conclude with a hands-on session where we will use Python to train a classifier on a provided Monte Carlo dataset, allowing participants to directly experience the workflow of model training, validation, and performance evaluation.
Communication
Laura Leonardi
I'm a Technologist at the INAF - Astronomical Observatory of Palermo, where I'm focused on the study and development of new technologies for science communication. I'm a Press Officer for the INAF Press Office and a science journalist. I contribute to Media INAF and curate the 'Metaverso' column in the INAF magazine Universi, which is dedicated to technologies developed by the institute for astronomy outreach.
New technologies for the dissemination of science and communication strategies within INAF
The educational activity will begin by exploring innovative technologies—such as augmented reality, virtual reality, and the metaverse—viewed as new mediums for communicating scientific research. It will then focus on the use of Media INAF’s social media channels (Instagram and TikTok) as tools for outreach and public engagement, as well as the management of live streaming events. Finally, the sessions will address the differences between news articles and press releases, providing practical tools to effectively communicate scientific research to both the general public and the scientific community.
Daniela Sicilia
I'm a Researcher at INAF - Osservatorio Astrofisico di Catania. I graduated in Astrophysics from the University of Catania and obtained my PhD in Astronomy from the University of Padova. My main research topic is the characterization of exoplanetary atmospheres through high-resolution transmission and emission spectroscopy, specifically investigating atmospheric properties, chemical composition, and star-planet interactions. In addition to scientific research, I'm widely involved in outreach activities and public engagement. In particular, I manage the maintenance and editing of my institute's website and the GAPS (Global Architecture of Planetary Systems) project, where I'm a member of the Science Team. Furthermore, I manage the social media channels for the CHEOPS and PLATO European space missions dedicated to the study of exoplanets.
Communicating science
The lecture aims to provide students with practical tools to communicate their research effectively and responsibly. It focuses on adapting language, structure, and messaging to various academic, professional, and public contexts, regardless of the specific scientific topic. Both written and oral communication strategies will be addressed, accompanied by practical examples.