Fermi Summer School 2025

Breakwater Lighthouse at sunset, Lewes, Delaware

Exploring the High-energy Universe with Fermi

Fermi observations have opened up a unique view of the high-energy Universe. During the summer school, we will overview key research areas being explored using Fermi and learn about how gamma-ray observations connect to discovery areas for multimessenger and time domain astrophysics. This is an exciting era of rich data sets across the spectrum and new observations available in the coming years. We will learn about the underlying physics that drives extreme phenomena along with the modeling and observational techniques used to study them throughout the Universe. Gamma-ray emission detected by the Fermi instruments along with observations from different wavelengths and of different messengers bring insights into neutron stars, black holes and the powerful plasma jets they generate, as well as stellar explosions and binary systems. The energy released in these extreme environments accelerates particles to energies that challenge the understanding of astrophysical mechanisms. The traces of energetic activity linger in the diffuse gamma rays present throughout our Galaxy and beyond it.

The Fermi Summer School emphasizes the analysis of data from the Fermi instruments through lectures and hands-on workshops. Students spend time working directly with experts in instrumentation, analysis, theory and modeling to develop and extend their own research projects. Topics cover much of the gamma-ray band ranging from keV-MeV transients seen with Fermi's GBM to the highest energies observed by the LAT and the very high energies observed by ground-based gamma-ray telescopes. This year's school will be held at the University of Delaware Conference Center in Lewes, Delaware, from May 27 to June 6, 2025.

Summer School 2024

Find information about last year's virtual school at: https://confluence.slac.stanford.edu/display/LSP/Fermi+Summer+School+2024

Material will be aimed at graduate students and post-doctoral researchers. Topics will include particle acceleration and gamma-ray production mechanisms; space-based and ground-based gamma-ray instrumentation; spectral, spatial, and time-based analysis of gamma-ray data; modeling and interpretation of gamma-ray data; and astrophysical source classes such as AGN, GRBs, Galactic pulsars and binary systems, supernova remnants, and pulsar wind nebulae as well as searches for dark matter and new physics.

Attendees watch for brief flashes of light from cosmic-ray air showers in the atmosphere using a simplified mirror and photomultiplier tube setup!

Important Dates

• Application Deadline: January 30, 2025 (While the deadline is January 30th, we have a limited number of positions at the school and early applications will be favored.)
• School: May 27 to June 6, 2025

Program

Details will be announced soon. The formal program includes 10 days of lectures and hands-on sessions. One day is left free for excursions.

Application Information

• Deadline: January 30, 2025
• While the deadline is January 30th, we have a limited number of positions at the school and early applications will be favored.
• Applicants requiring a US visa are strongly encouraged to apply as early as possible.
• The school will be subject to the University of Delaware COVID-19 guidelines for event attendees.

To apply, complete this Google form. Applicants who are unable to access the Google form should contact fermischool@bigbang.gsfc.nasa.gov

Attendance Fee:

The fee amount for 2025 will be $1200. It covers lodging for the nights of Monday, May 26, through Thursday, June 5, and includes breakfast and lunch for 10 days. Payment details will be provided to accepted applicants. We have limited resources available to support attendees who do not have access to travel support.

Contact

fermischool@bigbang.gsfc.nasa.gov