Final Announcement

International Conference
on
CLASSICAL NOVA EXPLOSIONS

Sitges (Barcelona), Spain
20-24 May 2002

UPDATE (May 15^th, 2002)

Some minor corrections to the final programme have been posted today.

We thank all participants for their enthusiastic response to both first and second announcements. Around 100 scientists will attend the conference, that will cover a wide variety of topics, from both theoretical and observational points of view.

In this final announcement we include information regarding the following aspects:

• Final programme and schedule
• Travel information
• Social events
• Registration
• Proceedings

SCIENTIFIC ORGANIZATION AND FINAL PROGRAMME

The final scientific programme includes a series of 14 invited review talks (30 min.), 36 contributed talks (20 min.), 4 short complementary talks (10 or 15 min.) and 49 posters (see the attached file). The allocated time includes time for questions. The conference sessions will start on Monday morning and will end on Friday at 12:30.

Audiovisual equipment will include two overhead projectors and a computer projector. If you have a PowerPoint (or similar) presentation, you will be able to use either your laptop or the computer in the lecture room. The second option is preferred, in order to spare time; in that case, you should provide us with your file (CD ROM or floppy disk) well before your session starts (details will be given at the conference).

Posters will be displayed in the coffee break area, just in front of the conference room. This area will be accessible at all times. However, we have scheduled some poster sessions (Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, after the second morning session), during which it is recommended that authors are present in the poster area.

The display area for posters will be 100cm x 100cm; some larger sizes (such as A0 in portrait format) will also fit.

A book of abstracts will be distributed to the conference attendees upon registration.

TRAVEL INFORMATION: HOW TO REACH SITGES?

Sitges is a town on the Mediterranean coast, about 35 km south of the city of Barcelona (and 20 km south of the Barcelona International Airport).

We provide information concerning different options to reach Sitges for participants arriving at Barcelona International Airport and for those travelling to Sitges from Barcelona.

1. Attendees arriving by plane at Barcelona Airport:
   
   

   Direct flights connect Barcelona International Airport with major European cities. The shortest way to go to Sitges from Barcelona Airport is to take the train from the Airport's Terminal (single ticket costs around 2 Euros). Trains depart from the Airport every half an hour. Train's first stop is "El Prat", where you have to get off and take another train (usually, departing from Platform 1), direction "Vilanova". Train stops include:

   
   

   El Prat - Viladecans - Gava - Castelldefels - Castelldefels Platja - Sitges

   
   

   The trip from El Prat to Sitges takes about 25 min.

   Alternatively you can take a taxi at Barcelona Airport, for an estimated cost (Barcelona Airport to Sitges) of about 20-25 Euros. Also, the main rental car agencies are available at the Airport.

   
   
   
2. Attendees coming from downtown Barcelona:
   
   

   For participants that have to travel to Sitges from Barcelona the train is the best option. Trains depart from Barcelona-Sants Main Station to Sitges every 20-30 minutes (usually from platform 5). Both trains with direction "Vilanova" or "Sant Vicenç" stop at Sitges.

   Train stops include:

   
   

   Sants - Bellvitge - El Prat - Viladecans - Gavà - Castelldefels - Castelldefels Platja - Sitges
   (for trains Direction: Vilanova)

   
   

   and

   
   

   Sants - Gavà - Castelldefels - Garraf - Sitges
   (for trains Direction: Sant Vicenç)

   
   

   Detailed train information can be found at

   
   

   http://www.renfe.es/empresa/cercanias/cercanias_barcelona.html

   
   

   Alternatively, participants may take a taxi from downtown Barcelona to Sitges for an estimated cost around 35-40 euros, or rent a car. Main route to Sitges is highway C-32 (former A16) through "Garraf tunnels" (with a 4 Euros toll). The estimated duration of the trip is about 30-40 min., depending on traffic.

   Also, several bus companies connect Barcelona with Sitges. In particular, Mon- Bus (with a stop at Ronda Universitat 33, downtown Barcelona, but with few buses running on week-ends).

Once in Sitges, you can reach Hotel Antemare by foot or by taxi. A map of Sitges can be downloaded from the Hotel web page. Hotel Antemare is at 15 min. walking distance from Sitges train station ("Estacio RENFE", in the map). Taxis are usually available at the train station as well (estimated price: 4.8 Euros)

The address of the hotel is:

Hotel Antemare
Av. Verge de Montserrat 48-50
08870 Sitges

SOCIAL EVENTS

A welcome cocktail will be offered in Hotel Antemare to all participants and accompanying persons on Sunday 19^th May 2002 evening, from 19:30 to 21:00.

A small reception (with beverages) will be offered by the Major of Sitges to all participants and accompanying persons at " Palau Maricel" (town Center) on Monday 20^th, at 18:45. "Palau Maricel", built in 1910, is a fine modernist building and one of the Sitges architectural jewels. A guided visit to the Palau (in english) will be offered to all participants.

A free afternoon has been scheduled for Wednesday 22^th, to provide free time to participants for sightseeing, in and around Sitges, or also to visit Barcelona (the Gothic Cathedral and quarter, Gaudi's architectural masterpieces, the lively harbour, many museums - Picasso, Miró, MNAC....- are some of the most relevant places to visit; see the WEB page http://www.bcn.es for general information about Barcelona). Maps and touristic information about Sitges and Barcelona, including restaurants, museums and other must-see places will be distributed to all participants upon registration.

The Conference Banquet will take place in Sitges on Thursday 23^rd (estimated price: 50 Euros)

REGISTRATION

The registration desk will be open on Sunday 19^th, from 17:00 to 20:00, and on Monday 20^th, from 8:30 to 9:30. A registration fee of 180 Euros will be requested to all participants. Payment of the registration fee should be made in cash. The fee will cover coffee breaks, abstract book, proceedings and social events (except conference banquet). A reduced registration fee of 30 Euros, covering social events (except conference banquet), will be requested to accompanying guests.

Tickets for the Conference Banquet will be on sale at the registration desk for both attendees and accompanying persons.

PROCEEDINGS

The conference proceedings will be published by AIP (American Institute of Physics). Page limits will be 10 for invited reviews and 5 for oral and poster presentations. In order to assure a fast publication (THIS SAME YEAR 2002) we are obliged to ask for a very prompt submission of papers: deadline 24^th June 2002 , just one month after the end of the conference. We think that it is really important to have the proceedings book on our desk this same year, in order to make it useful to all of us and to the scientific community. But this of course requires an effort to guarantee a prompt delivery of the papers.

Author instructions for the preparation of camera ready manuscripts (size 6x9 inches) are available in the web page from AIP. A booklet including these instructions will be distributed to all authors at registration, together with the transfer of copyright agreement form (to be returned signed before the end of the conference). MS Word and Latex templates are available at AIP web page.

We are looking forward to meeting you in Sitges soon in what we expect to be a great conference. With best regards,

Margarida Hernanz and Jordi José
on behalf of the SOC and LOC

SCIENTIFIC ORGANIZING COMMITTEE

LOCAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE