Scientific Rationale

The filamentary nature of the Orion Molecular Cloud was first revealed in 1987 through CO observations, yet for decades, the process of star formation was largely envisioned within simple spherical clouds and clumps. This perspective began to shift in 2009, when Phil Myers highlighted the hub-filament structure (HFS) in nearby star-forming regions, suggesting a far more complex picture. This perspective was dramatically reinforced by observations from the Herschel Space Observatory, which showed that molecular clouds are overwhelmingly dominated by filamentary structures rather than simple spheres.

Scientific Rationale

Stars form within dense cores embedded along these filaments, while massive stars and stellar clusters arise in “hubs,” the intersections of multiple filaments. This insight fundamentally redefines the geometry of star formation, combining cylindrical and spherical elements. As a result, it reshapes our understanding of key processes in star formation ranging from cloud-scale dynamics to galaxy-wide phenomenon including feedback mechanisms, star formation efficiencies, and the origins of high-mass stars.

Scientific Rationale

HFS are becoming ever more central in the era of modern astronomy, as the unprecedented spatial resolution of facilities like ALMA, JWST, and future missions promises to uncover the most intricate details of star formation geometry. This conference will examine the advances in star formation research through the lens of the hub-filament paradigm, highlighting how this structural perspective continues to redefine the field.

IAU Conference Visual

Topics to Be Addressed

Confirmed Invited Speakers (incomplete)

Important Dates

To be updated soon ...

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    Code of Conduct

    This symposium abides by the code of conduct suggested by the International Astronomical Union for all its meetings. The detailed code of conduct document can be found here.

    Contact

    Dr. Saurabh Sharma: saurabh@aries.res.in

    Dr. Geeta Rangwal: geetarangwal@aries.res.in

    Symposium email: iau.hfs2026@gmail.com