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.
Topics to Be Addressed
- Formation and organization of star-forming dense gas (observations, theory/simulations)
- Properties of Hub-Filament Structures
- Fragmentation of dense gas and mass functions
- Magnetic fields in Hub-Filament systems
- Young stellar populations and clusters
- Kinematics and age spreads of young stellar populations
- Star formation and Hub-Filament systems in nearby galaxies
- Unifying low and high mass star formation?
- Role of Hub-Filament Structures in altering the energy balance in star formation
Confirmed Invited Speakers (incomplete)
- Phil Myers, USA
- Philippe Andre, France
- Tsuyoshi Inoue, Japan
- Nuria Miret Roig, Spain
- Jeong-Gyu Kim, S.Korea
- Nicolas Peretto, UK
- Tushara Pillai, USA
- Michael Kuhn, UK
- Kazuki Tokuda, Japan
Important Dates
-
25th February 2026:
- Registration opens
- IAU travel grant applications open
- Call for contributed talks
Symposium notifications
Please click here to receive updates about this symposium or send email to iau.hfs2026@gmail.com for queries.
Registration
Not opened yet, updates regarding registration will be posted here.
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
Email: iau.hfs2026@gmail.com