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9-13 Mar 2026 Fréjus (France)
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Presentation In 2027, the Coronagraph Instrument from the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope (RST) will provide the very first images of mature giant exoplanets and circumstellar disks in reflected light in the visible. This unique science will be enabled by reaching contrast levels 2 to 3 orders of magnitude better than current state-of-the-art visible or near-infrared coronagraphs, thanks to the combination of several high-contrast imaging technologies for the first time in space: multiple deformable mirrors, state-of-the-art coronagraph, advanced wavefront control, and photon-counting EMCCD detectors. The Roman Coronagraph is meant to be a technology demonstrator that will pave the way towards the direct detection and characterization of tellurics planets with the Habitable World Observatory (HWO). Beyond the technology demonstration phase, the Roman Coronagraph is expected to enable ground-breaking science and offer unique science opportunities to the community. The Community Participation Program (CPP) team is currently hard at work to prepare the target list, observations, planning tools, data simulation and reduction pipelines, and tools to support for several key observing modes. It ambitions to provide the community with all the information and tools needed to make the best out of the public Roman Coronagraph data, and to enable additional science observations through a guest observer (GO) program if the technology demonstration is successfull. The Roman Coronagraph is led by NASA, but with a strong participation from international agencies (CNES, MPIA, ESA, and JAXA). This participation means that the European astronomical community can play an important role in the preparation of the mission and then in the scientific exploitation of the data provided by the coronagraph. This school intends to provide to 20 European PhD students and postdocs all the necessary background and tools to be ready to reduce, analyse and interpret the first Roman Coronagraph data. The school is organised over five days, 9-13 March 2026, at Villa Clythia in Fréjus (France). It will consist of classes on high-contrast imaging, exoplanet atmosphere modelling, debris disks, and exoplanet demographics. A large part of the school will be dedicated to hands-on sessions to get familiar with simulation tools, reduction pipeline, and modelling and retrieval tools. The organising committee foresees to have classes in the mornings of the first three days, with related hands-on sessions in the afternoons. The last two days will be dedicated to a more open project where the students will have the opportunity to collaborate together on pre-defined projects or, possibly, on ideas of their choosing. Courses and invited speakers The school will offer courses in several areas and topics related to the direct imaging of exoplanetary systems. There will be a series of four main courses, with the following confirmed speakers:
Application process The school is open to any PhD student or postdoc but priority will be given to people affiliated to a University or Institute from a European country, that is from an ESA or European Union member state. The applicants must fill the following form before Friday 17 October 2025: Roman Coronagraph School Application form The applications will be reviewed by the organising committee and answers will be provided mid-November 2025. Successfull applicants will be provided with full board and accommodation at Villa Clythia, free-of-charge. Students and their institutes are expected to pay for their travel to reach Villa Clythia, but the organising committee is looking into the possibility of funding a few trips (to be confirmed). Important dates The following points provide a general timeline:
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