Our understanding of the Universe is at a turning point with the predictions of the standard cosmological model and the observations from different surveys are showing tensions in several key areas. The disagreement is expressed in the value of cosmic expansion as well as in the growth of large-scale structure in the Universe. New cosmological surveys, many of which are European, may expose tension in additional areas of the concordance model. The question of cosmological tensions can be confronted in a number of ways. Firstly, survey data needs to be further analyzed for potential systematic uncertainties or biases. Secondly, there have been numerous advances in approaches to data analysis and statistics, some of which provide less dependence on cosmological models to make cosmological parameter estimates. Lastly, there are a plethora of new proposals from fundamental physics which range from novel neutrino physics to dark energy proposals (and others) which may contribute to a solution to the cosmological tensions problem. These represent the three research themes through which cosmological tensions will either be alleviated or resolved.
CosmoVerse@Istanbul 2025 (24 June – 26 June 2025 – 27 June Management Committee Meeting) is the third annual conference in a series of conferences that aim to establish a link between the different research areas in cosmology with the main focus on challenges of tensions in cosmological survey data.
This conference is organized within the COST Action initiative CA21136 – Addressing observational tensions in cosmology with systematics and fundamental physics (CosmoVerse).
The first conference called CosmoVerse@Lisbon 2023 took place between 30 May and 1st June 2023. All of the recorded talks and presentations are public and available here. The second conference called CosmoVerse@Krakow 2024 took place between 9 and 11 July 2024. All of the recorded talks and presentations are available here.
The conference is organized together with İstanbul Technical University in İstanbul.
Find the indico website with registration, abstract submission, and timetable here.
Main topics
● Observational cosmology and Systematics (cross-correlation of data, systematic effects)
● Data analysis (astrostatistics; data science in astronomy; Bayesian analysis; machine learning and artificial intelligence)
● Fundamental Physics (challenge of the cosmological hypothesis, dark energy and modified gravity, neutrino physics, dark energy, and dark matter interaction)
Venue
The conference will take place in İstanbul at of the Istanbul Technical University (https://maps.app.goo.gl/yoP5Apj5k4CJkbgcA)
Important dates
18 November 2024: Registration and abstract submission opens
10 April 2025: Registration and abstract submission deadline
24-26 June 2025: Conference days
24 June 2025: Welcome Drinks/ Boat trip
25 June 2025: Poster session and Conference Dinner
26 June 2025: Public Lecture
27 June 2025: CosmoVerse COST Action Management Committee meeting for members
Local organizing committee (LOC)
Özgür Akarsu (İstanbul Technical University, TR)
A.Savaş Arapoğlu (İstanbul Technical University, TR)
Emre Onur Kahya (İstanbul Technical University, TR)
Nihan Katırcı (Doğuş University, TR)
Neşe Özdemir (İstanbul Technical University, TR)
Mehmet Özkan (İstanbul Technical University, TR)
Arman Çam (İstanbul Technical University, TR, )
Bilal Bulduk (İstanbul Technical University, TR)
Mine Gökçen (İstanbul Technical University, TR)
Berat Karadavut (Doğuş University, TR)
Cihad Kıbrıs (İstanbul Technical University, TR)
Burcu Öztürk (İstanbul Technical University, TR)
Merve Uzun (İstanbul Technical University, TR)
Scientific organizing committee (SOC)
Jackson Levi Said (University of Malta, MT)
Eleonora Di Valentino (Sheffield University, UK)
Noemi Frusciante (UNINA, IT)
Agnieszka Pollo (National Center for Nuclear Research & Astronomical Observatory of the Jagiellonian University, PL)
Marika Asgari (Newcastle University, UK)
Visa
You may check your visa requirement status at https://www.mfa.gov.tr/visa-information-for-foreigners.en.mfa.
Hotel suggestions
Please note all hotels below are suggestions and prices might change. CosmoVerse will not be making any hotel arrangement or contact you concerning hotel reservations. Conference organisers have also never mandated nor authorised any company to send requests regarding accommodation or travel. We strongly advise you NOT TO reply to any emails or calls from such companies and we do not accept any responsibility for adverse consequences should you choose to do so.
Maslak is a very central location and many options for accommodation are possible. Hotels or rental houses at Maslak, Levent and Şişli could be preferred. Macka Hotel is a relatively cheap and good quality facility of Istanbul Technical University. Currently 25 standard rooms and a couple of suits and triple rooms are available for the date but we recommend booking as soon as possible. Breakfast is included in the price.
- Wyndham Grand İstanbul Levent
- 5 km from the campus
- Single rate: 170€
- Double rate: 190€
- Tax: 10%VAT + 2% Residence tax
- Breakfast included
- Hilton Istanbul Maslak
- 1.2 km from the campus
- Single rate: 140€
- Double rate: 160€
- Tax: 10%VAT + 2% Residence tax
- Breakfast included
- Avantgarde Hotel Levent
- 6 km from the campus
- Single rate: 130€
- Double rate: 150€
- Tax: 10%VAT + 2% Residence tax
- Breakfast included
- Avantgarde Hotel Şişli
- 7.8 km from the campus
- Single rate: 100€
- Double rate: 110€
- Taxes included
- Breakfast included
- Four Points by Sheraton İstanbul Kağıthane
- 4.7 km from the campus
- Single rate: 100€
- Double rate: 110€
- Tax: 10%VAT + 2% Residence tax
- Breakfast included
More about the venue
Ayazağa Campus is the main campus located in the Maslak Square, nearby Istanbul’s Stocks and Trade Center. This Campus houses the rectorate building and administrative offices in addition to 8 of the 13 faculties and 5 institutes. Mustafa İnan Central Library, Central Lecture Hall buildings, Cultural ArtAssociation, and 75th Year Student Social Center are the most intense living space found on this campus. Besides, Arı Techno parks, Arı Motor Vehicle Center and ITU KOSGEB, all of which are established for encouraging entrepreneurship and innovation studies are operating on this main campus.
Address:
İTÜ Ayazağa Campus, Rectorate Building, 34469 Maslak-ISTANBUL
Phone:0 (212) 285 30 30 (40 Hat)
Fax:0 (212) 285 29 10
How to reach from city center:
Metro: Take M2 metro line.
IETT buses: 29B, 29D, 29Ş, 40B, 41C, 42, 59RS
Minibuses: SRY13, SRY16
Metrobus: by transferring to M2 metro line from Zincirlikuyu.
Transportation from the airports
Both of the airports are connected to the center via subway. Network maps can be reached from metronetwork. If you are going to use local transportations like metros, buses and ships it is a good idea to buy a public transportation card. You can buy one from the metro stations. Istanbul City Card for a few days might be a suitable option. This card also has package options like selected museums and Bosphours tours. You can also use your contactless credit cards on public transport.
Travel from İstanbul Airport to Conference Venue
- Havaist Airport Shuttle: (HVİST-14) to 4.Levent. From 4. Levent transfer to M2 metro line.
- İETT buses: H8 to Hacıosman. From Hacıosman transfer to M2 metro line.
- Taxi or rent a car services are also available from the airport.
Travel from Sabiha Gökçen Airport to Conference Venue
- Havabus Airport Shuttle: Take Havabus to Taksim. From taksim transfer to M2 metro line.
- İETT buses: E-3 to 4. Levent Metro. From 4. Levent transfer to M2 metro line.
- Taxi or rent a car services are also available from the airport.
How to reach from Esenler Central Bus Station:
Currency
Credit and debit cards will be accepted in a vast majority of the venues like restaurants, hotels, etc. However they probably won’t accept Euros for cash so it is a good idea to keep some liras for street shopping etc. Turkish currency is Turkish Lira (₺). Istanbul airports have exchange offices.
For current rate, https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/convert/?Amount=1&From=EUR&To=TRY.
General transportation
There are ten transportation types in Istanbul:
- Metro — Operated by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality’s company Metro İstanbul or Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure. Only the public transportation card (İstanbulkart) is available.
- Tram — Operated by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality’s company Metro İstanbul. Only the public transportation card (İstanbulkart) is available.
- Suburban line (Marmaray) — Operated by Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure’s body State Railways of the Republic of Turkey (TCDD). Only the public transportation card (İstanbulkart) is available. The ticketing is distance-metered so if you choose to buy n-pass tickets or use your credit/debit card you might need to validate your card to the refund machines at the exit.
- Funicular — Operated by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality’s company Metro İstanbul. Only the public transportation card (İstanbulkart) is available.
- Metrobüs (bus rapid transit) — Operated by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality’s body İETT. Only the public transportation card (İstanbulkart) is available. The ticketing is distance-metered so if you choose to buy n-pass tickets or use your credit/debit card you might need to validate your card to the refund machines at the exit.
- Bus — Operated by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality’s body İETT. Only the public transportation card (İstanbulkart) is available.
- Conventional vehicle or passenger ferries — Operated by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality’s company Şehir Hatları or private companies İstanbul Deniz Otobüsleri (İDO), Turyol, Mavi Marmara. Only the public transportation card (İstanbulkart) is available. Private companies might accept cash.
- Gondola — Operated by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality’s company Metro İstanbul. Only the public transportation card (İstanbulkart) is available.
- Minibus — Operated by private persons. Only cash is available.
- Dolmuş — Yellow, taxi-like minibuses —but those have a determined route. Operated by private persons. Only cash is available. Those moves when the vehicle is full, hence those are called as dolmuş.
For any inquiries for the public transportation and other you can call Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality’s helpdesk 153.
You can reach the timetables and line information by the following websites:
- Metro İstanbul — For metro, tram, funicular, and gondola.
- Marmaray (Turkish content) — The Istanbulite suburban line.
- İETT — For bus and metrobüs.
- Şehir Hatları — For conventional vehicle or passenger ferries.
- İstanbul Deniz Otobüsleri (İDO) — For conventional vehicle or passenger ferries.
- Turyol — For conventional passenger ferries.
- Mavi Marmara (Turkish content) — For conventional passenger ferries.
You can download the following applications to find your way in the city.
- Moovit — A private company’s comprehensive app includes many cities. You should choose Istanbul & Kocaeli on the app settings. You can easily search and navigate for how-to-go.
- Otobüsüm Nerede? — Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality’s public transportation body İETT’s app. Can be used to view the timetable, real-time arrival times, location of the buses, and how-to-go.
- Şehir Hatları — Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality’s conventional vehicle and passenger ferries company Şehir Hatları’s app. Can be used to view the timetable and how-to-go.