History of the Pacific Rim Conference on Stellar Astrophysics

Abstract

The First Conference was sponsored by the US Science Foundation (NSF) and the Chinese Academy of Science (CAS), as a Workshop between the USA and China. The NSF grant supported a delegation of 8 astronomers to China. It was decided to turn the Workshop into an international conference to attract international researchers to China. The Conference was named Critical Observations versus Physical Models for Close Binary Systems, Beijing, China 1985. It was the first international conference in Astronomy held in China with the People's Republic. Professor Wang Shou Guan served as the Co-Chair of the SOC.After several visits with my former college mate, Professor Il-Seong Nha at Yonsei University, Korea, he agreed to host their first international meeting on Astronomy in Seoul and Daejeon, Korea in 1990. Dr. Nha served as the Co-Chair of SOC. The title of the Conference was New Frontiers in Binary Star Research. Again, the Conference was sponsored by the US NSF with the Korean Academy of Science and Engineering as a Workshop between the two countries and expanded to an international conference invitees.During frequent visits to China in the 80s and 90s I usually stopped by Chiang Mai, Thailand and Seoul, Korea. Professor Boonrucksar Soonthornthum and his colleagues were working to obtain photometric observations with a 20 inch refractor. He had studied in New Zealand and had befriended many binary stars researchers. For the third time US NSF supported a joint workshop with the Thai Academy of Science and Engineering. Thus, we had the first international meeting in Thailand at Chiang Mai University on Recent Developments on Binary Stars Research in 1995. The Conference was Co-Chaired by Boonrucksar.The Conferences in China, Korea and Thailand were very successful in attracting international researchers to Asia. Many Asian colleagues were interested in having more conferences in Asia. As a result, we renamed the conferences the Pacific Rim Conference on Stellar Astrophysics and shortened the frequency of the series from every five years to about three years.The 4th Pacific Rim Conference on Stellar Astrophysics was held at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in 1997. Professor Kwing-Lam Chan served as a Co-Chair of the SOC. 1997 was chosen for the conference to coincide with the year the British Government handed back Hong Kong to China.The 5th Pacific Rim Conference on Stellar Astrophysics was again held in Hong Kong but at Hong Kong University in 1990. Professor K. S. Cheng was the Co-Chair of the SOC.The 6th Pacific Rim Conference on Stellar Astrophysics, PRCSA, was held in Xi'an, China in 2002. Shaanxi Observatory of Chinese Academy of Science helped to organize the conference. The SOC decided to have the 6th Conference be a Tribute the Dr. Helmut A. Abt.The 7th PRSCA went back to Seoul, Korea at the King Sejong University in 2005. Professor, Yoong Woon Kang was the Co-Chair of the SOC.The 8th PRSCA was held at the resort city of Phuket, Thailand in 2008. Boonrucksar Soonthornthum of Chiang Mai University was the Co-Chair of the SOC. About a month or so prior to the conference I developed shingles on half my face so had to wear a blindfold to limit double vision. Perfect for a double star person. Unknown to me, the SOC had already decided to dedicate the conference to me. I have been wondering ever since if they decided to honor me because I was about to die!The 9th PRCSA went back the China the second time. It was held in Lijiang, Yunnan in 2011. The conference was planned to coincide with the 3rd week of the IAU International School for Young Astronomers, ISYA. The main purpose was to give the Young Astronomers an exposure to an international conference and opportunity to meet many professional astronomers. Some students presented poster papers to the Conference. Professor Shengbang Qian was the Co-Chair of the SOC.The 10th PRCSA went back to Kora for the 3rd time at the Sejong University in 2013. Professor Yoon Woon Kang again served as the Co-Chair of the SOC.This current Pacific Rim Conference on Stellar Astrophysics returns to Hong Kong. Many of us on the SOC understand Professor Sun Kwok will be leaving his post as Dean of Sciences in 2016 and feel strongly he should be honored for his long career in astrophysics and his service to the astronomical community. We dedicate the 11th PRCSA to Professor Sun Kwok. We congratulate him for his significant achievements in stellar astrophysics,