About the Meeting
The SDSS-V Local Volume Mapper (LVM) Science Meeting 2026 will bring together the international collaboration working on the LVM project — a groundbreaking component of SDSS-V dedicated to mapping the ionized gas and diffuse interstellar medium in three dimensions across the local Universe. This unprecedented survey bridges the gap between stellar and galactic scales, providing insight into the physical processes that regulate star formation, feedback, and chemical enrichment from the Milky Way to nearby galaxies, including the Magellanic Clouds.
The meeting will serve as a focal point for scientists involved in observations, data reduction, modeling, and the scientific exploitation of LVM data. It will also welcome external researchers interested in the physics of the interstellar medium and galaxy evolution, particularly those from the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) and the University of La Laguna community and related institutions.
Scientific Context
The LVM project marks a new era in the study of the local Universe. Following three years of intensive instrument development and commissioning, LVM began regular observations in November 2023. By early 2026, approximately 60% of the proposed mapping will be complete, and the data reduction (DRP) and analysis (DAP) pipelines will be fully operational — making this the ideal moment to initiate broad scientific exploitation of the dataset.
This meeting comes at a crucial time: internal data distribution to collaboration members will have been completed, giving participants several months to explore the dataset, while the first public LVM data release (SDSS-V DR20) is expected by the end of 2026. Furthermore, decisions regarding the northern continuation of the project, the Local Group Explorer (LGE), are currently underway, with the 2m TTT telescope at the Teide Observatory (Izaña) — operated by the IAC — among the candidate sites.
Purpose and Goals
The 2026 Science Meeting will provide a unique opportunity to:
- Coordinate efforts among teams involved in LVM data collection and analysis.
- Present and discuss early scientific results from LVM observations.
- Plan for future data exploitation and public data releases.
- Strengthen collaboration between IAC, UNAM, and other institutions involved in the SDSS-V project.
Format and Venue
The meeting will adopt a hybrid format (in-person and online) to ensure broad participation. It will span five days (Monday–Friday), hosted primarily at the IAC headquarters in La Laguna. Approximately 40–50 participants are expected in person, with a similar number joining remotely. Additional breakout rooms will be available for parallel discussions and working sessions. If attendance exceeds capacity, alternative venues such as IACTEC or the Museum of Science and the Cosmos may be considered.
Organization and Support
The event is co-organized by the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC), the University of La Laguna and the Instituto de Astronomía of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (IA-UNAM), with support from Light Bridges and the Canary Global Foundation. The collaboration between these institutions aims to promote the integration of the IAC into the LVM and future LGE projects.
Participation
Registration will open in autumn 2025. Both in-person and remote participation will be available. The conference will include plenary sessions, focused working groups, and a visit to the Teide Observatory, followed by a closing dinner in La Laguna.
Further details on registration, accommodation, and logistics will be provided through the conference website as they become available.