2023 Sierra Conference

Registration closed

See you in Yosemite on August 20!

The 2023 Sierra conference will take place this year from Sunday, August 20 to Wednesday, August 23 at Hodgdon Meadow Campground in the Yosemite National Park! The conference brings together graduate students from all University of California campuses, whose research falls under any subfield of astronomy. The Sierra conference is an opportunity to share your research, connect with your peers across campuses and discuss your experience of being an astronomer and a graduate student within the UC system. Following the decades' old tradition, the agenda will consist of a balanced mixture of informal science discussions with camping, stargazing and other outdoor activities.

In 2023, the PI for the Sierra conference is James Wiley (UCSD) with Roman Gerasimov (UCSD) serving as a co-PI. The funding is generously provided by the University of California Observatories. See photos from the 2022 Sierra conference in Sequoia National Forest. Learn more about the history of the Sierra conference.

What, where, when and with whom?

  • The conference is open to all graduate students within the UC system.
  • This is a camping conference, which means that participants must be prepared to spend multiple nights outdoors and bring the necessary camping gear and food with them. Please see "What to bring" below for suggestions.
  • We strive to offer the best experience to all attendees regardless of their prior wilderness experience. If you are unsure how to prepare yourself for the conference or are unable to obtain essential equipment, please do not hesitate to reach out to conference organizers for advice.
  • The conference will take place at the Hodgdon Meadow Campground in the Yosemite national park. See "Getting here" for more details. The campground is furthest from UC San Diego and closest to UC Merced, being approximately 7.5 and 2 hours' drive respectively. The campground is situated at the elevation of 5000 ft (1500 m).
  • Check in will open on Sunday August 20 at 2:00 pm. Participants are encouraged to plan their arrival at the campground early enough to set up camp by nightfall. During the conference, the Sun will be setting at approximately 7:45 pm.

Registration and posters

  • Registration for the conference will be open between July 1 and July 28. Click here to register.
  • The campground has limited capacity. If the number of registrations exceeds the number of available spaces, candidates will be prioritized to ensure the most diverse representation of University of California campuses, astronomy subfields, years of study and previous Sierra conference experience.
  • All approved registrants will be notified no later than July 29.
  • The conference will have an informal poster session. We require all participants to submit a poster, featuring a brief biography of the author and an excerpt from their present or past research in the field of astronomy.
  • In order to make the poster preparation process less time-taking, a LaTeX template for Sierra conference posters will be provided. Click here to download the template for your campus.
  • Registrations without posters may be considered upon special request, e.g., if the participant is a new student and has not carried out any research work.
  • Poster submission will be open between July 1 and August 7. Click here to upload your poster.
  • Unfortunately, late poster submissions cannot be accepted, since a finalized version of the conference booklet will be expected by the print shop shortly after the submission deadline.

Expenses and travel

  • The conference does not have a registration fee. All participants will be provided with campsites.
  • The conference will take place in the Yosemite national park that charges a $35 admission fee per vehicle. The entry fee will be reimbursed to receipt holders after the conference. To ensure the issuance of the receipt, we recommend purchasing the pass online before you travel.
  • The attendees are expected to seek reimbursements of their travel expenses (including food and fuel) from their home departments, as would be the case with other conferences.
  • To minimize both travel expenses and the environmental impact of the conference, attendees are strongly encouraged to carpool.
  • The leftover funds after the conference will be used to reimburse the travel expenses of attendees with extenuating circumstances that prevented them from receiving those reimbursements from their home departments (e.g., students without active research group affiliations). The process will be coordinated through a financial aid form that will be distributed after the conference.

Staying safe

  • The temperature in the area at the time of the conference may fall anywhere between 50 ˚F and 90 ˚F (10 ˚C and 30 ˚C). Rain in August is unlikely but possible. We strongly encourage all participants to prepare themselves for the entire range of possible conditions and to check the weather forecast prior to arrival. Stargazing activities will take place after dusk if the sky is sufficiently clear. Note that the perceived temperature may be as many as 20 ˚F (10 ˚C) colder than the actual air temperature when exposed to the clear sky for an extended period of time without moving around.
  • The Park Service may impose fire restrictions at the time of the conference. Portable stoves are normally allowed; however, up-to-date fire restrictions will be communicated to registered participants before the conference. While not strictly necessary, participants are encouraged to obtain the free California Campfire Permit prior to their arrival.
  • The Yosemite national park is home to some 500 black bears. All participants must familiarize themselves with the official guidance on bear-aware food storage. The campground is equipped with food lockers where all scented items must be placed when not in use, including food and toiletries, regardless of packaging.
  • Please refer to the Park Service advice on general safety and wildlife conservation tips.

Key dates

All times are given in Pacific Daylight Time. Deadlines are to be interpreted as 11:59 pm.

  • 07/01/2023 — registration and poster submission open
  • 07/28/2023 — registration deadline
  • 07/29/2023 — confirmed participants notified
  • 08/07/2023 — poster submission deadline
  • 08/20/2023 2:00 pm — in-person check in opens at the campground
  • 08/23/2023 2:00 pm — latest time to check out (campground reservation ends)

Getting here

The Hodgdon Meadow Campground is located in the Yosemite national park.

The campground is situated on the western edge of the park just off state route 120 (Big Oak Flat road). If approaching the national park from the West, take a signed left turn to the Hodgdon Meadow immediately after the pay booth. Otherwise, the turn will be on your right just before the pay booth. From here, follow the road for another 0.5 miles until the right turn into the campground. Once you enter the campground, follow the signs to the group campsite A. This campsite is furthest from the road, so you will need to drive across the entire campground to reach it.

The parking at the campsite is limited. The conference organizers will direct drivers to overflow parking once the cars are unloaded.

See the campground on Google Maps. Please refer to the campground map to locate our campsite.

What to bring

Sierra conference is a camping conference. Attendees must bring all the necessary camping gear and food to ensure a comfortable stay at an outdoor campground for multiple nights. A source of potable water and a flush toilet will be available at the campground.

  • Tent with stakes
  • Sleeping bag, rated for 50 ˚F (10 ˚C) or lower
  • Sleeping pad and (optionally) a camping pillow
  • Multiple layers of clothing. Winter clothes may be needed for stargazing
  • Hiking shoes
  • Flashlight or headlamp. When stargazing, red flashlights are preferred to maintain dark adaptation
  • Extra blankets and jackets
  • Camping chairs, if available

Unless the fire regulations at the time of the conference are particularly severe, a campfire will be allowed at the campground. Participants are welcome to bring camp stoves for cooking and boiling water. Obtaining the California Campfire Permit is recommended.

Participants who own telescopes and/or binoculars are encouraged to bring those along for the stargazing activities. Their experience in operating observing equipment and knowledge of the night sky will be greatly appreciated by those of us with less exposure to amateur astronomy. Regardless of available equipment, guided naked eye stargazing activities will be organized as well.

Campus contacts

Campus point-persons are in charge of coordinating the local planning at each campus. If you have questions regarding the conference or plans and status for your campus specifically, please don't hesitate to reach out to them.