The International Academy of Astronautics will hold its 5th conference from 15 to 19 May 2017 in Tokyo, Japan. The bi-annual conference brings together world experts to discuss the threat to Earth posed by asteroids and comets and actions that might be taken to deflect a threatening object.

The conference will include a hypothetical NEO/Earth impact event scenario that will be part of the conference (similar to what was done at the 2013 & 2015 conferences). Conference attendees may also use the hypothetical scenario as their topic for papers and presentations.
” The 2017 PDC Hypothetical Asteroid Impact Scenario ”
 

Image, May 17, 2017:PDC Group Photo

Information for the PDC Participants

May 14, 2017 - ” Information for the participants of PDC bus tour on May 20 ”
May 12, 2017 - ” Announcements from LOC ” - Venue Information
May 08, 2017 - ” How to Participate in the Asteroid Threat Exercise ”
May 08, 2017 - ” Information for the participants of PDC bus tour on May 14 ”
 

Information for the public

This conference (oral and poster presentations) will be open to the public. We will relay live on YouTube from the main hall to report our important discussion widely. All talks will be given in English.
Additionally, we have a public event (in Japanese) related to PDC on May 20 (the day after our meeting), which is entitled “Defend the earth! How to cope with the threat of asteroid collision”. You can see the leaflet here.

May 08, 2017 - This conference (oral and poster presentations) will be open to the public. For more information, visit here
May 08, 2017 - “ Defend the earth! How to cope with the threat of asteroid collision ” public event related to PDC will be held on May 20 (given in Japanese)
May 08, 2017 - Live streaming of oral presentations will be available

Information for the Media and Press
Registration request for qualified media should be sent in advance to us (see details).

Planetary Defense Conference is open to the public. We warmly welcomed all of you joining us as visitors!


What is PDC?
Experts from all over the world get together for PDC to discuss the threat to Earth posed by asteroids and comets, and actions that might be taken to deflect a threatening object. It is the first conference focused on planetary defense to be held in Asia. We hope you visit our conference and see what discussion is going on. We are looking forward to seeing you at Miraikan!

Dates: Monday, May 15 ? Friday, May 19
Visitor Hours: 10:00 - 17:00
Location: Miraikan Hall and Room Jupiter on the 7th floor of Miraikan
Admission: free and no advance entry required

Sessions open to visitors:
(1) Oral presentations at Miraikan Hall
(2) Poster presentation at Room Jupiter

Note:
- All Visitors are required to have a visitor pass in the conference area. Please come to the reception desk in front of Miraikan Hall to sign the Visitor Log for a pass. The pass is needed to return to the reception when you exit.
- The closing time of the oral session depends on the day. Please see http://pdc.iaaweb.org/ for the program.
- On Friday, poster presentations will be closed in the afternoon.
We kindly ask you not to make sounds during talks. Thank you for turning off the sound of your phone(s) during talks.
 

Public Event

“Defend the earth! How to cope with the threat of asteroid collision”

A public event related to PDC will be held on May 20 (given in Japanese)
 

Date and time: Saturday, May 20, 2017, 13:30 - 16:30. (Doors open at 13:00)
Location: Innovation Hall on the 7th floor of Miraikan
Admission: free and no advance entry required
Seating capacity: 150

Organizer: Japan Spaceguard Association
Supporter: Planetary Defense Conference, Asteroid Day, The Planetary Society (TPS), The Planetary Society of Japan (TPSJ)

Leaflet in pdf format version is available.
 

Program

13:00 - Doors open

13:30 - Opening: Easy introduction of planetary defense
Makoto Yoshikawa (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency)

14:00 - Mystery of Small Solar System Bodies
Jun-ichi Watanabe (National Astronomical Observatory of Japan)

14:30 - Defending the Earth from Asteroids *1
Bruce Betts (The Planetary Society)

15:00 - Break

15:10 - Try to find asteroids!
Atsuo Asami (Japan Spacegiuard Association)

15:50 - Asteroid Day ? From idea to Global movement *2
Grigorij Richters (Co-founder Asteroid Day)

16:20 - Closing Talk
Watanabe & Yoshikawa

16:30 - Event Ends
 

*1 Japanese interpretation will be provided
*2 live-streamed talk, Japanese interpretation will be provided


PDC 2017 Live Streaming



You can watch oral presentations and important discussion on YouTube.
 >> View here
 
 

Information for the Media and Press

Registration request for qualified media should be sent in advance to us. Please contact us from the form with the following information.
 

・What is your name (in Japanese and in Roman letters)?
・What is your e-mail address?
・As the subject, please write “Media Request”
 

Please mention additional information below on the message column.
(1) What organization do you represent?
(2) Which date(s) will you come? (5/15, 5/16, 5/17, 5/18, 5/19, 5/20)
(3) How many people will come?
(4) Please let us know if you will use wireless microphones or walkie-talkies
(5) Is there any additional information or requests? (optional)


For more information about PDC, The 2017 PDC Hypothetical Asteroid Impact Scenario, Registration and past conferences, please see IAA PDC Website.
Abstract submission has been already closed.

Tokyo, Japan Selected as Site for 2017 Planetary Defense Conference


The International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) is pleased to announce that the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) will host the 5th IAA Planetary Defense Conference in Tokyo, Japan, on May 15‐19, 2017. The bi‐annual conference brings together world experts to discuss the threat to Earth posed by asteroids and comets and actions that might be taken to deflect a threatening object.

This will be the first conference focused on planetary defense to be held in Asia. The 2015 International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) Planetary Defense Conference was held on April 13‐‐‐17, 2015 in Frascati, Italy. This was the sixth in a series of conferences that began in 2004 in Anaheim, California, with subsequent conferences in Washington, D.C. in 2007, Granada, Spain in 2009, Bucharest Romania in 2011, and Flagstaff, Arizona in 2013.

A total of 245 individuals representing 21 different countries attended the 2015 conference. Attendees included 16 members of the press. The conference included a total of 81 oral presentations plus 25 short oral introductions of poster papers. A total of approximately 80 poster papers were accepted and posted at the conference. In general the conference followed a similar to that for the previous conferences: the conference was single track, meaning that sessions were sequential, and participants were able to attend all of the sessions offered. This feature was seen by many as a very positive characteristic of the meeting in that it gave each participant the opportunity to become familiar with virtually all aspects of planetary defense, including what we know about asteroids, how we might deflect a threatening object, the effects of an asteroid impact, and response to an asteroid impact disaster Information on the 2015 conference is available at http://pdc.iaaweb.org.

Based on perspectives and concerns raised during the hypothetical threat exercise, there could be much distrust and misunderstanding when an actual threat is discovered. Such misunderstandings could affect development and execution of both deflection and disaster response actions. This amplifies the need for 1) continuing and increased efforts to provide ongoing and factual information on NEOs to the public and leadership, and 2) the development of protocols and guidelines for providing information announcing the threat and providing status during the evolution of the threat and its response. Periodic surveys of public understanding of the asteroid threat and testing response approaches might be considered.
 

” IAA Press Release ”
 


Registration

Registration is now open. Early bird registration until March 15, 2017.
” Registration ”

To register online, please visit the "IAA Events" section of the IAA online shop, click on the link below:
” Registration link ”
 

” Registration for sponsors:
To register for the conference as a sponsor, please send the sponsor form to iaapdc(at)iaamail.org
 


Abstract Submission

ABSTRACT SUBMITTAL:
Technical paper abstracts (250 to 500 words in length) in the areas described above or related to planetary defense will be accepted electronically by email to iaapdc(at)iaamail.org beginning September 24, 2016. Please be sure to designate the topic area your paper addresses (see topics listed in the abstract template). The deadline for receipt of abstracts is January 13th, 2017. Letters of official acceptance will be mailed on or before February 09, 2017.
” Abstract Submission ”

※ Abstract submission closed.