Cosmic Origins
We are thrilled to announce the AGN Dissertation Jamboree! This three-day event will be held from 1–2 pm ET / 10–11 am PT on April 28th, 29th, and 30th. The program (see below) highlights a range of exciting AGN science shaping the future of the field.We encourage everyone to join us in supporting our early career AGN researchers with your engagement, questions, and feedback.
AGN SIG about AGN SIG Dissertation Jamboree
Location
Virtual
Dates
28-30 April 20261:00pm – 2:00pm ET10:00am – 11:00am PT
Community
AGN SIG
Type
Meeting
Tuesday, 28 April 2026
A Spatially-Resolved, Multiphase Analysis of AGN-Driven Feedback and Outflows in NGC 3227
Speaker: Julian Falcone (Georgia State University)
Abstract: The advent of high-resolution spectroscopy has allowed us to observe AGN environments in greater detail than ever before. My thesis work focuses on in-depth analyses of the spatially resolved kinematics and mass outflows of the ionized [O III] and cold molecular CO(2-1) gas in the inner 5” (~600 pc) of the nearby Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 3227. While the majority of studies present a single (i.e., “global”) value for the ionized and molecular mass outflow rates within a given galaxy, our work highlights the necessity of spatially resolved studies to better understand the varying dynamics and physical conditions of the outflowing gas. Under the assumption that the CO(2-1) gas functions as a reservoir which is converted to ionized gas and subsequently evacuated, we have used these outflow rates to create the first spatially resolved estimation of the time over which this evacuation occurs, thereby defining the duration of continuous AGN activity. In this talk, I will discuss observational evidence of feedback in this galaxy, our understanding of how massive amounts of ionized and molecular gas are excavated from the center of this galaxy as a result of the feedback, and what these mass outflows reveal about the timescales over which the AGN is continuously operational.
M31*, M32*, and Sgr A* as “Active” Galactic Nuclei in X-rays
Speaker: Steve DiKerby (Michigan State University)
Abstract: Our understanding of activity near supermassive black holes depends heavily on observations of distant AGN emitting close to the Eddington limit. In addition to this corpus of work, nearby SMBH within the local group can serve as unique laboratories of accretion and variability. The proximity of systems like Sgr A* and M31* allows for detailed X-ray analyses of each SMBH and its environment, expanding our understanding of the diversity of activity in galactic nuclei. I will also discuss how other local galaxies like M32 are the next frontier of the search for the closest low-activity SMBH and how next-generation X-ray observatories will enable further studies of SMBH in our cosmic backyard.
Wednesday, 29 April 2026
Effect of AGN on the ISM of Their Hosts: A Multi-wavelength Perspective
Speaker: Payel Nandi (European Southern Observatory)
Abstract: Active galactic nuclei (AGN), powered by the accretion of matter onto supermassive black holes (SMBHs) at the centres of galaxies, play a crucial role in shaping their host galaxies and the surrounding large-scale environment through feedback processes. AGN feedback is widely invoked in galaxy formation models and simulations to explain the observed correlations between SMBH mass and host galaxy properties. Outflows represent a viable mechanism through which such feedback operates. These outflows, observed across molecular, atomic, and ionised gas phases, have a debated origin but can significantly influence the interstellar medium (ISM) of host galaxies by either suppressing (negative feedback) or enhancing (positive feedback) star formation. While the interaction between radio jets and the ISM is known to regulate star formation in massive galaxies, its role in dwarf galaxies remains largely unexplored. Recent observational evidence of AGN in dwarf galaxies challenges theoretical models that predominantly attribute feedback in such systems to s …