The Herschel Space Observatory provided extraordinary spectroscopic opportunities in the 55–670 μm wavelength range. Unbiased spectral line surveys have been carried out in a sample of representative sources, providing a complete molecular inventory of star-forming regions. Interstellar hydrides, the basic building blocks of astrochemistry, which have their fundamental rotational transitions in the submillimeter, have been studied in absorption against bright background dust continuum sources. While the Herschel cryogenic mission has ended, the wealth of the data collected, in particular in the context of open time programs, is only now being explored.

The Zakopane workshop will bring together scientists involved in the Herschel guaranteed and open time programs do discuss the latest spectroscopic results and prospects for continuing these studies with the current ground-based an airborne facilities, specifically NOEMA, ALMA and SOFIA. Although many of the submillimeter frequencies are no longer accessible in the local Universe after the end of the Herschel mission, ALMA opens unparalleled opportunities for carrying out similar studies in high-redshift galaxies.

The program of the workshop will cover a broad range of topics based on spectroscopic results from the Herschel mission, as well as recent ground-based investigations. Specific topics include:

• Connections between the low-mass and high-mass star formation
• Water vapor as a tracer of star formation
• Molecular complexity and dynamics of star-forming regions
• From star formation to planets and the solar system
• Photon dominated regions and shocks as traced by large scale molecular line maps
• Diffuse ISM
• The Galactic Center environment
• Star formation in local galaxies
• Future prospects for the space and ground-based high-resolution spectroscopy

The program will be finalized by the SOC based on the titles and abstracts submitted by the participants (see below).

We are looking forward to your participation.

on behalf of the SOC and LOC
herschel2alma@ncac.torun.pl

The workshop is organized by the Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center, with the support of the Polish-French collaborative program in astrophysics, HECOLS. This program started almost 25 years ago, under a different name, thanks to the efforts of French and Polish astronomers, in particular Alain Omont from the Institut d’Astrophysique de Paris. The workshop will be limited to about 50 participants and will include 30-40 invited and contributed presentations, with ample time for discussions. Poster presentations will be also possible. The workshop will start with the registration and a welcome reception in the evening of May 12 and will end after breakfast on May 16. We consider providing the dedicated bus transportation from/to Krakow.