Scientific Programme
The scientific programme will consist of invited talks (25 + 5 minutes) and contributed talks (12 + 3 minutes) as well as poster sessions. There will be, amongst others, the following keynote speakers at BEACON 2027 (in alphabetical order of their last names):
Confirmed Lecturers
Emeline Bolmont
University of Geneva, Switzerland
Doris Breuer
German Aerospace Centre, Germany
Minik Rosing
Copenhagen University, Denmark
José Caballero
Centro de Astrobiologia, Spain
Teresa Fornaro
INAF, Italy
Nicoletta La Rocca
University of Padova, Italy
Sean McMahon
University of Edinburgh, UK
Floris van der Tak
University of Groningen, The Netherlands
Kai-Uwe Schrogl
University of Tübingen, Germany
Kristina Sekrst
University of Zagreb, Croatia
Vassilissa Vinogradoff
CNRS, France
Poster Sessions
Poster sessions will take place in Vanemuise Conference Hall on Tuesday 25th 20:00 – 22:00 and on Friday 28th May
Social Programme
On 27th May 2027 we offerthe following 4 different conference excursions. Accompanying persons are welcome on all tours!
Go South
A tour for people interesting in the Estonian landscape, medieval history, folk culture and geology, we have an offer for you. We will leave from Tartu at 08:00 and make our way to the Ilumetsa impact. crater (involves a short walk of 500m on a path through a wood) . Thereafter we continue to the open-air museum in Värska where we will have lunch. From there we go on to the Piusa sandstone caves where we have a guided tour through these unique features. We then continue to the medieval Bishop’s castle of Vastselinna (guided tour). Finally, we head to Munamägi, where you have the possibility to walk up to the highest point of Estonia from where you can enjoy a very nice view over Southern Estonia. After a dinner at a local restaurant we make our way back to Tartu. The price includes
- Bus travel as described above
- Entrance fee and lunch at Värska open air museum
- Entrance fee to castle
- Dinner at local restaurant
Go North
If you are interested in the Ice Age, Estonian mythology, popular culture and also have a culinary liking, this is a tour for you. We head off to the Äski Ice Age Centre where we have a guided tour. From there our journey continues through landscapes created by the glaciation to the Kalevipoeg museum, where we get to know the giant hero of Estonian folk tales. From there we continue for lunch at ta local pub. Thereafter we go to Old Believer's museum and the Peipisimaa cultural centre. There we visit the chicory museum and sample some onion cakes and sweet tarts as well as chicory and rea coffee and tea. After that we continue to the Alatskivi manor house where we have a guided tour and a dinner at the castle restaurant with specialities from the Peipsi lake area. After dinner we return to Tartu. The price includes
- Bus travel as described above
- Entrance fee to Ice Age Centre and guided tour,
- Lunch at local pub
- Entrance fee to Peipsimaa cultural centre and coffee break
- Entrance fee to Alatskivi manor house
- Entrance fee to Old Believer’s museum
- 3-course dinner at Alatskivi restaurant
Go West
For people interested in the history of Estonia, its nature and also visit a picturesque town and the modern Tartu observatory, we can offer a nice trip. We head off at 08:30 first to a crafts centre and then to the picturesque town of Viljandi with its ancient houses and cobbled streets. Herre we have a walk around in the town, visit the ruins of the castle of the Teutonic Order, the old water tower (with a very nice view) and an art gallery. After lunch at a traditional restaurant in the Old Town we make our way to manor house where we have a guided tour. Thereafter we visit the aquarium and museum at the Vörtsjärv lake. From there we continue to Tõravere observatory for a guided tour. We then have a dinner with fresh trouts at the Forell restaurant (vegetarian and vegan alternatives will be provided). After dinner we return to Tartu. The price includes
- Bus travel as described above
- Entrance fee to Viljandi water tower
- Lunch at Viljandi
- Entrance fee to the art gallery at Viljandi
- Guided tour at Toravere observatory
- Dinner at Forell restaurant
Go East
Sometimes, battling proposal deadlines and after 2 dense days of BEACON, you might want to relax a day, There is an ideal tour for you. We take the boat from Tartu harbour down Emajogi and over Peipsi like to the old monastery island of Piirisaare. We can visit the unique settlement of the Old Believers and the church on the island. After the visit we return by boat to Tartu. People can enjoy the change of landscape from a river cruise to the crossing over Lake Peipus (Europe's 4th largest lake after Ladoga, Onega and Vänern).
Afternoon Walk Through Tartu
On Saturday 29th 14:00 we will organise a guided walk in Tartu with a visit to the Old Observatory which once housed the most powerful telescope in the world. The price of the walk is EUR 25,. and includes
- Guided tour through Tartu with a visit to Toompeä hill, Old town, Old City square, St. John’s church, University area and the Botanical Garden (in case of fine weather)
- Guided visit to the Old Observatory
Conference Dinner
The conference dinner will be on Saturday 29th May 19:30 at Püssirohukelder, the “restaurant with the highest ceiling”. The price for the meal will be EUR 50,- and will include:
- 3-course meal with special Estonian dishes
- Vichy mineral water
- Tea or coffee
- Drinks can be ordered at own expenses
A five-day's after-conferece outing across Estonia's islands and coast
Visits to the island of Saaremaa (Kaali impact crater, Kuressaare bishop castle, Angla Windmill, old churches, and Ordovician fossil sites), Hiiumaa (Kärdla crater and manor houses), Haapsalu (a one-time fashionable spa city, with ruins), and Tallinn (the open-air museum and an Old Town walk). An ideal way to combine your conference attendance with a holiday in Estonia. Accompanying persons are also welcome! Neverttheless, we have t reserve the right to cancel the outing if less than 25 persons register for it.
Tartu to Kuressaare, via Viljandi
Depart Tartu at 08:00 for Viljandi, with its ancient houses and cobbled streets — a walk through town, the ruins of the Teutonic Order's castle, the old water tower, and an art gallery, followed by lunch in the Old Town. We continue via Pärnu to Kuivastu for the ferry to Saaremaa, arriving in Kuressaare for check-in and a Saaremaa dinner at the Veski windmill restaurant.
ViljandiVeski windmill restaurantFossils, the Kaali crater, and Kuressaare castle
Out to the Oressaare cliffs, an important fossil site, then on to the Kaali crater — recently dated by EAI members — for a visit to the crater and museum, with lunch. From there, Kaarma church and an ice-cream stop at Saksa Talupood, before returning to Kuressaare for a castle visit and a medieval dinner.
Kaali craterKuressaare castleAngla, Panga cliffs, and a farmhouse dinner
The medieval church at Angla, then a short drive to the Angla windmills for a visit and lunch. On along Saaremaa's north shore to the Panga cliffs for some fossil hunting, before a traditional Estonian dinner.
Panga cliffsAngla windmillsOn to Hiiumaa, via the Kärdla crater
Ferry from Triigi to Sõru, on Hiiumaa. On to the crater wall of the Kärdla crater, with lunch at Kärdla (and a sea dip, if possible). Then a visit to the Baroque Suuremõisa castle, before the ferry across to the seaside resort of Haapsalu.
Suuremõisa castleKärdlaHaapsalu, then on to Tallinn
A morning exploring Haapsalu's Old Town and castle, with some free time. After lunch, on to Tallinn for a guided tour of the Estonian Open Air Museum — one of the best of its kind in Europe — followed by a traditional Estonian dinner.
HaapsaluEstonian Open Air MuseumTallinn Old Town, and a Hanseatic close
A guided morning tour through Tallinn's Old Town, then a free afternoon to explore on your own. The trip concludes with a Hanseatic dinner at Olde Hansa restaurant.
Tallinn Old TownOlde Hansa restaurantDeparture
Breakfast at the Meriton hotel, and departure.
All programmes are subject to unforeseen changes, which will be announced as soon as possible.