Dr. Sebastián Pérez was featured as a keynote speaker at "Discs on the Exe," an international conference held at the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom during the last week of July. Dr. Pérez is a Department of Physics faculty member at the University of Santiago de Chile, deputy director of the Millennium YEMS Center, and director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Astrophysics and Space Sciences (CIRAS).
At the same event, USACH researcher Dr. Camilo González-Ruilova and Master of Science in Physics graduate Fernando Castillo delivered research presentations featured as highlights of the conference's scientific program.
As part of the conference's main scientific program, Dr. Pérez delivered the review talk “Planets in Discs and How They Shape Them.” His presentation examined observational evidence of planet formation and its impact on the structure and evolution of protoplanetary discs. In addition to his talk, Dr. Pérez chaired a major session on planet-disc interactions.
The conference brought together international specialists to discuss the latest advances in protoplanetary disks and planetary system formation. The event was held as part of the 25th anniversary celebrations for the University of Exeter’s Astrophysics Group.
Focusing on the Ophiuchus molecular cloud, Dr. Camilo González Ruilova delivered the talk “Does the environment affect planet formation?”, detailing how star-forming environments shape the structures observed in protoplanetary disks.
Fernando Castillo, a graduate of the USACH Department of Physics Master of Science program and member of the YEMS Millennium Nucleus, presented his research in one of the conference's scientific sessions. His work focused on the survival of vortices in gas-rich debris disks and the conditions enabling solid material to concentrate, advancing fundamental understanding of planetary formation processes.
The participation of USACH Department of Physics researchers at one of astrophysics' most significant international gatherings highlights the university's impact on cutting-edge research. Driven by the YEMS Millennium Nucleus, these contributions underscore USACH's dedication to advancing scientific discovery and training the next generation of scientists.