This symposium is held in honor of Professor Frank N. Bash to acknowledge his commitment to the future of astronomy through the support of postdoctoral fellows and graduate students. These symposia bring together young researchers at the cutting edge of astronomy and astrophysics to promote the exchange of research ideas and visions for the future of astronomy. The conferences focus on invited review talks and include discussions and contributed poster papers from postdocs and students.

Frank N. Bash, Ph.D., served as director of McDonald Observatory from 1989-2003. A native of Medford, Oregon, Bash earned his bachelor’s degree from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon; his master’s degree in astronomy from Harvard University; and his doctorate from the University of Virginia. A well-known and widely published specialist in radio astronomy, Dr. Bash’s research interests include large-scale formation processes in spiral galaxies. Dr. Bash joined the faculty of the University of Texas at Austin in 1969. Serving as Chairman of the Astronomy Department from 1982 through 1986, in 1985 he was named the Frank N. Edmonds Regents Professor. Among numerous awards for quality teaching, he was named to the teaching excellence Hall of Fame at UT Austin in 1984. As Director of McDonald, Dr. Bash led the effort for design, funding, and construction of the Hobby-Eberly Telescope. Dr. Bash also led the effort to expand the public-outreach programs of the Observatory. These programs include the Observatory’s Visitors Center, which hosts approximately 60,000 visitors per year, and StarDate radio, which reaches millions of people each day in English, Spanish, and German.