27-31 October 2025, @Zihuatanejo city council, Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, México. For any query write to:
zihuagn@irya.unam.mx
NEW! Abstract for oral contributions is closed. Registration and requests for poster contributions are open. Deadline: September 8
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See below for more details!
150 Participants
5 invited reviews
50 talks
>10 outreach activities
Scientific Rationale
The central kpc of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) represents one of the universe’s most dynamic and multifaceted regions, characterized by extreme physical conditions and a wide range of observable phenomena. This compact region houses the supermassive black hole (SMBH), the AGN engine, and it is the locus where gas, dust, and energetic particles interact under the influence of intense gravitational, electromagnetic, and magnetic fields. Understanding these interactions is essential to unraveling the mechanisms that govern accretion, feedback, and energy transfer on both small and large scales in galaxies, and it is key to comprehending the wide range of observed phenomenology.
Observations across the electromagnetic spectrum, from X-rays to radio wavelengths, reveal a complex interplay of emission processes within this region. High-energy X-ray and ultraviolet emissions primarily originate from the innermost parts of the accretion disk, the structure through which gas is accreted onto the SMBH, releasing vast amounts of electromagnetic and mechanical energy. Surrounding this disk is the broad line region (BLR), where high-velocity clouds emit Doppler-broadened spectral lines. Moving outward, we encounter the dusty torus, a geometrically thick structure that obscures and reprocesses radiation, emitting predominantly in the infrared. This torus may also connect to polar dust structures, which are thought to play a role in the outflow of material and impact galaxy-scale feedback mechanisms.
Radio and optical observations often reveal collimated jets, which transport enormous energy and momentum from the SMBH to the galactic outskirts, impacting star formation and potentially regulating the host galaxy’s evolution. The origins of these jets and their interactions with the surrounding medium are still intensely debated. Additionally, outflows of ionized gas, which are observed across various wavelengths, are often driven by the AGN and can significantly affect the interstellar medium of the host galaxy.
The detailed study of these components — accretion disk, BLR, dusty torus, jets, and outflows — and the processes of accretion, jet production, and feedback within the central kpc is key to understanding not only the AGN phenomenon but its connection with the evolution of AGN and their impact in galaxy evolution throughout mergers (dual and binary AGN). With this meeting, we aim to bring together all of these phenomenologies to present a holistic picture of one of the most energetic phenomena in the universe. Leveraging archive and future multi-wavelength observations and theoretical models, we aim to deepen our insights into the physical mechanisms and interdependencies within this region to deepen our understanding of AGN and its role in galaxy evolution.
With this relevant rationale, we invite you to join us in the “ZIHUAGN redemption: central kpc region” meeting in the wonderful town of Zihuatanejo from October 27 to 31. Zihuatanejo is a beautiful town in the Pacific Ocean “with no memory” where Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman went in The Shawshank Redemption. Beyond this famous movie, Zihuatanejo is a fishing town in Guerrero, among the Magical Towns promoted by Mexico for its cultural richness, historical relevance, beaches, cuisine, arts and crafts, and great hospitality. Note also that the conference is held right before “Día de los Muertos” (Day of the Dead) so participants staying longer can enjoy one of Mexico’s most wonderful pre-Hispanic traditions. It involves family and friends gathering to pay respects and remember friends and family members who have died. These celebrations can be humorous, as celebrants remember amusing events and anecdotes about the departed. Traditions connected with the holiday include honoring the deceased using calaveras and flowers known as cempazúchitl, building home altars called ofrendas with the favorite foods and beverages of the departed, and visiting graves with these items as gifts for the deceased.
We are pleased to announce that the registration for the ZIHUAGN Redemption: Central kpc Region meeting is now open! The conference will take place in the beautiful town of Zihuatanejo, México, from October 27 to 31, 2025.
Although the deadline for oral contributions is closed (we will soon send the results to the contributors), you are still invited to submit your abstracts for posters and contribute to what promises to be an exciting and fruitful meeting. Submissions for posters are open until September 1. To pre-register and submit your abstract, please follow this link: https://zihuagn.irya.unam.mx/register/. Please note that pre-registration is mandatory for all participants to facilitate payment and final registration. Once pre-registration is complete, you will need to make the payment and finalise the registration:
2. Fee payment: Sociedad Mexicana de Física (SMF) sponsors the platform for payments via Mercado Pago (available in most countries). Note that scientists in Mexican institutions may require a different method of payment (see below). For others, the following link will redirect you to pay 300 USD = $5,880: Click here to pay for the fee of ZIHUAGN. If you are unable to pay through Mercado Pago, please get in touch with us to obtain the bank transfer details. If you are a student with waived fees granted by the LOC of the conference, you may proceed directly to the next step.
ONLY FOR MEXICAN INSTITUTIONS: The payment procedure above does not include taxes in Mexico. If you work at a Mexican institution and you need a bill compatible with SAT, follow these instructions:
(a) Go to the SMF web platform at: https://plataforma.smf.mx/. You need to be registered (it only requires your full name and e-mail to register; being a member is not required to register). (b) At the “Panel Principal”, click on “Tienda”. You will see several payment options; click on “ZIHUAGN Redemption,” where you can pay the inscription fee of 6,000 MN (5,172.41 MN plus 16% IVA). (c) You can then click to proceed to the payment with Mercado Pago. You can ask for the bill for SAT purposes within the SMF platform in “Mis recibos”.
3. Dinner for companions: Conference dinner (on Tuesday) is included in the fee. If you plan to attend with one or more companions, the cost is 1,000 pesos per person (~ 50 US dollars per person). Please, pay several times if you plan to attend with more than one person. Click here to pay for the dinner.
4. Save PDFs of payments. An email is automatically sent to you with each payment (each one with a reference number for our tracking). Please print the payment for the fee as a PDF and the payment for dinner for companions in a separate PDF. If you plan to attend the dinner with several companions, please combine all the dinner payments into a single PDF. If you are a student with waived fees, the PDF sent to you with the acceptance by the LOC will be used in the next step instead of the payment PDF.
5. Final registration form: You will need to upload the PDF of your fees (or confirmation of waived fees from the LOC) and any payment for companions attending the conference dinner to the registration form. As a final step, you can proceed to the registration form at: https://zihuagn.irya.unam.mx/register/web/register-form/. You will need to sign up using the same email address that was used for pre-registration. Please complete the form and upload the PDFs of your payment receipts (or confirmation of waived fees).
You won’t receive a confirmation immediately because we need to review each case to verify the payments with SMF. We will send you a registration confirmation as soon as possible.
We are pleased to announce that the abstract submission for the ZIHUAGN Redemption: Central kpc Region meeting is now open! The conference will take place in the beautiful town of Zihuatanejo, México, from October 27 to 31, 2025.
You are now invited to submit your abstracts and contribute to what promises to be an exciting and fruitful meeting. Submissions are open until June 13. To pre-register and send your abstract, please follow this path: https://zihuagn.irya.unam.mx/register/
We are hereby announcing the ZIHUAGN Redemption: Central kpc Region congress, which will take place in the beautiful town of Zihuatanejo, México, from October 27 to 31, 2025.
The central kiloparsec of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) is one of the most dynamic and complex regions in the universe, where extreme physical conditions shape the accretion, feedback, and energy transfer processes that influence galaxy evolution. This meeting will bring together researchers working on the key components of this region—accretion disks, broad line regions, dusty tori, jets, and outflows—through multi-wavelength observations and theoretical modeling. Our goal is to develop a comprehensive picture of the inner kpc region of AGN.
Zihuatanejo, a serene Pacific town, holds a special place in cinema history as the idyllic refuge where Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman’s characters reunite in The Shawshank Redemption. Beyond its cinematic charm, Zihuatanejo offers stunning beaches, rich culture, and warm hospitality—an inspiring setting for scientific exchange and collaboration.
Join us for an exciting and insightful meeting in a place that, much like the AGN central region, promises discovery and redemption.
This event is organized jointly by the Institute of Radioastronomy and Astrophysics and the Institute of Astronomy of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)
Omaira Gonzalez Martin, Irene Cruz González, Erika Benítez Lizaola & Jacopo Fritz on behalf of the SOC and LOC.
Review talks
The topics for the five invited talks are focused on the physics within the inner kpc region. They will give an overview in the following subjects:
1. Inflows and Winds/Outflows: AnnaLiaLonginotti
2. Jets: Rodrigo Nemmen
3. Torus and connection with the circumnuclear star-formation: Almudena Alonso Herrero
4. Disk/corona and BLR: Swayamtrupta Panda
5. Dual and binary AGN: Francisco Muller Sánchez
Breaking news invited talks:
Little Red Dots: Pablo Pérez González
NEW! Registration and abstract submission for poster contributions is still open: Deadline: September 8.
Contributed talks and posters will focus on the above topics. After the meeting, authors of reviews, contributed talks, and posters will be invited to proceedings to be published to contribute to RevMexAA (Revista Mexicana de Astronomía y Astrofísica, https://www.astroscu.unam.mx/RMxAA/).
SOC
Michael Eracleous
Martin Gaskell
Omaira González-Martín (chair)
Sebastian Hönig
Stefanie Komossa
Yair Krongold
Paola Marziani
Thaisa Storchi Bergmann
LOC
Erika Benítez
Irene Cruz-González (co-chair)
Jacopo Fritz
Omaira González-Martín (co-chair)
Ulises Reyes Amador
Donaji Esparza-Arredondo
César Victoria Ceballos
Víctor Olivo
Important dates
Pre-registration and abstract submission: Opened at https://zihuagn.irya.unam.mx/register/. Deadline: June 13. Note that pre-registration is needed for all participants (irrespective of the contribution).
Selected contributions: We are currently finalising the evaluation and will send confirmation before the end of July.
Sponsor for students: We sent invitations to all students to submit their request for grants (fees, hotel acoomodation or both). Deadline: July 4.
Registration and payment are now open: The Deadline is September 8.
Registration and conference fee
The conference fee is US$ 300 ( 5,880 MN) to be paid upon registration. This includes cocktail, social events, and conference dinners. Registration is now open. Follow these steps:
1. Pre-register at https://zihuagn.irya.unam.mx/register/ Please note that you can still submit an abstract for poster contributions. Skip this step if you have already pre-registered.
2. Fee payment: Sociedad Mexicana de Física (SMF) sponsors the platform for payments via Mercado Pago (available in most countries). Note that scientists in Mexican institutions may require a different method of payment (see below). For others, the following link will redirect you to pay 300 USD = $5,880: Click here to pay for the fee of ZIHUAGN. If you are unable to pay through Mercado Pago, please get in touch with us to obtain the bank transfer details. If you are a student with waived fees granted by the LOC of the conference, you may proceed directly to the next step.
ONLY FOR MEXICAN INSTITUTIONS: The payment procedure above does not include taxes in Mexico. If you work at a Mexican institution and you need a bill compatible with SAT, follow these instructions:
(a) Go to the SMF web platform at: https://plataforma.smf.mx/. You need to be registered (it only requires your full name and e-mail to register; being a member is not required to register). (b) At the “Panel Principal”, click on “Tienda”. You will see several payment options; click on “ZIHUAGN Redemption,” where you can pay the inscription fee of 6,000 MN (5,172.41 MN plus 16% IVA). (c) You can then click to proceed to the payment with Mercado Pago. You can ask for the bill for SAT purposes within the SMF platform in “Mis recibos”.
3. Dinner for companions: Conference dinner (on Tuesday) is included in the fee. If you plan to attend with one or more companions, the cost is 1,000 pesos per person (~ 50 US dollars per person). Please, pay several times if you plan to attend with more than one person. Click here to pay for the dinner.
4. Save PDFs of payments. An email is automatically sent to you with each payment (each one with a reference number for our tracking). Please print the payment for the fee as a PDF and the payment for dinner for companions in a separate PDF. If you plan to attend the dinner with several companions, please combine all the dinner payments into a single PDF. If you are a student with waived fees, the PDF sent to you with the acceptance by the LOC will be used in the next step instead of the payment PDF.
5. Final registration form: You will need to upload the PDF of your fees (or confirmation of waived fees from the LOC) and any payment for companions attending the conference dinner to the registration form. As a final step, you can proceed to the registration form at: https://zihuagn.irya.unam.mx/register/web/register-form/. You will need to sign up using the same email address that was used for pre-registration. Please complete the form and upload the PDFs of your payment receipts (or confirmation of waived fees).
You won’t receive a confirmation immediately because we need to review each case to verify the payments with SMF. We will send you a registration confirmation as soon as possible.
Practical information
HOW TO REACH ZIHUATANEJO
Zihuatanejo is located in the municipality of José Azueta in the state of Guerrero on the Pacific Coast of Mexico about 240 km (approx. 144 miles) northwest of Acapulco.
By Airplane
We strongly suggest arriving in Zihuatanejo by plane, although buses are popular among Mexicans. Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo Airport is about 20 minutes from the city by car. The best way to arrive at Zihuatanejo Airport is by flying through Mexico City, although there are several international flights depending on the season. National flights: Aeroméxico has direct flights every day from Mexico City. Volaris also has flights from Mexico City, Tijuana, and Queretaro. International flights: American Airlines has a connection from Dallas Fort Worth International, United from Houston George Bush Intercntl. and Air Canada from Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau, among others. Please visit https://aeropuertozihuatanejo.oma.aero/en/flights/airlines–routes.htm for information on plausible connections.
By Bus
If your flight arrive at the Mexico City Airport (Aeropuerto Internacional Benito Juárez, the main gateway to the country) and if you’re taking a taxi, to the Bus Terminal to get to Zihuatanejo, be sure to purchase your ticket at an official airport taxi counter marked transportación terrestre (ground transportation), located just after the baggage area in national arrivals and in the concourse area (leaving customs to your left) in international arrivals. Within Mexico, buses are the most popular way to travel: you can board ultramodern, superdeluxe motor coaches that show U.S. movies and serve soft drinks, coffee, and sandwiches.
By Car
Recommended routes from Mexico City are “Autopista Del Sol” or “Autopista Siglo XXI”. Total traveling time is very similar for both highways; about 8 hours from Mexico City (5 hours from Morelia). Note that the road costs ~1200 pesos (60 dollars) per car.
Hotels
We have agreements with four hotels located at the two main beaches, Playa La Madera and Playa La Ropa. The hotels and details on reservations are:
Hotel Irma & Hotel Villa Mexicana are managed by the same reservation company. Contact: Claudia Nuñez, Phone: 55-9000 1300 to 02, Mon to Fri 9:00 – 17:00 hrs, e-mail: hotelreserv@prodigy.net.mx Group code: astrounam
List of prices (as a reference only: ~20 pesos is 1 dollar/euro):
Option 1: With traditional breakfast and lunch or dinner (buffet)
Single/double room (1 o 2 adults): $3,299.00 pesos
Triple room (3 adults): $4,099.00 pesos
Four-adults room: $4,899.00 pesos
Child 5-12 yrs: $ 399.00 pesos
Teenager 13-17 yrs: $ 899.00 pesos
Option 2: With traditional breakfast only
Single/double room (1 o 2 adults): $2,599.00 pesos
Triple room (3 adults): $3,399.00 pesos
Four adult room: $4,197.00 pesos
Child 5-12 yrs: $119.00 pesos
Teenager 13-17 yrs: $222.00 pesos
Hotel Aura del Mar (Playa La Madera; early booking is suggested because there are only 15 rooms available) https://www.hotelauradelmar.com/ email: info@hotelauradelmar.com. The hotel asks for one night’s payment by bank transfer. Reservations will be made by email. Details of the bank transfer will be given once the hotel is contacted. The receipt for this transaction should be attached to the email to confirm the reservation.
List of prices:
Standard room 1 or 2 guests (lodging only): $3,160.00 pesos
Additional person: $840.00 pesos.
Other hotels: Zihuatanejo has several small hotels with tens of rooms and a wide range of prices. It also provides several economic Bed & Breakfasts. The conference will take place at the beginning of the winter season. Therefore, relatively low occupation is expected.
Program
Conference Schedule: October 27-31, 2025
Time
October 27
October 28
October 29
October 30
October 31
09:00 – 09:40
Opening
Invited Talk 2
Invited Talk 3
Invited Talk 4
Invited Talk 5
09:40 – 10:00
Invited Talk 1
Contrib. Talk 1
Contrib. Talk 2
Contrib. Talk 3
Contrib. Talk 4
10:00 – 10:20
Contrib. Talk 5
Contrib. Talk 6
Contrib. Talk 7
Contrib. Talk 8
Contrib. Talk 9
10:20 – 10:40
Contrib. Talk 10
Contrib. Talk 11
Contrib. Talk 12
Contrib. Talk 13
Contrib. Talk 14
10:40 – 11:00
Contrib. Talk 15
Contrib. Talk 16
Contrib. Talk 17
Contrib. Talk 18
Contrib. Talk 19
Break
11:40 – 12:00
Contrib. Talk 20
Contrib. Talk 21
Contrib. Talk 22
Contrib. Talk 23
Contrib. Talk 24
12:00 – 12:20
Contrib. Talk 25
Contrib. Talk 26
Contrib. Talk 27
Contrib. Talk 28
Contrib. Talk 29
12:20 – 12:40
Contrib. Talk 30
Contrib. Talk 31
Contrib. Talk 32
Contrib. Talk 33
Contrib. Talk 34
12:40 – 13:00
Contrib. Talk 35
Contrib. Talk 36
Contrib. Talk 37
Contrib. Talk 38
Clousure
13:00 – 14:00
Schools and break
Tec. and break
Schools and break
Schools and break
Lunch
16:00 – 16:20
Contrib. Talk 39
Contrib. Talk 40
Contrib. Talk 41
16:20 – 16:40
Contrib. Talk 42
Contrib. Talk 43
Contrib. Talk 44
16:40 – 17:00
Contrib. Talk 45
Contrib. Talk 46
Contrib. Talk 47
17:00 – 17:20
Contrib. Talk 48
Contrib. Talk 49
Contrib. Talk 50
17:20 – 17:40
Discussion session
Discussion session
Discussion session
Discussion session
18:00 – 19:00
Outreach: Round table “Dark sky”
Social event: Conference dinner
Outreach: Public talk
Outreach: Public talk
Outreach: sky night
19:00 – 20:00
Social event: Turtle release
Outreach activities
Visits to secondary schools in the area. We will organize the visit of up to six secondary or preparatory schools in the area of participants of the event to give outreach talks for young people. These activities would be on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 1:00 p.m., with a maximum of two educational centers daily.
Talk about “Data Science” for undergrad students at the Costa Grande Technological Institute. Tuesday, October 28 at 1:00 p.m.
Round table on the importance of dark skies. Date: Tuesday, October 28 at 6:00 p.m. Possible location: Zihuatanejo Museum of Anthropology.
Exhibition of astronomical photographs in the center of Zihuatanejo. It would be installed from October 26 to 31. Location: Paseo del Pescador.
Observation night. Friday, October 31 between 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. Location: La Ropa Beach.
Dissemination talks for the general public. Two talks given by participants and/or conference organizers on Wednesday the 29th and Thursday the 30th. Location: This will be agreed upon with the Zihuatanejo City Council.
All participants are welcomed to join the organization of these events. Note that fluent Spanish is desired to participate in the outreach events.
Social Events
Welcome Cocktail
Restaurante Bistro del Mar. Playa La Madera. Sunday 26 5:00pm
Conference Dinner
Restaurante La Perla, Playa La Ropa, Tuesday 28 6:00pm.