We are pleased to announce the 2006 Spring Mini-Workshop: The End of the Dark Ages - From First Light to Reionization at the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI), from Monday, March 13, 2006 to Wednesday, March 15, 2006 with a reception on Monday, March 13, 2006.

NEW - Online registration has closed. However, registrations will be accepted at the door during the Workshop.

Recent progress in a number of areas of astrophysics has allowed us to begin studying the epoch when neutral hydrogen in the Universe completed its reionization. The Sloan Digital Sky Survey has provided us with the first sample of QSOs at z>6 and the first evidence that we may have seen the end of reionization. Searches for Lyman alpha emitting galaxies have been pushed to z=6.5 placing upper limits to the fraction of neutral hydrogen present at these redshift. At the same time, ultra deep HST surveys and surveys exploiting gravitational lensing are providing the first examples of galaxies at z>6. Finally, the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe has indicated that a significant fraction of neutral hydrogen can have been reionized at much higher redshift. Some of these results are at first sight incompatible but there are many hints that we may be on the verge of achieving a coherent picture of the processes leading to the end of reionization. Therefore the time is ripe for a workshop on this subject at the Institute. The workshop could be the occasion to bring together the leading observers and theorists and would have the potential to serve as a turning point for future research in this field that is central for the JWST mission.

The deadline for early registration is February 10, 2006, with a registration fee of $210. After February 10, 2006, the registration fee will be $230. (Please note that early registration payments must be received at STScI prior to February 10, 2006). Payment at the door will be assessed at $230 by check, cash, Visa or Mastercard only. Make checks payable to Space Telescope Science Institute. The registration fee covers the opening reception on March 13, 2006, morning and afternoon snacks.

Send payment to Quindairian Gryce, Workshop Coordinator, 3700 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, MD 21218.

For more information contact: Quindairian S. Gryce, Meeting Coordinator (gryce@stsci.edu) or 410-338-4970. For scientific information please contact Massimo Stiavelli (mstiavel@stsci.edu) or 410-338-4835.