14th Iberian Gravitational Waves Meeting
The Iberian Gravitational Waves Meeting is an international conference organised annually since 2011 by different members of the Spanish Gravitational Waves Physics Network (REDONGRA). This year, the meeting will be held from 23 to 25 June 2025 at CIEMAT (Madrid, Spain), starting at 9:00 AM on June 23 and concluding at 5:00 PM on June 25. It will be jointly organised by CIEMAT and IPARCOS (UCM).
The idea is to bring together researchers with an interest in the development of gravitational wave astronomy, including researchers from related fields of astrophysics, multi-messenger astronomy, cosmology, fundamental physics, instrumentation and data analysis, and, importantly, to foster collaboration between them.
In addition to contributed talks, we will host the following Invited Speakers:
- Anna Heffernan (University of the Balearic Islands)
- Ivan Martín (ICE-CSIC)
- Julia Casanueva (EGO)
- Mario Martínez (IFAE)
- Monica Seglar-Arroyo (IFAE)
- Thomas Dent (IGFAE, University of Santiago de Compostela)
A practical course on Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) techniques, focusing on their application in gravitational wave data analysis and related scientific fields, will be held at CIEMAT on 26 June. For detailed information and registration, please visit this webpage.
We look forward to welcoming you to Madrid.
Welcome to CIEMAT
CIEMAT is a public research institute located in the west of Madrid, close to the Complutense University campus. The Gravitational Waves Group is part of the Fundamental Research Department.
Upon arrival at CIEMAT, enter the gatehouse and present your passport or ID card to the guards. They will verify that you are on the list of participants and provide you with a temporary access card and a map. The meeting will take place in the auditorium of Building 1. On the first day, a member of our team will be available to assist you if needed.
At CIEMAT, you can connect to the WiFi network eduroam (check connection details with your home institute before travelling).
Registration
To register for the conference, please follow this link or click on "Registration" in the menu on the left. Registration closes on 16 June at 23:59 CEST.
The registration fee is €100 for postdoctoral researchers and senior scientists, and €60 for PhD students (predoctoral researchers). This fee includes coffee and tea breaks, meals, and the workshop dinner. To pay the fee, please click on this link.
How to reach CIEMAT
The lab is approximately 5 km (3 mi) from the city centre and 17 km (10 mi) from Madrid-Barajas Adolfo Suárez International Airport. A taxi ride from the airport to the city centre (meaning inside the M-30 ring) costs €33 (per trip, not per person!).
Information about the metro (Underground) to/from the airport can be found on this website.
The best way to get around Madrid is by public transport. First, get a Multi-Card (€2.50) from the machines in metro stations (including the airport) and load it with up to 20 metro bus tickets (10 tickets cost €6.10). A single card can be used by more than one person on the same journey (tick the appropriate number of passengers at the entrance). Click here for more details.
It is easy to reach CIEMAT by public transportation. Line 82 (Moncloa-CIEMAT) has a bus stop 50 m (165') away from the main entrance of the Institute (south gate). Details on how to reach CIEMAT are on this web page.
Social dinner
The workshop dinner will take place at the Zerain Basque Grill Restaurant. Please refer to the map and available menus: a standard menu (which includes meat and animal products) and a vegetarian menu (with some vegan options).
Weather in Madrid
Madrid is located at about 650 m AMSL. The air is generally dry, and the wind chill is less pronounced than in humid places.
In this link, you will find the weather forecast for Madrid. We will add more details as we get closer to the workshop dates. Expect warm and dry weather with temperatures between 25°C and 35°C.
Accommodation
Baby care
What to see/do in Madrid
The official Madrid tourism website contains plenty of interesting suggestions.
Those visiting Madrid for the first time cannot miss the National Art Museums, El Prado, Reina Sofia and Thyssen-Bornemisza.
To get a taste of what life in Madrid is like, we suggest you take some time to stroll around El Retiro Park.
We have prepared for you a pleasant tour (see map) that will take you to some emblematic places in the centre of Madrid. Starting from Argüelles (pronounced [aɾɣ̞weʝes]), where some of the recommended hotels are located, you can go to the Temple of Debod to see the sunset. Afterwards, we suggest you go to the Plaza de la Paja (Straw Square) or the Cava Baja, where you will find typical restaurants where you can enjoy wine and tapas. The proposed route will take you past the Royal Palace and the Royal Theatre (Opera House), the Almudena Cathedral and the Segovia Viaduct. After dinner, you can walk through Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol (the centre of Madrid) and Plaza de Callao, where you can take the metro line 3, which will take you back to Argüelles in a few minutes. Free variations of this tour are encouraged, as they will allow you to discover hidden gems of Madrid.
If you're a fan of live music, there's no limit to what's on offer in Madrid. To name just one of our favourites, we recommend La Coquette Blues Bar, right in the centre of Madrid.
If you have extra time in the area, consider visiting Toledo (75 km/47 mi from Madrid) and/or Segovia (87 km/54 mi), cities rich in history, art and local cuisine.
General recommendations
Madrid is a very popular tourist destination. Although it is a very safe city, pickpockets are common, especially in the city centre. Keep an eye on your belongings, especially on public transport. Carry your rucksack/purse/computer bag in front of you.
In case of emergency, dial 112.
If you need any help, please contact Pablo.
