6th announcement

Dear colleagues,

We are sending herewith a final circular of IAU symposium 279 on SNe and
GRBs, to be held at Nikko, Japan, on 12 - 16 March this year.
This circular contains important notices on the following topics.
 - Scientific program and final list of participants.
 - Information on the contributed talks and poster presentations.
 - Proceedings (due date: 11 April 2012).
 - Excursion and some events.
 - Logistic information.
Please visit the symposium web site for detailed information.

Have a nice trip, and see you all in Nikko!
LOC of IAU 279

** Scientific Program and a list of participants
The final program and the list of participants are available on the
symposium web site. Since we had to make some changes in the program lately,
to optimize science and logistics, every speaker should please make sure to
check the time of their talks. Also, please check your presentation type in
the participant list, and in case of any errors please contact to us.

** Talks and Posters
The duration of the presentation in the program includes 5 minutes for
questions and discussion. The poster size should be smaller than 90 cm
(width) x 180 cm (height).


** Proceedings
Manuscripts for the Proceedings are due no later than 11 April 2012. Email
the manuscripts to the editors at the following address: 
iau279_proc [ at ]ioa.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp. 
Additionally, an author must give his/her consent to publish and 
transfer the copyright, either by filling the form online or by
returning the appropriate form at the registration desk. 
Please check the IAU 279 web site for more information and
read through the instructions for authors prior to the submission.


** Excursion and social events.
 We will arrange an excursion on Wednesday afternoon. There are also plans
of excursions for accompanying persons. You will be able to book for these
events at the venue. You can find detailed information, including the cost
(not included in the registration fee), on the symposium web site (select a
tab for "Recreations").

 We noticed that there are not so many restaurants available for dinner
around the venue (In Nikko area most of tourists are conventionally supposed
to have dinner at hotels they stay). For those who have not arranged dinner
in one's hotel, we will provide dinner at the venue on Tuesday and Friday at
your cost (2,000 JPY per person per dinner, paid on site by JPY cash). You
do not have to book for this in advance. There is however the maximum number
for a practical reason, and it will be provided on first-come first-serve
basis (in case you miss it, LOC will provide a list of nearby available
restaurants).

** Logistic information.
- How to get Japanese yen.
 In Japan, only Japanese yen is accepted at shops and restaurants. A credit
card is accepted in many hotels. Using a credit card in shops and
restaurants is possible for some of them, but not for others. Make sure you
carry enough cash with you.

 At the international airport, you can exchange your cash and travelers
checks into yen at bank counters as long as you carry them with major
currency. You can also withdraw cash at ATMs at the international airport
using your cards with PLUS or CIRRUS logos. There are a few ATMs near the
conference site. To withdraw cash at ATMs, your cards will need to have PLUS
or CIRRUS logos on them.

- For those we will pay the registration and/or banquet fee at the symposium
desk. We will receive it only Japanese yen in cash.

- Local access in Nikko.
 If you will arrive at Nikko on March 12 (Mon), there will be a shuttle bus
available from Tobu Nikko station to the venue (running approximately during
11 am - 2 pm). Some of you will arrive at Nikko on March 11 (Sun). On
Sunday, our stuffs will be at Tobu Nikko station to help you to reach to
your hotels, available approximately during 2 pm - 6 pm. If you arrive at
Nikko later than this, we recommend to use a taxi to get to your hotels
(will cost approximately 1,000 - 1,500 JPY) - in this case we recommend you
to have a copy of your hotel homepage to show to a driver. Note that there
are two Nikko stations, Tobu and JR, about 150 meter separated. In case you
arrive at JR Nikko station, it will not be difficult to find a way to Tobu
Nikko station.

 To those who will arrive Nikko on Sunday. Since restaurants in Nikko area
are not open until late, if you will arrive there in the evening (say, after
6pm) and have made no arrangement of dinner at a hotel in booking, we
recommend that you take dinner in Tokyo area already or buy food
before/during your travel (they sell light meal like sandwiches on express
trains, but safer to get something in Tokyo area).

- Weather in Nikko.
 According to the forecast, the temperature will be about 10 degree in day
time and a few degree in night. There is a chance of rain, or even snow if
it gets colder than predicted. Note that the temperature in Nikko is on
average about 5 degree lower than in Tokyo.