"The Cosmic Legacy of Evolved Stars"

The late stages of stellar evolution stand at the frontier of modern astrophysics, where extreme physics, complex chemistry, and transformative processes converge. As stars ascend the red giant and asymptotic giant branches, shed their outer layers, and pass through the planetary nebula phase before fading into white dwarfs, they become pivotal engines of chemical enrichment in their host galaxies. The curriculum spans stellar interiors and nucleosynthesis, dust formation and mass loss, and the use of evolved stars as distance indicators and population tracers. Main themes: structure and evolution of low and intermediate mass stars; dust production by evolved stars; stellar populations of clusters and galaxies; reconstructing star formation histories in galaxies; observation of stellar populations using ground-based and space facilities. The school is intended for students from the final year of undergraduate studies to the early part of postgraduate studies in astronomy-related fields. Selection is based entirely on background, interest, and ability; no more than two students from any one country are selected. Religious faith is not part of the selection criteria. Confirmed lecturers: Paolo Ventura (INAF – Observatory of Rome, Chair); Eric Bell (University of Michigan); Martha Boyer (Space Telescope Science Institute); Flavia Dell'Agli (INAF – Observatory of Rome); Devika Kamath (Macquarie University of Sydney); Maurizio Salaris (INAF – Astrophysics and Space Science Observatory of Bologna).