LPTMM

Keynote 1

Ana María Cetto Kramis

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Ana María Cetto Kramis is a Mexican theoretical physicist with internationally recognized contributions to the foundations of quantum mechanics, stochastic electrodynamics, and the biophysics of light. She is a Senior Researcher at the Institute of Physics and Professor at the Faculty of Sciences of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), where she has also served as Director of the Faculty of Sciences. Her scientific work has advanced fundamental understanding of quantum phenomena, particularly the role of the electromagnetic zero-point field in quantization.

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Beyond research and teaching, she has played a leading role in international science policy, cooperation, and science-for-peace initiatives. She served as Deputy Director General and Head of Technical Cooperation at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) from 2003 to 2010 and has held senior positions within UNESCO and the International Science Council. A strong advocate for open science, science communication, and gender equity in science, she currently chairs UNESCO’s Global Open Science Steering Committee and has received numerous international honors, including the UNESCO Kalinga Prize and the AIP Tate Medal.

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Keynote 2

Fernando Ávila

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Fernando Ávila Castro is a Mexican astronomer, science communicator, and dark-sky advocate with long-standing experience linking astronomical measurement, public outreach, and environmental policy. Based at the National Astronomical Observatory of UNAM, he is responsible for the Observatory’s Sky Law Office, where he supports the implementation of lighting regulations, technical guidelines, and monitoring strategies to protect dark skies in Mexico.

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With a strong background in astronomical image processing and open-source tools, he has contributed to capacity building in both professional and amateur astronomy communities. Ávila is widely recognized for his public communication work on the night sky, light pollution, and observational astronomy, and was awarded the Defensor de los Cielos Oscuros Prize in 2016. His work bridges hands-on measurement, education, and real-world policy implementation.

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Keynote 3

Constance Walker

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Connie Walker is a US astronomer and a senior scientist at the U.S. National Optical Astronomy Observatory, where she works at the intersection of research, education, and public engagement. She holds degrees in physics, electrical and computer engineering, and astronomy, and earned her PhD from the University of Arizona. Her early research focused on the interstellar medium in starburst galaxies, while her professional career has increasingly emphasized the societal impacts of astronomy.

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She is internationally known for her leadership in light pollution awareness and citizen science, serving as Director of the GLOBE at Night program and Project Astro. Walker has been a key figure in global dark-sky outreach through the International Astronomical Union and related initiatives, helping translate sky brightness measurements into accessible tools for education, policy, and community action. In recognition of her impact, asteroid 29292 Conniewalker was named in her honor.

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Talk formats at LPTMM 2026

• Keynote: 35 min + 10 min Q&A

• Contributed talk: 12 min + 3 min Q&A

• Poster pitch: 60 seconds (one slide)

• Round tables / panels: moderated, 60–90 minutes

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