1.	General Description
2.	Invited Speakers (PRELIMINARY)
3.	Local Organizing Committee
4.	Important Deadlines
5.	Conference Site

This is the first announcement for the conference on "MODERN THEORIES OF STRUCTURE FORMATION", to be held at the Centro de Astrofisica da Universidade do Porto (CAUP), Porto, Portugal, on 13-18 September 1999. The conference is organized by members of the project ESO/PRO/1258/98.

We have set out as main goal to review and discuss the recent theoretical and observational advances in cosmology, in particular in the area of structure formation. In particular, the following topics will be covered:

• Overview of the 'standard' cosmology, with an emphasis on the observational parameters and their implications towards successful cosmological model building.

• Discussion of the two theoretical paradigms of structure formation which are at present in agreement with observation, namely inflationary and topological defect (in particular cosmic string) models. In particular with emphasis in contrasting the detailed observational predictions from the two paradigms, aiming to provide ways to discriminate between them in future observational tests.

• Discussion of galaxy and cluster formation and evolution, concentrating on the recent observational developments and its implications.

• Discussion of the theory of cosmic microwave background anisotropies, the present observational status (in particular, the implications for the cosmological parameters and gaussianity) and the prospects for the next generation of experiments, such as MAP and PLANCK.

• A. Blanchard (Strasbourg, F)
• K. Gorski (TAC, DK)
• A. Lasenby (Cambridge, UK)
• A. Liddle (Imperial, UK)
• B. Ratra (Kansas, USA)
• E.P. Shellard (Cambridge, UK)
• J. Silk (Oxford, UK)
• S. White (Max-Planck, D)

It is expected that the seminars by the invited lecturers will occupy the mornings of the conference. The afternoons will be dedicated to shorter talks be some of the other participants, and all participants will be able to present posters. A considerable time will also be available for informal discussion. We do not expect to have parallel sessions at any stage. We intend to publish the conference proceedings, containing all talks presented at the conference, and possibly also the abstracts from the posters.

• P. Avelino (CAUP, P)
• D. Barbosa (Imperial, UK)
• S. Goncalves (Caltech, USA)
• C. Lobo (Milan, I)
• C. Martins (Cambridge, UK)
• L. Mendes (Imperial, UK)
• G. Rocha (CAUP, P)
• C. Rola (Cambridge, UK)
• P. Viana (CAUP, P)

The deadline for the receipt of applications is 15 MAY 1999.

A pre-registration form can be found at the above web page. IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, ALL CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE LOC SHOULD BE IN ELECTRONIC FORM.

Due to space limitations, the conference will be restricted to about 60 participants. We intend to reserve some places to young Portuguese graduates. A letter of recommendation from a senior researcher will be required from all young researchers, and a Scientific Advisory Committee will use these to select the applicants if the total number exceeds 60. The choice will be made on the basis of scientific merit only, with the above exception.

Successful applicants will be contacted towards the END OF MAY and other details such as accommodation or fees will be addressed at this stage. In principle, participants should expect to cover their own expenses, but we might be able to offer some financial support.

If you would like to present a contribution at the conference you must submit an abstract. This abstract will be printed in an abstract booklet which will be distributed at the beginning of the conference. The oral contributions will be selected by the Scientific Advisory Committee. All participants will be able to present posters, and there might be some time to discuss them. The abstracts should be submitted by email to mtsf99(at)astro.up.pt, using the macro provided at the conference WWW home page.

The deadline for the receipt of abstracts is 15 MAY 1999.

Proceedings will be published including the oral contributions and possibly also the posters.

This conference will take place in the city of Porto, at the Centre for Astrophysics/Planetarium. CAUP is a young research institute in Astronomy and Astrophysics set up only eight years ago, with thirteen researchers (lecturers and post-doctorates) and seven postgraduate students, with major areas of interest being stellar astrophysics and cosmology.

The conference location is close to a shopping area with several places for lunch and dinner. Buses to the town centre run fairly often from the conference site and take approximately 20 minutes.

Porto is Portugal's second largest city. It is located in the northern margin of the river Douro, near the Atlantic. The city has a population of around 350 thousand inhabitants, but if we consider the metropolitan area the population is around 1.2 million. It is also a major centre for commerce and industry in Portugal.

Porto is the birthplace of Infant D. Henrique, the Navigator, and had an important role in the Portuguese maritime expansion. In terms of art, there are a number of baroque churches with a distinct golden woodcraft. The old centre of the town has been recently classified as "World Heritage", by UNESCO, due to its historic and architectonical importance.

The name of the city, usually known as Oporto to the British, derives from "portus", word that the romans added to the local name "cale" (meaning refuge or shelter): "porto de cale" (the root of name "Portugal"). From the beginnings of the XII century, the city is designated simply as "portus", Porto. The city is largely well known in the world mainly due to its famous Port wine ("vinho do Porto"). The wine is cultivated and produced in the mountains along the river Douro to the East of Porto, and is then matured in special oak barrels in cellars by the river in Porto. Participants will have the opportunity to taste some fine Port Wine.