Jeroen Stil Colloquium

Radio astronomy is changing, as more observatories are outfitted with broad-band receiver technology and wide-field imaging capability.  I will give an overview of the wide range of astrophysical systems that can be studied with radio observations, and how new technologies drive discovery in this field. This is particularly true for polarization of radio waves, the most widely applicable probe of cosmic magnetic fields.

New results from the THOR and GALFACTS surveys are presented to illustrate what we learn from this new type of radio imaging. Radio astronomy continues to progress quickly. This year we expect first science observations from pathfinder telescopes of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), and a new sky survey with the Jansky-EVLA. In the longer term the SKA will provide a quantum leap forward.