Title: Charting the Cosmos: From Ancient Light to Future Frontiers 

Presenter: Dr Chandra Shekhar Saraf 

Affiliation: Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI), South Korea

Abstract 

Our understanding of the Universe has undergone a revolution over the past century, revealing a cosmos governed by dark energy, shaped by dark matter, and expanding ever faster. We are now at a stage where cosmology has transformed into a precision science. In this talk, I will introduce the key concepts and challenges of our standard model of cosmology. I will highlight recent insights from major experiments, including the Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT), which has refined our view of the cosmic microwave background, and the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), which is mapping the large-scale structure of the universe with unprecedented precision. Finally, we will reflect on the capabilities of experiments such as the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, Euclid, SPHEREx, Simons Observatory to further enhance our understanding of the Universe.