Luminous Infrared Galaxies (LIRGs) have a mixture of star-formation (SF) and nuclear activity. They dominate the universal SF rate at higher redshifts. With their interactions, mergers, and violent starbursts they are firmly connected to early-universe galaxy formation and evolution and to key galaxy transformational processes. Due to extreme SF and dense environments LIRGs harbour frequent core-collapse supernovae, tidal disruption events and other types of luminous transients, especially in the nuclear regions of these types of galaxies. Such transients have been largely ignored until now as either AGN activity, or been missed due to large dust extinction. Nuclear Transients in extreme environments are now uncovered with the help of innovative techniques. The new observations reveal hidden star formation in galaxies, and the evolution of the host galaxies themselves.

Supernovae and starbursts in the Infrared (SUNBIRD) is a collaboration driving this new work using SALT, VLT, Gemini, Keck, eVLA, and other observatories.  We are organising a collaboration workshop at SAAO to consolidate current work and look to the future.  In addition to highlighting results thus far in science talks, we will discuss new observing projects and student thesis projects, in particular using SALT and perhaps expanding to using MeerKAT.

The SA extragalactic and transient communities are invited to participate in the workshop on Nov 20-21, 2017.  Contributed talks are most welcome, please contact Petri Vaisanen if interested.

This workshop is sponsored by an NRF KIC grant (110346), and by the SAAO.