KEK-Cosmo AY2024, entitled “Evolution of the Inhomogeneous Universe: From Inflation to Structure Formation,” was held at the KEK Tsukuba campus from November 6 to 8, 2024. As part of the annual KEK-Cosmo series, this workshop serves as an international platform for scholarly exchange in the field of cosmophysics. In previous years, numerous researchers from around the world have been invited to share the latest advances through international conferences and schools, engaging a broad range of scientists—from early-career to senior experts.

This year, more than 60 researchers and graduate students from various countries came together for lively discussions on cutting-edge topics. These included the accelerated expansion phase of the early universe known as inflation, as well as subsequent large-scale structure formation. Recent progress in observational techniques and the development of new theoretical models were presented, deepening our understanding of the universe’s evolutionary processes and prompting active debates on future challenges and opportunities.

A special KEK-Cosmo Colloquium by Professor Richard Bond of the Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics (CITA), the University of Toronto, was held during the workshop. In this talk, Professor Bond provided an insightful overview of several decades of cosmophysical research and offered valuable perspectives on the field’s future directions.

The program consisted of invited presentations along with contributed talks from related fields, totaling 18 long and 7 regular talks. These sessions introduced diverse approaches—ranging from theoretical analyses and observational results to numerical simulations—enabling participants to gain a more integrated understanding of current research trends. This exchange fostered potential collaborations and supported the professional development of early-career researchers. Concluding on a successful and constructive note, KEK-Cosmo AY2024 sets the stage for further advances in the years to come.