https://www.nsf.gov/events/astronomy-astrophysics-committee-aaac-meeting/2026-09-24

The Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory Committee is a federal advisory committee chartered under the "Federal Advisory Committee Act," which resulted from one of the primary recommendations of the Presidential Committee on the Organization and Management of Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics. The purpose of this meeting is to provide advice and recommendations to the U.S. National Science Foundation, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on issues within the field of astronomy and astrophysics that are of mutual interest and concern to the agencies. The committee will hear presentations on current programming by representatives from NSF, NASA, DOE and other agencies relevant to astronomy and astrophysics; discuss current and potential areas of cooperation among the agencies; and formulate recommendations for continued and new areas of cooperation and mechanisms for achieving them. The meeting will be recorded for note-taking purposes only and will not be distributed.

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Agenda

PDF version of the agenda can be found here:  https://nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/files/2026-09-AAAC-Meeting-Agenda.pdf

Thursday, September 24, 2026

9:00 AM–9:50 AM — Committee Arrival/Coffee 

Welcome, Opening Remarks 

9:50 AM–9:55 AM — Sign-in (Tiana Faulcon), Logistics, Conflicts of Interest (Louise) 

9:55 AM–10:05 AM — Chair comments & Approval of Minutes (Lara Arielle Phillips and Kate Folette) 

10:05 AM–10:20 AM — Orientation of New Members, Review of Charge (Chris Smith) 

NSF Update 

10:20 AM–11:00 AM — Chris Smith, NSF Astronomy Section Head 

11:00 AM–11:20 AM — Q&A 

DOE Update 

11:20 AM–12:00 PM — Kathy Turner and Bryan Field, DOE High Energy Physics 

12:00 PM–12:20 PM — Q&A 

Break (Lunch)

12:20 PM–1:40 PM — Lunch 

NASA Update 

1:40 PM–2:20 PM — Update 

2:20 PM–2:40 PM — Shawn Domogal Goldman, Director Astrophysics Div. Science Mission Directorate, NASA HQ 

State of Profession 

2:40 PM–3:10 PM — Marcel Agüeros (AAS) 

3:10 PM–3:30 PM — Q&A 

3:30 PM–4:10 PM — Break 

4:10 PM–4:25 PM — Public Comment Period 

Committee Discussion

4:25 PM–5:00 PM — Individual Member Perspectives On topics for report 

5:00 PM — Adjourn 

Informal Dinner

Friday, September 25, 2026

9:00 AM–9:20 AM — Committee arrival/ Coffee 

Welcome, Opening Remarks 

9:20 AM–9:25 AM — Review Sign In (Tiana Faulcon); Review Agenda and Activities (Louise Edwards) 

CAA Report Out 

9:25 AM–9:45 AM — John O'Meara and Rachel A. Osten, CAA Co-Chairs 

9:45 AM–10:00 AM — Q&A 

10:00 AM–10:30 AM — Break 

Agency Topical Conversations (NSF) 

10:30 AM–10:35 AM — AST Chris Smith + Luca Rizzi (ORI) 

10:35 AM–10:55 AM — Monya Ruffin, EDU Directorate Head 

10:55 AM–11:15 AM — Michael Cavagnero, PO in PHY 

11:15 AM–11:35 AM — Jean Cottam, CORF Deputy Directorate Head for Polar Programs 

11:35 AM–12:00 PM — Q&A/General Discussion / Panel of the NSF speakers 

Break (Lunch) 

12:00 PM–1:00 PM — Lunch

Joint DOE+NASA Topics 

1:00 PM–1:20 PM — Joel Kearns, Deputy Associate Administrator for Exploration, NASA SMD 

1:20 PM–1:40 PM — Stuart Bale, NASA PI and Project Lead 

1:40 PM–2:00 PM — Anze Slosar, Brookhaven National Labs DOE PI and Scientific Collaboration Lead 

2:00 PM–2:20 PM— Q&A/General Discussion 

Agency Topical Conversations (DOE) 

2:20 PM–2:40 PM — Ping Ge, Director of Workforce Devleopment for Teachers and Sceintists 

2:40 PM–2:55 PM — Q&A/General Discussion 

Agency Topical Conversations (NASA) 

2:55 PM–3:15 PM — Amy Kaminski, SMD Engagements Branch Chief 

3:15 PM–3:35 PM — Jessica Gaskin, AD for Concept and Technology Development, ASTRA workshop 

3:35 PM–3:55 PM — Q&A/ General Discussion 

3:55 PM–4:15 PM — Break 

4:15 PM–4:25 PM — Public Comment Period 

Work on "themes" Finalized topics for 2027 Report 

4:25 PM–5:00 PM — Committee + Agency discussion 
AI, DQS, Workforce. Subcommittees? TDAMM, Rubin/Roman/Euclid/DESI?

5:00 PM — Adjourn