{"689133":{"#nid":"689133","#data":{"type":"event","title":"2026 Frontiers in Science: Advancing Space Exploration","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis April, the \u003Cstrong\u003ECollege of Sciences\u003C\/strong\u003E is hosting an inspiring look at the future of space exploration and life beyond Earth. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/frontiers-space\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFrontiers in Science: Advancing Space Exploration\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E will convene leading scientists, engineers, policy experts, and thought leaders from across Georgia Tech and beyond to share research that\u2019s guiding discovery and innovation.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEach year, Frontiers showcases how collaboration across disciplines \u2014 from science and engineering to public policy and international affairs \u2014 advances strategic research priorities. Recent programs have explored neuroscience and AI, climates in flux \u2014 and, this year, our solar system.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E2026 Frontiers will convene more than 25 experts to discuss planetary science, satellites and orbital observation, robotic exploration, public astronomy, and bold visions for human spaceflight. The conference will also highlight the future of space policy, careers and commercialization, space as a laboratory, and will feature an \u201cAstronaut\u2019s Perspective\u201d fireside chat with \u003Cstrong\u003ER. Shane Kimbrough \u003C\/strong\u003E(MS OR \u201998) and \u003Cstrong\u003EJud Ready\u003C\/strong\u003E, who serves as executive director of Georgia Tech\u2019s new \u003Cstrong\u003ESpace Research Institute (SRI)\u003C\/strong\u003E and GTRI principal research engineer.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003ERegistration has closed as we are at capacity for full- and half-day passes.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMembers of the community are welcome to drop by sessions of interest, lunchtime and evening telescope viewings, and our afternoon networking reception without RSVP.\u0026nbsp;Come by and say hi! \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EA schedule of events is here: https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/frontiers-space\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/frontiers-space\u0022\u003ESpeakers | 2026 Frontiers in Science: Advancing Space Exploration\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHosted by the College of Sciences at Georgia Tech\u003Cbr\u003EDalney Street Building\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWelcome\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECoffee and Check-In\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EOpening Remarks\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESusan Lozier\u003C\/strong\u003E, Dean of the College of Sciences, Betsy Middleton and John Clark Sutherland Chair, Professor, School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETim Lieuwen\u003C\/strong\u003E, Executive Vice President for Research, David S. Lewis, Jr. Chair, and Regents\u2019 Professor, Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHabitable Worlds\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EChris Reinhard\u003C\/strong\u003E, Associate Professor, School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGongjie Li\u003C\/strong\u003E, Associate Professor, School of Physics\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJoyce Shi Sim\u003C\/strong\u003E, Assistant Professor, School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJames Wray\u003C\/strong\u003E, Professor, School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIndujaa Ganesh\u003C\/strong\u003E, Assistant Professor, School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEarth as a Model for Space\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EChristopher Carr\u003C\/strong\u003E, Assistant Professor, Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering and School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFrances Rivera-Hern\u00e1ndez\u003C\/strong\u003E, Assistant Professor, School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAmanda Stockton\u003C\/strong\u003E, Associate Professor, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EChristopher Wiese\u003C\/strong\u003E, Assistant Professor, School of Psychology\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETelescopes \u0026amp; Tacos: Interactive Public Astronomy Lunch\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EInteractive opportunities from:\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEmory University Observatory\u003C\/strong\u003E | Alissa Bans\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFernbank Science Center\u003C\/strong\u003E | Mark Lancaster\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorgia Tech Astronomy Club\u003C\/strong\u003E | Sage Smith\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorgia Tech Space Research Institute\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHard Labor Creek Observatory at Georgia State University\u003C\/strong\u003E | Justin Robinson\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EPresented by \u003Cstrong\u003EPaul Sell\u003C\/strong\u003E, Georgia Tech Observatory Director, and \u003Cstrong\u003EJames Sowell\u003C\/strong\u003E, School of Physics Professor Emeritus\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAfternoon Opening Remarks\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJud Ready\u003C\/strong\u003E, Executive Director, Space Research Institute, and Principal Research Engineer, Georgia Tech Research Institute\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHuman Space Exploration: An Astronaut\u2019s Perspective\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ER. Shane Kimbrough (M.S. OR 1998)\u003C\/strong\u003E, Retired NASA Astronaut\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJud Ready\u003C\/strong\u003E, Executive Director, Space Research Institute, and Principal Research Engineer, Georgia Tech Research Institute\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESpace Innovation at Georgia Tech\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBrian Gunter\u003C\/strong\u003E, Associate Professor, Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGlenn Lightsey\u003C\/strong\u003E, John W. Young Endowed Chair Professor, Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThom Orlando\u003C\/strong\u003E, Regents\u2019 Professor, School of Chemistry \u0026amp; Biochemistry, and Adjunct Professor, School of Physics\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAva Thrasher\u003C\/strong\u003E, Research Engineer I, Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EModerated by \u003Cstrong\u003ENaia Butler-Craig (M.S. AE 2023, Ph.D. AE 2026)\u003C\/strong\u003E, NASA Space Technology Graduate Research Fellow and GEM Fellow\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENetworking Coffee Break\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Future of Space Policy\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMariel Borowitz\u003C\/strong\u003E, Associate Professor, Sam Nunn School of International Affairs; Director, Center for Space Policy and International Relations; Head, Program on International Affairs, Science, and Technology\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMargaret Kosal\u003C\/strong\u003E, Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, Sam Nunn School of International Affairs\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFeryal \u00d6zel\u003C\/strong\u003E, Chair and Professor, School of Physics\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThomas Gonz\u00e1lez Roberts\u003C\/strong\u003E, Assistant Professor, joint appointment in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs and the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering; Director, Engineering Space Policy Laboratory\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EModerated by \u003Cstrong\u003ELisa Yaszek\u003C\/strong\u003E, Regents Professor of Science Fiction Studies, School of Literature, Media, and Communication\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Next Generation: Careers \u0026amp; Commercialization\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAudra Davidson (M.S. BIO 2020)\u003C\/strong\u003E, Research Communications Program Manager, Space Research Institute (SRI) \u0026amp; Institute for Neuroscience, Neurotechnology, and Society (INNS)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJon Goldman (M.S. MSE 1989)\u003C\/strong\u003E, Director of Quadrant\u2011i (Q\u2011i), Office of Commercialization\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELauren Victoria (Vic) Paulson (B.S. ME 2023, Ph.D. AE 2027)\u003C\/strong\u003E, Founder and President, Southeast Analog\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EModerated by \u003Cstrong\u003EJulia Kubanek\u003C\/strong\u003E, Vice President for Interdisciplinary Research and Professor of Biological Sciences and Chemistry \u0026amp; Biochemistry\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENetworking Reception\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EFood and beverages served\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EFollowed by a free evening viewing of Jupiter and the Orion Nebula with the \u003Cstrong\u003EGeorgia Tech Astronomy Club\u003C\/strong\u003E in Howey Courtyard\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EAdditional information available through Georgia Tech public observatory nights\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThis year\u2019s \u003Cem\u003EFrontiers in Science\u003C\/em\u003E conference will offer an inspiring look at the future of space exploration and life beyond Earth. Discover how groundbreaking research is reshaping our understanding of the solar system as we explore new possibilities from orbit and learn about the space policy guiding discovery and innovation. From satellites and rovers to bold visions for human exploration, this year\u2019s program brings together more than two dozen leading scientists, engineers, and thought leaders who are pushing the boundaries of what lies beyond.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"From satellites and rovers to bold visions for human exploration, this year\u2019s program brings together more than two dozen leading scientists, engineers, and thought leaders who are pushing the boundaries of what lies beyond. "}],"uid":"34528","created_gmt":"2026-03-23 16:26:07","changed_gmt":"2026-03-31 18:00:32","author":"jhunt7","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","field_event_time":{"event_time_start":"2026-04-02T08:00:00-04:00","event_time_end":"2026-04-02T17:45:00-04:00","event_time_end_last":"2026-04-02T17:45:00-04:00","gmt_time_start":"2026-04-02 12:00:00","gmt_time_end":"2026-04-02 21:45:00","gmt_time_end_last":"2026-04-02 21:45:00","rrule":null,"timezone":"America\/New_York"},"location":"Dalney Street Building","extras":["free_food"],"hg_media":{"679714":{"id":"679714","type":"image","title":"2026 Frontiers in Science: Advancing Space Exploration","body":null,"created":"1774285687","gmt_created":"2026-03-23 17:08:07","changed":"1774285687","gmt_changed":"2026-03-23 17:08:07","alt":" black banner reading \u0022Frontiers in Science: Advancing Space Exploration.\u0022 The words are surrounded by dynamic gold sparkles, along with light blue, gold, and white parallelograms.","file":{"fid":"263905","name":"2025-Frontiers-square-web.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/23\/2025-Frontiers-square-web.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/23\/2025-Frontiers-square-web.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1827364,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/23\/2025-Frontiers-square-web.jpg?itok=OcG9Oyoh"}}},"media_ids":["679714"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/frontiers-space","title":"cos.gatech.edu\/frontiers-space"}],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"1275","name":"School of Biological Sciences"},{"id":"85951","name":"School of Chemistry and Biochemistry"},{"id":"364801","name":"School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (EAS)"},{"id":"1279","name":"School of Mathematics"},{"id":"126011","name":"School of Physics"},{"id":"443951","name":"School of Psychology"},{"id":"660370","name":"Space"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"189814","name":"go-researchevents"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[{"id":"1789","name":"Conference\/Symposium"}],"invited_audience":[{"id":"194945","name":"Alumni"},{"id":"78761","name":"Faculty\/Staff"},{"id":"177814","name":"Postdoc"},{"id":"78771","name":"Public"},{"id":"174045","name":"Graduate students"},{"id":"78751","name":"Undergraduate students"}],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EInvitations and general questions:\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:events@cos.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Eevents@cos.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPress inquiries:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:jess@cos.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EJess Hunt-Ralston\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EDirector of Communications\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003ECollege of Sciences at Georgia Tech\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}