About the event
The Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory Committee is a federal advisory committee chartered under the Federal Advisory Committee Act at the recommendation of the Presidential Committee on the Organization and Management of Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics (COMRAA).
The purpose of this meeting is to provide advice and recommendations to the National Science Foundation (NSF), 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.
This is a virtual meeting that will take place on August 15 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
- Online meeting requires advance registration: Zoom registration form
The committee will hear presentations by representatives from NSF, NASA, DOE and other agencies relevant to astronomy and astrophysics. The primary purpose of these presentations includes a discussion of current programming and potential areas of cooperation between the agencies, as well as recommendations for continued and new areas of cooperation and mechanisms for achieving them.
For additional assistance with Accessibility and Reasonable Accommodations, contact rarequest@nsf.gov or call 703-292-8020 to request support. Please contact NSF at least 14 days before your meeting or event date for sessions lasting one day or less and 30 days in advance for sessions lasting two or more consecutive days to allow sufficient time to coordinate arrangements.
Meeting agenda (All times Eastern Daylight Time)
Friday, August 15, 2025
Welcome, Opening Remarks
10:00 -10:15 a.m.
Sign-in (Tiana Faulcon), Logistics, Conflicts of Interest, (Jacqueline Keane)
10:15 -10:30 a.m.
Introductions of Members
10:30 -10:40 a.m.
Review of Charge - Chris Smith
10:40 -11:10 a.m.
Chair Remarks – Britt Lundgren
11:10 -11:15 a.m.
Approval of Minutes from previous meeting(s)
Agency Reports
11:15 - 11:45 a.m.
NSF Update - Chris Smith, NSF Astronomy Division Director (Acting)
11:45 - 12:00 p.m.
Q&A
12:00 - 12:30 p.m.
DOE Update - Kathy Turner, DOE High Energy Physics
12:30 – 12:45 p.m.
Q&A
12:45– 1:15 p.m.
Lunch Break
1:15 – 1:45 p.m.
NASA Update - Shawn Domagal-Goldman, Acting Astrophysics Division Director, NASA Headquarters
1:45 – 2:00 p.m.
Q&A
Topic: Vera C. Rubin Observatory
2:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Rubin Observatory: Construction to First Look and moving into Operations
2:30 – 2:50 p.m.
Q&A
2:50 – 3:00 p.m.
Break
Topic: State of Discipline, Address from AAS
3:00 – 3:40 p.m.
AAS President (Dara Norman): State of the Profession
3:40 – 4:00 p.m.
Q&A
4:00 – 4:05 p.m.
Break
Committee Business
AAAC Reports: Past and Future
4:05 – 4:35 p.m.
Discussion led by AAAC Chair
Selection of new Chair and Deputy
4:35 – 5:05 p.m.
Selection of Chair and Deputy (Current Co-Chairs)
Committee Discussion or Other Business
5:05 – 5:45 p.m.
Individual Member Perspectives / Writing Assignments / Future Meeting Dates
5:45 – 6:00 p.m.
Public Comment Period
6:00 p.m.
Adjourn
Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed by guest speaker(s) are those of the speaker(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. National Science Foundation.