Plenary Speakers

Cédric Gillmann is a senior researcher and lecturer in the Geophysical Fluids Dynamics group of the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at ETH Zurich. He is a leading expert on Venus’ past and evolution, editor of ISSI’s “Venus: Evolution Through Time” book, and a collaborator to the science team for EnVision, ESA’s mission to Venus. Cedric’s main research interest is the long-term evolution of terrestrial planets, from their deep interior to their atmosphere. He investigates volatile exchanges and the resulting consequences regarding planetary habitability. His work includes the study of mantle dynamics, interior evolution mechanisms, atmospheric escape, atmosphere/surface/interior interaction, climate, and impact processes.

Stephen Kane is a Professor of Planetary Astrophysics at the University of California, Riverside who specializes in exoplanetary science and planetary habitability. He received his Bachelor of Science (Honours) from Macquarie University in Sydney and his Doctorate from the University of Tasmania. His work covers a broad range of topics related to planetary astrophysics and he has discovered and co-discovered hundreds of planets orbiting other stars. He is a science team member for the NASA DAVINCI mission, and is a leading expert on the topic of planetary habitability, the habitable zone of planetary systems, and the study of why Venus and Earth underwent divergent evolutions. He has published hundreds of peer-reviewed scientific papers as well as several books on the topic of planetary science and habitability. He is a prolific advocate of interdisciplinary science through the combination of biology, climate science, geophysics, planetary science, and stellar astrophysics.

Tuan H. Vu is a Research Scientist in the Planetary Science Section at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. He obtained his PhD in physical chemistry from Tufts University in 2013 and his B.S. from CUNY Brooklyn College with a double major in chemistry and mathematics. He specializes in laboratory investigations of icy planetary materials, including organic solids, clathrate hydrates, and brines under cryogenic conditions. He is a recipient of the JPL Lew Allen Award for Excellence in 2022 for pioneering experimental work on the chemical composition and geological processes of icy worlds.

Xinting Yu is an assistant professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Dr. Yu’s research focuses on characterizing the physical properties of planetary materials and understanding atmospheric and surface processes on Titan and exoplanets. Dr. Yu completed their undergraduate studies at the University of Science and Technology of China and earned a PhD in Planetary Science from Johns Hopkins University. As a 51 Pegasi b postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, Santa Cruz, Dr. Yu led a student team to work on experimental and theoretical studies to explore planetary atmospheres and surfaces. Dr. Yu is currently developing a standardized Planetary Material CHaractErization Facility (PMCHEF) and a comprehensive material property database to support planetary exploration in and outside the solar system.