September Events in Astronomical Science Policy
Ashlee Wilkins
Welcome to the September 2018 monthly event roundup of the AAS Policy Blog, in which we share a list of events that fall under the umbrella of astronomical science — i.e., astrophysics, planetary science, and/or heliophysics — policy. Events might be congressional hearings, advisory committee meetings, Capitol Hill briefings, policy fora, think tank symposia, networking opportunities, and/or public lectures. Most events occur here in Washington, DC are open to the public, and/or will be live streamed. Some may require advanced registration for in-person attendance (either for security or capacity reasons), and we try to note that in the listing. If an event is on this calendar, someone from the AAS Public Policy team will likely be in attendance, so come say hello!
Other relevant policy event calendars:
- Space Policy Online Event Calendar, for all things space, including civil, commercial, and defense
- American Institute of Physics FYI This Week, for recaps and events happening in physical sciences policy
Sometimes events are announced on timescales shorter than one month; we will update this post whenever we have something new to add. Please email us if you have a correction or an event that you think should be included in this roundup.
Beyond the events highlighted below, there are some other notable deadlines/important happenings coming up this month:
- 7 September: Deadline to apply to Christine Mirzayan Science & Technology Policy Graduate Fellowship Program. provides early career individuals with the opportunity to spend 12 weeks at the Academies in Washington, DC learning about science and technology policy and the role that scientists and engineers play in advising the nation.
- 26 − 28 September: NASA Technosignatures Workshop As scientific and Congressional interest has grown in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) through study of technosignatures. In-person participation is by invitation only and limited to 50 people. A live webcast with chat capability will be available for online participants.
September 2018 Events
Executive Session
Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
5 September (Wednesday)
10:00 am
106 Dirksen Senate Office Building
This committee markup (debate and votes on legislation and nominations) will include consideration of the nominations of Dr. Kelvin Droegemeier to be Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and Mr. James Morhard to be Deputy Administrator of NASA.
Exoplanet Science Strategy: Public Briefing and Webcast
Space Studies Board
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
5 September (Wednesday)
1:00 pm − 2:00 pm
National Academy of Sciences Lecture Room
2101 Constitution Avenue NW
Details, registration, and webcast
Science Policy Happy Hour
Engineers and Scientists Engaging in Policy (ESEP)
6 September (Thursday)
5:30 pm − 7:30 pm
City Tap House
901 9th Street NW
Details and information on other ESEP events
Over the Horizon: A New Era for Canada-U.S. Space Cooperation?
Canada Institute, Wilson Center
7 September (Friday)
8:00 am − 3:45 pm
Wilson Center
1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Details, registration, and webcast
Securing Space: A Discussion on the U.S. Space Force
Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
10 September (Monday)
9:00 am − 10:30 pm
CSIS Headquarters
1616 Rhode Island Avenue NW
Outer Planets Assessment Group (OPAG)
NASA Planetary Science Division
11 − 12 September (Tuesday − Wednesday)
Pasadena, CA
Details, agenda, and remote access
Committee on Astrobiology and Planetary Sciences (CAPS)
Space Studies Board
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
11 − 13 September (Tuesday − Thursday)
Irvine, CA
Details, agenda, and remote access
POSTPONED FY19 Oversight Hearing on the NASA JWST
House Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) Subcommittee
Appropriations Committee
13 September (Thursday)
10:30 am
Capitol H-309
POSTPONED (Original details at link)
2018 Golden Goose Award Ceremony and Reception
13 September (Thursday)
5:30 pm − 8:30 pm
Coolidge Auditorium, Jefferson Building, Library of Congress
AAS is once again a sponsor of the Golden Goose Award. RSVP by 10 September. Attendance is free, but tickets are required.
Planetary Protection Requirements for Sample-Return Missions from Martian Moons
Space Studies Board
18 − 20 September (Tuesday − Thursday)
London, England
Details, agenda, and remote access
Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory Committee (AAAC)
DOE/NASA/NSF
20 − 21 September (Thursday − Friday)
NSF Headquarters
2415 Eisenhower Avenue
Alexandria, VA
Details, agenda, and remote access
Planetary Science Advisory Committee (PAC)
NASA Planetary Science Division
26 September (Wednesday)
1:00 pm − 5:00 pm
Virtual Only
Details, agenda, and remote access
Global Space Race: Ensuring the United States Remains the Leader in Space
Subcommittee on Space, Science, and Competitiveness
Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
26 September (Wednesday)
2:15 pm
253 Russell Senate Office Building
The third in a series of hearings leading up to a potential National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) authorization, this hearing will examine the challenges NASA faces in undertaking human and robotic exploratory missions, its research in aeronautics and space technology, and how the agency’s current and planned initiatives will affect its future mission goals.
Becoming Interplanetary
John W. Kluge Center of the Library of Congress
27 September (Thursday)
Kluge Center, Library of Congress
Public event following the June 2017 Decolonizing Mars unconference.