AAS Participates in an NSF Exhibition

On 16 May 2017, AAS participated in an exhibition to highlight projects funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). This year Dr. Claire Raftery joined us to discuss the National Solar Observatory (NSO). The exhibit focused on the importance of understanding the physical processes that lead to phenomena like space weather events and included information about the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST) and the Global Oscillation Network Group (GONG). AAS and NSO also took the opportunity to provide information about the total solar eclipse on 21 August 2017 (Find the AAS site on the eclipse at eclipse.aas.org).

At the event, Dr. Raftery discussed NSO and the solar eclipse with NSF employees — including NSF Director Dr. France Cordova, congressional staffers, and members of the general public. Prior to the exhibition, Dr. Raftery met with members of the Colorado and Hawai'i congressional delegations to discuss the importance of NSF support.

This exhibition is organized every spring by the Coalition for National Science Funding, an alliance of over 140 organizations who are supportive of increasing national investment in the NSF. The goal of the exhibition is to highlight the breadth of the NSF portfolio for members of Congress.

Pictured left to right: Heather Bloemhard (AAS, Bahcall Public Policy Fellow) and Claire Raftery (NSO, Head of Education and Outreach)