Solar Eclipse Over Andalusia: A One-Week Stay in Spain

Ashley Walker is a planetary astrochemist, science communicator, and advocate for equity in STEM. Her research focuses on the astrochemistry and microphysics of planetary bodies, including Saturn’s moon, Titan and the ice giants, Uranus, and Neptune. During her time at Howard University, she became a recipient of NASA’s prestigious FINESST fellowship.

Ashley earned her B.S. in chemistry from Chicago State University and has conducted research at Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. She is the founder of Black In Astro and a co-founder of BlackInChem and BlackInPhysics, leading global efforts to elevate historically excluded voices in the sciences. Her work has been featured by Scientific American, BBC America, Katie Couric Media, and she has collaborated with NASA and the White House National Space Council. Through her scientific leadership and public engagement, Ashley brings a dynamic, inclusive perspective to planetary science and space exploration.

Dr. Ed Albin holds the positions of Associate Professor and Department Chair for the Space Studies department at the American Public University. With an enduring passion for astronomy and planetary science, Ed has actively engaged in the field for more than 35 years. A significant portion of Dr. Albin's career was at the Fernbank Science Center in Atlanta, where he presented captivating planetarium programs and held a key position in overseeing the Zeiss planetarium and its associated observatory. Inspired by the historic Apollo Moon landings in the 1960s and 1970s, Ed acquired a master's degree in planetary geology from Arizona State University and went on to complete his Ph.D. at the University of Georgia. In addition to his academic pursuits, Dr. Albin is an accomplished astrophotographer, capturing images of celestial objects and phenomena. Throughout his career, Ed’s dedication to educating and inspiring others in the field of astronomy has remained a prominent aspect of his work.

Ed will be joining the Venus group.

Jason has been passionate about the night sky since he was a young kid in the small town of Quesnel, British Columbia, Canada.  This passion led him to pursue a doctoral degree in Astrophysics.  Jason approach to astronomical sciences is to take a holistic approach that includes research, mission management, and STEM engagement. He leads major research programs on stellar and galactic evolution and has published over 100 scientific papers, has led complex mission teams to develop and launch new space science missions in planetary science, heliophysics, and astrophysics, and has led hundreds of initiatives to advocate for space science and to inspire the next generation.  His research and public outreach programs have led him to collaborate and explore many parts of the world.

Jason is currently the Mission Area Executive for Space Formulation at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL). He is responsible for a team that leads the formulation of all new Civil Space initiatives, oversight of the Laboratory’s large portfolio of space science grants, and integrated initiatives that cut across our nation’s civil and national security space domains -- enabling game-changing missions and instruments on behalf of new and existing sponsors.

Jason will be joining the Mars group.

Lauren Albin is the director of the O. Wayne Rollins Planetarium and Observatory at Young Harris College in Young Harris, Georgia, where she teaches courses on the solar system, the cosmos, the climate of Earth and other planets, and life in the universe. She earned her master’s in space studies with a concentration in astronomy from American Public University. Lauren’s areas of interest include the effects of microgravity environments on the female body and the potential outcomes of sending an all women crew to Mars. From a young age, Lauren fell in love with stories about the night sky from around the world. As a planetarian, she is well versed in the mythologies that weave together the constellations and stars. Her current research focuses on astronomy and mental health and how astronomy experiences—particularly stargazing—can inspire feelings of peace, wonder and awe. 

Lauren will be joining the Jupiter group. 

Richard Wainscoat is an astronomer at the University of Hawaii. He grew up in Australia, studying physics at the University of Western Australia, then receiving his PhD in astronomy from the Australian National University. He was attracted to Hawaii by the excellent observatory sites on Mauna Kea and Haleakala, and the powerful telescopes that are located atop those mountains. He began his career by studying the structure of galaxies, then later switched fields to study Near-Earth Objects. Near-Earth Objects are asteroids and comets that come relatively close to Earth. Impacts from larger objects will have catastrophic consequences to life on Earth, so worldwide efforts are now being made to find any objects that may hit Earth in the future so that they can be deflected. He now leads the Near-Earth Object search program with the Pan-STARRS telescopes on Haleakala. Pan-STARRS is presently the leading discoverer of Near-Earth Objects, and also discovers more than half of all new comets. He is also a photographer and an astrophotographer.

Richard will be joining the Saturn group.