Towards the Habitable Worlds Observatory: Visionary Science and Transformational Technology
About Event
Location
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Center (DC) 555 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20001
Contact Information
Description
We are pleased to announce the inaugural open community conference for NASA's Habitable Worlds Observatory, to be held at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Center in Washington, DC, from July 28‐31, 2025. This milestone event will bring together scientists, engineers, industry and community stakeholders to propel the development of HWO, a mission expected to usher in a new era of astrophysics discovery and address one of humanity's oldest questions "Are we alone?"
The Habitable Worlds Observatory is NASA Astrophysics' next flagship mission, and builds on the heritage of the Hubble, Webb, and Roman Space Telescopes. It will deploy advanced ultraviolet, optical, and infrared technologies to identify potentially habitable worlds and analyze their atmospheres for signs of life. This same technology will empower astronomers to address fundamental, persistent questions in cosmology, galaxy evolution, the origins of elements, and our Solar System's place in the universe.
HWO has made significant progress in the past year, with NASA establishing a dedicated Technology Maturation Project Office at Goddard Space Flight Center, working in close collaboration with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Ames Research Center, and Marshall Space Flight Center. This initiative advances critical technologies and science cases, and fosters collaboration across government, academia, and industry. Results of HWO working groups will be showcased together with contributions from the global astronomy and engineering communities.
Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
Science
- Galaxy Growth: Cosmic Web (Intergalactic & Circumgalactic Medium), Active Galactic Nuclei & Black Holes, Galaxy Evolution
- Evolution of the Elements: Stars & Stellar Populations, Star Formation & Interstellar Medium, Cosmic Explosions
- Cosmology: Nature of Dark Matter & Dark Energy, Distance Scale, Hubble Tension
- Planetary Systems: Formation, Evolution, Architectures, Our Solar System, Exoplanet Demographics
- Search for Life: Target Stars & Systems, Biosignatures, Habitability
Technology
- Starlight Suppression: Contrast Technology & Methods
- Ultrastable Telescope and Observatory Technology
- Ultraviolet, Optical, & Near-Infrared Instrument Technologies: mirror coatings, gratings, detectors, spectroscopic multiplexing technologies
- L2 Servicing technology and commercial synergies
- Emerging Technologies: photonics, quantum sensing
- Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning for mission development, engineering, science research
Accepted presenters will be invited to contribute to the HWO25 conference proceedings, which will serve as the foundation for the first HWO Community Science Book.
Important Dates
| March 17 | Call for travel support requests released (only abstract submitters are eligible) |
| April 7 | Travel support request deadline (only abstract submitters are eligible) |
| April 30 | In-Person and Virtual Registration Opens |
| April 30 | Preliminary Program Released |
Additional Event Information
-
-
The HWO25 Technology and Science Organizing Committee is pleased to invite abstracts for oral and poster presentations on topics that reflect the full breadth of HWO's scientific and technological vision. We look forward to broad participation from scientists, engineers, industry leaders, and community stakeholders, whose contributions are all vital to building a strong foundation for the successful development of HWO. In particular, we encourage submissions from early-career community members, who are expected to be among the principal users of this future NASA flagship observatory. The deadline for abstract submissions is Friday, February 21, 2025. For inquiries or assistance, please email HWO2025@stsci.edu.
-
Keep apprised of updates through our HWO mailing list, save the date, and be part of this exciting journey!
-
Tech
- Bruce Macintosh (University of California, Santa Cruz)
- Paul Scowen (Goddard Space Flight Center)
- Jean-Baptiste Ruffio (University of California, San Diego)
- Shouleh Nikzad (NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory)
- Brian Fleming (University of Colorado)
- John Grunsfeld (Former Astronaut and Hubble Repairman)
Sci
- David Sing (Johns Hopkins University)
- Jessie Christiansen (NASA Exoplanet Science Institute)
- Jessica Werk (University Washington)
- Yamila Miguel (Leiden University)
- Yuichi Harikane (University of Tokyo)
- Tracy Becker (Southwest Research Institute)
- Steve Finkelstein (University of Texas, Austin)
-
Our Greater Universe
- Janice Lee (Space Telescope Science Institute)
- Jason Tumlinson (Space Telescope Science Institute)
- Misty Bentz (Georgia State University)
- Patrick Côté (NRC-Herzberg)
- Annalisa De Cia (European Southern Observatory)
- Steven Finkelstein (University of Texas at Austin)
- Erika Hamden (University of Arizona)
- Keith Hawkins (University of Texas at Austin)
- Lisa Kewley (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics)
- Masami Ouchi (University of Tokyo)
- Sarah Tuttle (University of Washington)
Exoplanets and Planetary Systems
- Chas Beichman (NExScI- California Institute of Technology)
- Richard Cartwright, (Johns Hopkins University -Applied Physics Laboratory)
- Ian Crossfield (University Kansas)
- Ray Jayawardhana (Johns Hopkins University)
- Yamila Miguel (Leiden Observatory & SRON)
- Caprice Phillips (Ohio State University)
- Kevin France (University of Colorado)
- Shelley Wright (University of California San Diego)
HWO Technology Maturation Project Office
- Giada Arney, (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)
- Lee Feinberg (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)
- Bertrand Mennesson (NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory)
- Ruslan Belikov (NASA Ames Research Center)
-
- Christina Bindon (Space Telescope Science Institute, Community Mission Office)
- Sherita Hanna (Space Telescope Science Institute, Events Planning Group)
- Stephanie La Massa (Space Telescope Science Institute, Scientist)
- Victory Ramnarine (Space Telescope Science Institute, Events Planning Group)
- Neill Reid (Space Telescope Science Institute, Multi-Mission Project Scientist)
- Julie Crooke (NASA HQ Astrophysics Division Program Executive for HWO)
- Dawn Gelino (NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory/ExEP Program Manager), Virtual Conference Chair
- Raissa Estrela (NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, HWO TMPO Community Engagement)
- Rob Zellem (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, HWO TMPO Community Engagement)
- Sahand Yazdanyar (Hopkins Bloomberg Center, Senior Programs Officer)
- Emily DeYoung (Hopkins Bloomberg Center, Director of Events)
- Shamim Nyakoojo (Hopkins Bloomberg Center, Event Coordinator)
- Jessica Noviello (Assistant Research Scientist University of Maryland, Baltimore County; NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)
-
We are pleased to offer a courtesy room block at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill.
- All rooms are independent pay and are at the government per diem rate of $183.00.
- The hotel is a short walk from the JHU Bloomberg building. At this time, no shuttles will be provided.
Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill
400 New Jersey Ave NW, Washington, DC 2000
Booking Link: https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/group-booking/WASRW/G-T3LS
You can also reference the group code "G-T3LS" to book rooms at our hotel over these dates using Hyatt's website, app, or reservations line at 1-800-233-1234.
-
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Center (DC)
555 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20001HWO25 will take place in the HBC Theatre, which seats up to 360 participants.
-
A call for travel support requests will be shared with abstract submitters by email the week of March 17. The deadline for requests is April 7. If you have questions, please contact the HWO25 organizers: HWO2025@stsci.edu .
-
Information on the HWO Conference Proceedings will be posted here.