The Metal-Poor Frontier: Understanding Low-Metallicity Stars and Galaxies Across Cosmic Time
About Event
Location
Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI)
3700 San Martin Drive
Baltimore, MD 21218
Contact Information
Description
Longstanding uncertainties regarding the nature of the low-metallicity (≲20% Solar) Universe pose significant barriers to our interpretation of the chemical and physical properties of the near-pristine stars and galaxies observed with JWST. The STScI 2026 Spring Symposium aims to advance our understanding of the low-metallicity Universe by bringing together researchers from the stellar, local galaxy, and high-redshift communities to examine the role of low metallicity from nearby stars and galaxies, through cosmic noon, to the epoch of reionization and cosmic dawn
The 2026 STScI Spring Symposium will focus on recent studies in these fields and potential future prospects and synergies among them. During this meeting, we will discuss:
- How are low-metallicity environments, including both local and high-redshift galaxies, different from their metal-rich counterparts?
- How does low-metallicity impact stellar and/or AGN feedback?
- What are the sources producing high-ionization nebular emission?
- How well do models describe chemical evolution in low-metallicity environments through cosmic time?
- How can nearby galaxies like the LMC/SMC help us better constrain the properties of more metal-poor systems?
- What are the key questions to better understand star formation and evolution in metal-poor conditions through observations and modeling, and paths forward with future observatories?
Important Dates
| December 18 | Abstract Submission Opens |
| January 30 | Abstract Submission Deadline |
| February 27 | Registration Opens |
| April 10 | Registration Closes |
Additional Event Information
-
- Danielle Berg (University of Texas at Austin)
- Paul Crowther (University of Sheffield)
- Emma Lake-Curtis (University of Hertfordshire)
- Angela Adamo (Stockholm University)
- Ryan Sanders (University of Kentucky)
More speakers to be announced soon!
-
- Ryan Vaught (Chair, STScI)
- Alejandro Crespo Gómez (Co-Chair, STScI)
- Macarena García del Valle-Espinosa (Co-Chair, STScI)
- Calum Hawcroft (Co-Chair, STScI)
- Rebecca Larson (Co-Chair, STScI)
- Ricardo Amorín (Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía)
- Luciana Bianchi (JHU)
- Volker Bromm (University of Texas at Austin)
- Gustavo Bruzual (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México)
- Seiji Fujimoto (University of Toronto)
- Svea Hernández (STScI)
- Sarah Kendrew (STScI)
- Matilde Mingozzi (STScI)
- Marc Rafelski (STScI)
- Alice Shapley (University of California, Los Angeles)
- Linda Smith (STScI)
- Grace Telford (University of Utah)
-
Members of LOC to be announced soon!
-
The abstract submission process will be open from December 18, 2025 - January 30, 2026. Please follow the instructions below; should you have any questions, please email the Organizing Committee at SpringSymposium2026@stsci.edu.
- Go to: https://stsci.service-now.com/jwst?id=sc_cat_item&sys_id=be8133161b6576d0449e53d5604bcbbb
- This may appear as a Help Desk page (if you are not logged in), but you are in the right place!
- If you have a MyST account, you must log in to submit your abstract.
- If you do not have a MyST account, you will need to create one (on the same page) to submit your abstract.
- Go to: https://stsci.service-now.com/jwst?id=sc_cat_item&sys_id=be8133161b6576d0449e53d5604bcbbb
-
Travel support will be available for early career researchers. Information on how to apply will be released on a later date.
-
The Study Hotel at Johns Hopkins
3215 N Charles St
Baltimore, MD 21218
410-243-0030Room Rate: $150 USD per night plus applicable taxes and fees
Room Rate Dates: (Check-In) 5/10/2026 - (Check Out) 5/16/2026
Cutoff date to secure the room rate: Monday, April 6, 2026The Inn at the Colonnade
4 West University Parkway
Baltimore, MD 21218
410-235-5400Room Rate: $150 USD per night plus applicable taxes and fee
Room Rate Dates: (Check-In) 5/10/2026 - (Check Out) 5/16/2026
Group Code: SS9
Cutoff date to secure the room rate: Friday, April 10, 2026Delta Hotel Baltimore North
5100 Falls Road
Baltimore, MD 21210
410-532-6900Room Rate: $150 USD per night plus applicable taxes and fees
Room Rate Dates: (Check-In) 5/10/2026 - (Check Out) 5/16/2026
Reference: M-VS3SG08
Cutoff date to secure the room rate: Monday, April 13, 2026