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
| February 27 | Registration Opens |
| April 10 | Registration Closes |
Additional Event Information
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- Angela Adamo (Stockholm University)
- Danielle Berg (University of Texas at Austin)
- Paul Crowther (University of Sheffield)
- Harley Katz (University of Chicago)
- Chiaki Kobayashi (University of Hertfordshire)
- Emma Lake-Curtis (University of Hertfordshire)
- Ryan Sanders (University of Kentucky)
- Peter Senchyna (Carnegie)
- Piyush Sharda (Leiden University)
- Tomer Shenar (Tel Aviv University)
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- 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)
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- Oskar Arangue-Chong (UNAM)
- Vital Fernandez (STScI)
- Ananya Ganapathy (JHU)
- Farhanul Hasan (STScI)
- Logan Jones (STScI)
- Sapna Mishra (STScI)
- Celia Mulcahey (JHU)
- Jimena Rodriguez (STScI)
- Ezra Sukay (JHU)
- Brittany Vanderhoof (STScI)
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Abstract submission is now closed. Notifications are expected to be emailed by February 27. Please direct all abstract related questions to SpringSymposium2026@stsci.edu.
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Funding support applications have closed. Please contact SpringSymposium2026@stsci.edu with questions.
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Delta 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: Saturday, April 18, 2026UPDATE (4/9): ALL rooms at The Study within the reserved room block rate have been filled.
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, 2026UPDATE (4/9): ALL rooms at The Colonnade within the reserved room block rate have been filled.
The 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, 2026