SWG
Providing Guidance
The Science Working Group (SWG) was a committee appointed by NASA Headquarters to provide guidance on the science goals and capabilities of JWST. The SWG worked in collaboration with the JWST Project, NASA HQ, and the astronomical community to provide coherent scientific leadership during the formulation, design, construction, launch, and early scientific operation of the JWST. During these phases, the SWG acted as a liaison to the astronomy community and assisted NASA in the dissemination of information about the JWST. SWG members were expected to be knowledgeable in instrumental, laboratory, observational, and theoretical astrophysics relevant to defining and focusing the scientific objectives for the JWST.
The SWG was chartered by and reported to the JWST Program Scientist at NASA HQ. It was the main scientific coordination body of the program. It was chaired by the JWST Senior Project Scientist and advised the JWST Project Manager and the JWST Program Scientist on a regular basis. The SWG consisted of Ex Officio representatives of the three space agencies, the Lead Investigators of the science instruments, six competitively selected Interdisciplinary Scientists, and a Telescope Scientist. The SWG first met on August 19, 2002 and disbanded at the end of the JWST Commissioning on July 12, 2022.
SWG Membership
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Name Institution Position Santiago Arribas CSIC NIRSpec Science Representative* Mark Clampin NASA/HQ Observatory Project Scientist* René Doyon University of Montreal CSA Representative Pierre Ferruit ESA ESA Representative Kathryn Flanagan STScI, retired STScI Representative* Marijn Franx Leiden University NIRSpec Science Representative* Jonathan Gardner NASA/GSFC Deputy Senior Project Scientist Matthew Greenhouse NASA/GSFC ISIM Project Scientist Heidi Hammel AURA Interdisciplinary Scientist John Hutchings DAO, retired CSA Representative* Peter Jakobsen ESA, retired ESA Representative* Jason Kalirai JHU/APL STScI Representative* Randy Kimble NASA/GSFC Integration, Test & Commissioning Project Scientist Nikole Lewis Cornell University STScI Representative* Simon Lilly ETH Zurich Interdisciplinary Scientist Jonathan Lunine Cornell University Interdisciplinary Scientist Roberto Maiolino University of Cambridge NIRSpec Science Representative John Mather NASA/GSFC Senior Project Scientist Mark McCaughrean ESA Interdisciplinary Scientist Michael McElwain NASA/GSFC Observatory Project Scientist Matt Mountain AURA Telescope Scientist Malcolm Neidner NASA, retired Deputy Senior Project Scientist/Technical George Rieke University of Arizona MIRI Science Lead Marcia Rieke University of Arizona NIRCam Principal Investigator Jane Rigby NASA/GSFC Operations Project Scientist Hans-Walter Rix Max Planck Institute NIRSpec Science Representative* George Sonneborn NASA, retired Operations Project Scientist* Massimo Stiavelli STScI Interdisciplinary Scientist H. Peter Stockman STScI, retired STScI Representative* Jeff Valenti STScI STScI Representative Chris Willott CNRC NIRISS Science Lead Rogier Windhorst Arizona State University Interdisciplinary Scientist Gillian Wright UKATC MIRI European Principal Investigator
NOTE: The JWST Science Working Group (SWG) consists of GTOs, NASA Project Scientists and representatives from ESA, CSA, and STScI. (*) designates a former member who was replaced by someone else. The NIRSpec Science Representative position rotated through several members of the NIRSpec team. (Gardner et al, 2023, PASP 135, 1048)
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The NASA James Webb Space Telescope, developed in partnership with ESA and CSA, is operated by AURA’s Space Telescope Science Institute.