Wine and Cheese Spring 2026

This page records the schedule, titles and abstracts of the JHU/STScI CAS Astrophysics Wine & Cheese Series in Spring 2026.

Wine and Cheese sessions with one speaker will have a 50 minute talk with 10 minutes for questions. Sessions with two speakers will have two 25 minute talks, each with 5 minutes for questions.

28 January

Colin Hamill (AAS)

Astronomy on the Hill: Federal Funding and Dark & Quiet Skies Policy
The landscape of federal science policy has shifted dramatically over the past year. As the FY2026 federal funding cycle concludes, this talk will provide a brief overview of the current fiscal situation for the astronomical sciences, as well as an outlook for FY2027 and beyond. We will then examine the Dark & Quiet Skies initiative, a global effort to preserve the night sky from light pollution and radio frequency interference from satellites. We will review recent regulatory developments in the space environment and highlight how the astronomical community works with commercial space operators and the federal government to ensure a sustainable orbital environment. The talk concludes with a discussion of how scientists at all career stages can engage with policymakers to ensure astronomy and science remains a priority on Capitol Hill.