Ready to explore the cosmos? NASA's Astrobiology Program is gearing up for an exciting update, and you're invited! On Thursday, December 18, 2025, from 6:00–8:00 PM CST, the NASA-DARES Community Update will be held at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans as part of AGU's ancillary programming. This is your chance to get the inside scoop on the future of astrobiology research.
This session promises a deep dive into the development of the NASA Decadal Astrobiology Research and Exploration Strategy (NASA-DARES). You'll get a sneak peek at the upcoming Task Force 2 activities.
Here's what you can expect:
- A review of the progress made since the Request for Information, Task Force 1 synthesis, and the RFI Findings Workshop.
- An introduction to the key players: the selected NASA-DARES TF2 Ex-Officio Members, Co-Chairs, and Focus Area Leads.
- An outline of the process and timeline for selecting General Members and Executive Secretaries, with selections continuing into early 2026.
- Information on how you can get involved as the Strategy nears completion in 2026.
The session will conclude with a Q&A session with Astrobiology Program leadership and the NASA-DARES Task Force 2 Co-Chairs, Dr. Kathy Mandt (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center) and Dr. Robin Wordsworth (Harvard University).
Can't make it in person? No worries! The meeting will be recorded and available on the NASA-DARES webpage after AGU.
Here's a quick look at the impressive team leading the charge:
NASA-DARES Task Force 2 Ex-Officio Members:
- Eve Berger (NASA Johnson Space Center, Focus Area 1)
- Aaron Burton (NASA Headquarters, Focus Area 2)
- Jessica Lee (NASA Ames Research Center, Focus Area 3)
- Kelsey Bisson (NASA Headquarters, Focus Area 4)
- Mary Beth Wilhelm (NASA Ames Research Center, Focus Area 5)
- Niki Parenteau (NASA Ames Research Center, Focus Area 6)
- Robin Fergason (NASA Ames Research Center/NASA Headquarters, Focus Area 7)
- Melissa Kirven-Brooks (NASA Ames Research Center, Focus Area 8)
- Becky McCauley Rench (NASA Headquarters, Focus Area 9)
- Daniella Scalice (NASA Ames Research Center, Ex-Officio Support for Focus Area 9)
NASA-DARES Task Force 2 Leadership:
- Co-Chairs: Robin Wordsworth (Harvard University), Kathleen Mandt (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)
- Focus Area Leads: Loren Williams (Georgia Tech, Focus Area 1), Maitrayee Bose (Arizona State University, Focus Area 2), Karl Stapelfeldt (Jet Propulsion Laboratory/Caltech, Focus Area 3), Charity Phillips-Lander (Southwest Research Institute, Focus Area 4), Aaron Regberg (NASA Johnson Space Center, Focus Area 5), Morgan Cable (Planetary Science Institute, Focus Area 6), Diana Gentry (NASA Ames Research Center, Focus Area 7), Christina Richey (SETI Institute, Focus Area 8), Sara Yeo (University of Utah, Focus Area 9)
The selection process for General Members and Executive Secretaries is ongoing. Applicants should expect decisions in the coming weeks.
Astrobiology is a fascinating field, and this update is a great opportunity to learn more about the exciting work being done.
What are your thoughts on the future of astrobiology? Do you think the focus areas are well-defined? Share your opinions in the comments below!
