NAC Science Committee
About
The Science Committee (SC) was established under the NASA Advisory Council (NAC) to support the advisory needs of the NASA Administrator, the NASA Science Mission Directorate (SMD), and other NASA Mission Directorates, as required. The scope of the NAC SC includes all NASA Earth and space science-related programs, projects, activities, and facilities. The NAC SC is governed by the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) and managed by a Designated Federal Officer (DFO) appointed by the SMD Associate Administrator.
Members and Staff
The members of the NAC SC are leading authorities in their respective fields and are drawn from industry, academia, independent researchers, and Government institutions. They are appointed for renewable two-year terms at the discretion of the NASA Administrator.
- Amanda Hendrix, Chair – Planetary Science Institute
- Noël Bakhtian, Vice Chair – Bezos Earth Fund
- Fran Bagenal – University of Colorado Boulder
- Paul Cassak – West Virginia University
- Van Espahbodi – Generational Partners
- Jamie Foster – University of Florida
- Linda Godwin – University of Missouri
- Edward Gonzales – Catholic University
- Kelly Holley-Bockelmann – Vanderbilt University
- Hope Ishii – University of Hawaii
- Tom Soderstrom – Amazon Web Services
- Sara Tucker – BAE Systems
NASA Staff:
- Nathan Boll, DFO – NASA SMD
- Joy Burkey, Deputy DFO – NASA SMD
SMD Committees
The NAC SC closely coordinates with the SMD Science Advisory Committees, which are independent FACA committees that report directly to SMD Division Directors. The Chairs of each of these committees also serve as members of the NAC Science Committee (except for the ASAC).
Meeting Records
The NAC SC meets approximately three times a year, usually in advance of a NAC meeting. Science Committee meeting agendas will be approved by the DFO after coordination with the Committee Chair, and will be responsive to requests from the Administrator, the NAC Chair, and SMD Associate Administrator. The DFO will publish notices of upcoming Science Committee meetings in the Federal Register no less than 15 calendar days prior to each meeting and post certified meeting minutes to the Science Committee website within 90 calendar days after each meeting. Science Committee Reports are delivered by the Chair to the NAC and are posted on the NAC website.
October 8-10, 2024
March 25, 2024
August 29-30, 2023
May 31-June 1, 2023
November 15-16, 2022
July 12-13, 2022
- Agenda (Science Committee): July 12 - PDF-13, 2022
- Agenda (Joint Science Committee/Human Exploration Committee): July 12 - PDF-13, 2022
- Federal Register Notice (Science Committee): July 12 - PDF-13, 2022
- Federal Register Notice (Joint Science Committee/Human Exploration Committee): July 13 - PDF, 2022
- Meeting Minutes: July 12-13, 2022
May 3-4, 2022
November 9-10, 2021
April 14-15, 2021
January 13-14, 2021
December 1-2, 2020
- The NAC Science Committee Fall meeting was held on December 1-2 only, rather than three-days as previously published.
- Agenda: December 1 - PDF-2, 2020
- Federal Register Notice: December 1 - PDF-2, 2020
- Minutes: December 1 - PDF-2, 2020
September 10, 2020
- 12:00 p.m. Eastern – We cordially invite you to join the SMD Community Town Hall that precedes the SC meeting.
- Agenda: September 10 - PDF, 2020
- Federal Register Notice: September 10 - PDF, 2020
- Minutes: September 10 - PDF, 2020
March 12-13, 2020
November 18-19, 2019
October 18, 2019
May 21-22, 2019
November 1-2, 2018
August 2018
March 2018
November 2017
July 2017
April 2017
October 2016
July 2016
March 2016
- Federal Register Notice
- Agenda (PDF)
- Minutes
- Presentations:
- NASA Science Mission Directorate FY17 Budget - Mr. Craig Tupper
- Astrophysics Division FY17 Budget and Update - Dr. Paul Hertz
- WFIRST - Dr. Neil Gehrels, Mr. Kevin Grady
- Astrophysics Subcommittee Report - Dr. Scott Gaudi
- Science at NASA - Dr. John M. Grunsfeld
- "The Role of the Terrestrial Biosphere in Global Climate and Carbon Cycles" - Dr. Steve Running
- Earth Science Division FY17 Budget and Update - Dr. Michael Freilich
- Earth Science Subcommittee Report - Dr. Steve Running
- Heliophysics Division FY17 Budget and Update - Mr. Steve Clarke
- Heliophysics Subcommittee Report - Dr. Jill Dahlburg
- Big Data Task Force - Dr. Charles Holmes
- Planetary Protection Subcommittee Report - Dr. Robert Lindberg
- Planetary Science Division FY17 Budget and Update - Dr. James Green
- Planetary Science Subcommittee Report - Dr. Janet Luhmann
- Nexus for Exoplanet System Science (NExSS) - Dr. Mary Voytek
- Space Communications and Navigation - Mr. Badri Younes
November 2015
Location: Virtual Meeting (WebEx and Telecon only)
- Federal Register Notice
- Agenda
- Minutes
- Presentations:
- Ad Hoc Big Data Task Force – Ms. Elaine Denning
- AAAC Proposal Pressures Study Group - Dr. Priscilla Cushman
- Planetary Protection Subcommittee Report - Dr. Robert Lindberg
- Citizen Science - Dr. Amy Kaminski
- PSD Division Update - Dr. James Green
- Planetary Science Subcommittee Report - Dr. Janet Luhmann
- Mars Liquid Water - Dr. Michael Meyer
- Education Update CAN Results - Ms. Kristen Erickson
- APD Division Update - Dr. Paul Hertz
- Astrophysics Subcommittee Report - Dr. Scott Gaudi
- ESD Division Update - Dr. Jack Kaye
- Earth Science Subcommittee Report – Dr. Steve Running
- HPD Division Update - Mr. Steve Clarke
- Heliophysics Subcommittee Report - Dr. Jill Dahlburg
* The 508 compliant versions of these presentations will be available as soon as possible.
July 2015
Location: Jet Propulsion Lab
- Federal Register Notice
- Agenda (PDF)
- Minutes
- Presentations:
- R&A Two Step Proposal Data - Dr. Max Bernstein
- Ad Hoc Big Data Task Force - Dr. Erin Smith
- "The Surprising Moon!" - Dr. Mark Robinson
- PSD Division Update - Dr. James Green
- Curiosity Update - Dr. Ashwin Vasavada
- ESD Division Update - Dr. Michael Freilich
- Pluto Close Approach by New Horizons - Dr. Bonnie Buratti
- HPD Division Update - Mr. Steve Clarke
- Heliophysics Subcommittee Report - Dr. Jill Dahlburg / Dr. Neil Murphy
- Planetary Protection Officer Update - Dr. Cassie Conley
- Planetary Protection Subcommittee Report - Dr. Robert Lindberg
- APD Division Update - Dr. Paul Hertz
- Astrophysics Subcommittee Report - Dr. Scott Gaudi
April 2015
- Federal Register Notice
- Agenda
- Minutes
- Presentations:
- MESSENGER End of Mission - Dr. Larry Nittler
- Planetary Protection Subcommittee Report - Dr. Robert Lindberg
- Science Mission Directorate FY16 Budget - Mr. Craig Tupper
- Earth Science Division FY16 Budget and Division Update - Dr. Michael Freilich
- JASD Update - Mr. Steve Clarke
- Heliophysics Division FY16 Budget and Division Update - Dr. Jeff Newmark
- Heliophysics Subcommittee Report - Dr. Maura Hagan
- Planetary Science Division FY16 Budget and Division Update - Dr. James Green
- Planetary Science Subcommittee Report - Dr. Harry McSween
- JWST Update - Dr. Eric Smith
- "Truths and Consequences of Ionizing Radiation: New Science Results from Van Allen Probes and LRO" - Dr. Harlan Spence
- Astrophysics Division FY16 Budget and Division Update - Dr. Paul Hertz
- WFIRST Update - Dr. Neil Gehrels
- Astrophysics Subcommittee Report - Dr. Scott Gaudi
- Space Radiation Presentations:
- Space Radiation Presentations Outline
- Mars Mission and Space Radiation Risks - Mr. Steve Davison
- Health Standards Decision Framework - Mr. David Liskowsky
- Space Radiation Environment - Mr. Chris St. Cyr
- Solar Energetic Particle Hazard - Mr. Allan Tylka
- Comparison and Validation of GCR Models - Mr. Tony Slaba
- GCR Radiation Environment Predictions - Mr. Nathan Schwadron
- Emerging GCR Data from AMS-2 - Ms. Veronica Bindi
- Radiation Health Risks Projections - Mr. Eddie Semones
- Space Radiation R&T for Risk Mitigation - Ms. Lisa Simonsen
- * The 508 compliant versions of these presentations will be available as soon as possible.
January 12-13, 2015
Location: Stennis Space Center
July 28-29, 2014
Location: Langley Research Center
April 9, 2014
Location: NASA Headquarters
Virtual Meeting (WebEx and Telecon only)
December 3-4, 2013
Location: NASA Headquarters
July 29-31, 2013
Location: NASA Headquarters
April 18-19, 2013
Location: NASA Headquarters
November 14-15, 2012
Location: NASA Headquarters
July 23-24, 2012
Location: Goddard Space Flight Center
March 6-7, 2012
NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC
October 31 - November 1, 2011
NASA HQ, Washington, DC
August 2-3, 2011
NASA ARC, Mountain View, CA
April 21 – 22, 2011
NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC
March 3 – 4, 2011
NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC
September 28, 2010
Virtual Meeting (WebEx and Telecon only)
July 13 – 14, 2010
NASA Headquarters (Washington, DC)
April 20 – 21, 2010
Goddard Space Flight Center (Greenbelt, MD)
February 16 – 17, 2010
NASA Headquarters (Washington, DC)
