Applications for Commissions Organizing Committee Elections

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First Name: Susana

Middle Name: E.

Last Name: Deustua

Email: susana.deustua@nist.gov

Secondary Email: sedeustua@gmail.com

Gender: Female

Country of Work: United States

Position: Commission Organizing Committee member

Detailed experience:

Current:
Membership Committee (2024-2037)
Division B, Division C, Division G, Division J

Past:
Chair of the EC Working Group Astronomy for Equity and Inclusion (2021-2024),
Vice-President, President, Advisor of Division C Education, Outreach and Heritage (2015-2024),
Membership Committee (2021-2024)
Past Member of:
Commission C1 WG Network for Astronomy School Education (NASE) (2015-2021)
Commission 47 Cosmology (until 2015)
Division VIII Galaxies & the Universe (until 2012)
Commission 46 Astronomy Education & Development (until 2015)

Motivation:

Commission B6 is concerned with the standardization of observing methods/techniques from the ultra-violet to the sub-mm regimen. One of the topics in standardization is calibration. I am an observational astronomer with experience in calibration of photometric and spectroscopic data, from detector effects to flux calibration. I am actively working on improving the fllux calibration scale in the visible to the infrared, with the goal of providing absolute fluxes that have sub-percent uncertainties and SI -traceabliity to support the wide range of 21st century astrophysical science that require accurate and precise calibration. In the era of multi-wavelength, multi-instrument astronomy, spectrophotometric standards are essential for cross-calibration. As a ember of the Commission Organizing Committee I would work to engage the international community to seed "solutions to the wide range of scientific problems require calibrated photometry and polarimetry at better than the 1% level, and that enable standardization".

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First Name: Eduard

Middle Name: P.

Last Name: Kontar

Email: eduard.kontar@glasgow.ac.uk

Gender: Male

Country of Work: United Kingdom

Position: Commission Vice-President

Detailed experience:

Past Steering Committee Member of Division E Sun and Heliosphere (2015-2021)
Member of Division E Sun and Heliosphere
Member of Commission E1 Solar Radiation and Structure
Member of Commission E2 Solar Activity
Member of Commission E3 Solar Impact Throughout the Heliosphere
Member of Inter-Division B-E WG Coordination of Synoptic Observations of the Sun
Member of Division D High Energy Phenomena and Fundamental Physics
Past Member of Commission 10 Solar Activity (until 2015)
Past Member of Division II Sun & Heliosphere (until 2012)

Motivation:

My research interests are in the area of solar flares,
theory and observations of particle acceleration and propagation,
radio and X-ray emission mechanisms.
I am interested in strengthening links with Astronomical,
Geophysical and Plasma communities and promoting the solar
and heliospheric studies both in Europe (as a former ESPD President)
and internationally and will work to raise the profile of the solar activity research.

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First Name: Li

Last Name: FENG

Email: lfeng@pmo.ac.cn

Secondary Email: irlablfeng@163.com

Gender: Female

Country of Work: China, Nanjing

Position: Commission Organizing Committee member

Detailed experience:

1. Co-chair of IAU symposium 390: A Multi-Point view of the Sun: Advances in Solar Observations and in Space Weather Understanding, 2024
2. Invited speaker for the IAU Focus Meeting: Advances and Challenges in Understanding the Solar and Stellar Dynamos, 2024

Motivation:

I am Li Feng, a research professor at Purple Mountain Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences. I did my PhD in Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research. I have engaged in solar physics since 2002, especially the initiation and evolution of solar eruptions. I also work on the space weather forecast of solar activities. Currently I am a Co-PI of the Lyman-alpha Solar Telescope on board the Chinese ASO-S mission, and also works as a chief scientist assistant of the mission. I have published about 120 papers on solar physics and space weather.

Concerning the service for the solar and heliophysics community, I am a co-chair of the IAU symposium 390: A Multi-Point view of the Sun, a co-leader of an ISSI-BJ international team. For scientific journals, I am in the editorial board of Scientific Reports, a guest editor of the Journal of Space Weather and Space Climate, etc. I am also reviewers for many journals and for National Natural Science Foundation of China.

I will try my best to help with the organization and the activation of activities of the IAU E3 commission, if I am selected. Thank you very much for your consideration.

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First Name: Zouhair

Last Name: Benkhaldoun

Email: zouhair@uca.ma

Secondary Email: zouhair@uca.ac.ma

Gender: Male

Country of Work: Morocco

Position: Commission Vice-President

Detailed experience:

I have been a member of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) since 1989. From the outset, I have actively worked to promote the development of astronomical research in Morocco. One of my most significant achievements was the creation of the **IAU National Committee in Morocco**, which was officially established in 2013 after years of dedicated efforts. Since then, I have served as its president, with the mission of strengthening and expanding Morocco's presence on the international astronomical stage.

Under my leadership, and through the collective efforts of numerous academic and scientific partners, Morocco successfully rejoined the IAU in 2018. This was a historic milestone, as Morocco first gained observer status, marking its official reintegration into the international scientific community. Our engagement was further cemented in 2024, when Morocco was elevated to **Category 1 membership**, reflecting our significant progress in the field of astronomy.

In addition to my national role, I have been actively involved in the IAU at an international level. I was a member of the **National Organizing Committee** for the 2024 IAU General Assembly, which was held for the first time in **Cape Town**, a landmark event for the African continent. Furthermore, I serve as the **Chair of the Africa Committee**, tasked with promoting African astronomy within the IAU and advancing the region’s role in global scientific dialogue.

I am also a member of the **steering committee of Division F**, focusing on the interaction between astronomy and society, and I participate in several other key divisions, including **Divisions B, C, and E**. Additionally, I contribute to several specialized commissions, such as **E3** (Sky Surveys) and **F2** (Astronomy and Society), as well as the inter-division **B-C**, which addresses interdisciplinary issues between fundamental and applied astronomy.

My involvement in the IAU also extends to organizing and leading international scientific events. In 2000, I chaired an **IAU workshop**, and at the most recent IAU General Assembly, I chaired the **IAUS393 symposium**, which brought together global experts. Additionally, I co-chaired the **Focus Meeting F1**, addressing critical strategic and scientific issues for the future of global astronomy.

These various roles and initiatives highlight not only my commitment to promoting astronomy at both the national and international levels but also my determination to make Morocco and Africa significant contributors to the global astronomical community. My journey within the IAU reflects my deep dedication to science, international cooperation, and the dissemination of astronomical knowledge across diverse regions and societies.

Motivation:

In recent years, I have been deeply involved in the development of the "exoplanets" field, and I have transformed the **Oukaimeden Observatory**, which I direct, into one of Africa's leading centers for exoplanet observation. This effort has positioned the observatory as a key player in the field, showcasing Africa’s growing role in planetary science. My dedication to this theme has been further recognized through the successful organization of the **IAUS393 Symposium**, titled *"Planetary Science and Exoplanets in the Era of the James Webb Space Telescope."*

Moving forward, I am eager to continue my involvement with IAU bodies to support the goals of **Commission F2**, and to further contribute to advancing global exoplanetary research and scientific collaboration.

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First Name: Hans

Middle Name: J

Last Name: Deeg

Email: hdeeg@iac.es

Secondary Email: hjdeeg@gmail.com

Gender: Male

Country of Work: Spain

Position: Commission Vice-President

Detailed experience:

Member of the Division F steering committee, until the recent General Assembly, when my two terms were completed (2018-2024).

Motivation:

Since 1994, I have participated in the development of exoplanet science, primarily within several ground and space-based observing projects; at present these are mainly preparations for the detection of circumbinary planets and the ground-based follow-up for the PLATO mission. As Editor-in-Chief of the Handbook of Exoplanets, with its 2nd edition in the final stage, I have gained a broad overview about the field of exoplanet and planetary science, but also about the people behind this science. My prior role on the Division F Steering Committee has provided me with valuable experience regarding the procedures, priorities, and key issues at the IAU division level. Also, at the recent GA in Cape Town I was delighted to perceive IAU as an impacting and lively organisation – which motivates me to hereby seek a continuation of my service for IAU. As Vice President of Commission F2, I will be open to any topics raised by the community, while I believe there are several issues we should address: establishing a definition of exoplanets (considering the widely varying planet-evidence from different detection methods); the consistent naming of exoplanets (in particular in multi-star systems); defining and exploring the social impact of exoplanet science, particularly in light of upcoming large-scale ground and space-based projects.

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First Name: Renu

Last Name: Malhotra

Email: malhotra@arizona.edu

Gender: Female

Country of Work: United States

Position: Commission Vice-President

Detailed experience:

Organizing Committee Member of Commission 7 Celestial Mechanics & Dynamical Astronomy (2009-2012)
Organizing Committee Member of Commission 7 Celestial Mechanics & Dynamical Astronomy (2006-2009)
IAU Symposium on Extrasolar Planets 2007, Suzhou, China: Member of Scientific Organizing Committee, 2005-2007

Motivation:

I am presently a Professor of Planetary Sciences at The University of Arizona. My research spans the solar system and exoplanetary systems, and includes foundational contributions to understanding planetary migration in the solar system and to measuring the masses of exoplanets. I have mentored and collaborated with a diverse range of students, scientists and others from many backgrounds (such as India, China, South Korea, Taiwan, Brazil, Chile, Japan, France, Italy, Hungary, US). I also enjoy creating and delivering presentations to general public audiences (grade school to retirees to TEDx), writing in popular science forums and collaborating with popular science journalists and writers and film makers. IAU’s Commission F2 represents one of the most exciting areas of contemporary astronomy which is experiencing a breathtaking pace of discoveries about planets and planetary systems, both within our solar system and elsewhere in the Galaxy. This is attracting a growing fraction of the international astronomical community and several other disciplines, including the geosciences and the biosciences. The IAU’s Commission F2 has the happy charge of fostering exchanges and interactions in this fast-growing interdisciplinary area. I would be honored to serve our community in the position of Vice President of C-F2.

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First Name: Matthias

Last Name: Ammler-von Eiff

Email: ammler@mps.mpg.de

Gender: Male

Country of Work: Germany

Position: Commission Organizing Committee member

Detailed experience:

Participated in the IAU General Assembly in Bejing in 2012.
Joined the IAU in 2018, attending the General Assembly in Vienna.

Motivation:

I am an astronomer and astrophysicist at the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research in Germany. I completed the PhD in 2006 and am excited about the accurate characterisation of stars with planets. After postdocs in Portugal and Germany, I joined the ground-based follow-up of transit candidates detected by the CoRoT mission. Currently, I am responsible for management tasks in the Data Centre of ESA's PLATO mission which will be launched at the end of 2026. Having worked in the field in various roles over more than 15 years, I would like to get closer to the community and share my knowledge by serving the Commission F2 in the Organizing Committee.

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First Name: Douglas

Middle Name: A

Last Name: Caldwell

Email: dcaldwell@seti.org

Secondary Email: douglas.caldwell@nasa.gov

Gender: Male

Country of Work: United States

Position: Commission Organizing Committee member

Detailed experience:

None

Motivation:

I have been working in the Exoplanet field since the turn of the century and have been privileged to have taken part in the amazing growth and evolution of the field. I have worked primarily on the US-led NASA missions Kepler, where I served as Instrument Scientist, and TESS, where I support pipeline data analysis. I have also worked on small ground-based transit searches, including leading an international collaboration that deployed a telescope to the South Pole. I have witnessed first-hand the benefits of widely sharing data and participation, both with colleagues and students. Through mentoring students from non-research-focused undergraduate institutions and community colleges, I have both benefited from their excellent work, and seen how such opportunities can have a major impact on their careers. I think that the IAU embodies this ethos of sharing the excitement of science and providing opportunities for all. I hope to use my experience as an exoplanet scientist and mentor to support the efforts of Commission F2 to promote exoplanet science throughout the world.

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First Name: Hans

Middle Name: J

Last Name: Deeg

Email: hdeeg@iac.es

Secondary Email: hjdeeg@gmail.com

Gender: Male

Country of Work: Spain

Position: Commission Organizing Committee member

Detailed experience:

Member of the Division F steering committee, until the recent General Assembly, when my two terms were completed (2018-2024).

Motivation:

Since 1994, I have participated in the development of exoplanet science, primarily within several ground and space-based observing projects; at present these are mainly preparations for the detection of circumbinary planets and the ground-based follow-up for the PLATO mission. Working as Editor-in-Chief of the Handbook of Exoplanets, with its 2nd edition in the final stage, I have gained a broad overview about the field of exoplanet and planetary science, but also about the people behind this science. My prior role on the Division F Steering Committee has provided me with valuable experience regarding the procedures, priorities, and key issues at the IAU division level. Also, at the recent GA in Cape Town I was delighted to perceive IAU as an impacting and lively organisation – which motivates me to hereby seek a continuation of my service for IAU. As a member of the Commission F2 Organizing Committee, I will be open to any topics raised by the community, while I believe there are several issues we should address: establishing a definition of exoplanets (considering the widely varying planet-evidence from different detection methods); the consistent naming of exoplanets (in particular in multi-star systems); defining and exploring the social impact of exoplanet science, particularly in light of upcoming large-scale ground and space-based projects.

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First Name: Jacob

Last Name: Haqq-Misra

Email: jacob@bmsis.org

Gender: Male

Country of Work: United States

Position: Commission Organizing Committee member

Detailed experience:

Scientific Organizing Committee for the Kavli-IAU Symposium (IAUS 387): “(Toward) Discovery of Life Beyond Earth and its Impact” in Durham, UK, 15-19 April, 2024

Motivation:

I seek to contribute my interdisciplinary expertise as a member of the F3 Organizing Committee to enable the IAU to more broadly engage with astrobiology researchers worldwide and foster cross-commission collaborative efforts. I am the co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of the US-based nonprofit research organization, Blue Marble Space, which has a mission to “cultivate scientific innovation and entrepreneurship by engaging with lifelong learners.” My scientific expertise is in three separate areas of astrobiology. The first is the topic of understanding planetary habitability through the use of computational climate models. I am also one of a small handful of researchers actively pushing the frontier of techonsignature research in a way that aligns with NASA and ESA mission objectives. Finally, I am one of the few emerging leaders in the nascent field of space settlement, having recently published a scholarly book with a university press that examines governance in space. As a member of the F3 Organizing Committee, I would prioritize activities that strive toward maintaining a broad portfolio of approaches toward astrobiology research and attempt to discern the optimal ways for communicating astrobiology discoveries.

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First Name: Alain

Last Name: Lecavelier des Etangs

Email: lecaveli@iap.fr

Gender: Male

Country of Work: France

Position: Commission Organizing Committee member

Detailed experience:

In 2009, I have been elected Vice-president (2009-2012) and was then President (2012-2015) of the Commission C53 entitled "Extrasolar planets".

In 2015, at the time of the commissions reform, I propose to merge the commissions C16 (physical study of planets and satellites) and C53 (extrasolar planets) into the new Commission C.F2 "Exoplanets and the Solar System". I took the role of the President of the Commission C.F2 from 2015 to 2018.

In 2018, with the OC of the commission and the Vice-president Jack Lissauer, we organized a consultation of the whole commission membership to set up a formal definition of the term "exoplanet". This results into the new definition explained in the paper Lecavelier & Lissauer 2022 (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/am/pii/S138764732200001X).

Motivation:

I wish to continue contributing to the work of the Commission, which I consider important for the coordination of the broad community of researchers working on solar and exoplanetary systems. This Commission is important for facilitating communication between solar system experts and exoplanets researchers. As an official body of the IAU, the Commission also contributes to promote planetary science worldwide, reaching beyond Western countries and engaging the general public.

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First Name: Arianna

Last Name: Piccialli

Email: arianna.piccialli@aeronomie.be

Secondary Email: apic79@gmail.com

Gender: Female

Country of Work: Belgium

Position: Commission Organizing Committee member

Detailed experience:

I recently became vice-chair of the Executive Committee WG Women in Astronomy, after being an Organizing Committee Member for several years. I am also a member of Commission F2 Exoplanets and the Solar system, and of Division C Education, Outreach and Heritage, as these fall within my interests and activities.

Motivation:

I would like to express my interest to apply as an Organizing Committee member of the IAU F2 Exoplanets and Solar System Commission. My scientific interest aims to better characterize planetary atmospheres, in particular Venus and Mars, and to understand the physical processes that shape these worlds.

I have experience in space missions’ science teams (i.e. Mars Express, Venus Express, ExoMars-TGO). I am currently a Co-I for the VenSpec Suite of the ESA EnVision mission, and I am part of the ARIEL science team. I was recently selected as a member of the Venus Science Coordination (VeSCoor) group at the European Space Agency (ESA).

In parallel to my scientific research, I have always been involved in Education and Outreach activities, and I am strongly engaged in increasing the diversity and inclusiveness within the planetary science and astronomical community. I would like to actively contribute to the mission and activities of our Commission F2.

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First Name: Dmitry

Middle Name: A.

Last Name: Semenov

Email: semenov@mpia.de

Secondary Email: dmitry.a.semenov@gmail.com

Gender: Male

Country of Work: Germany

Position: Commission Vice-President

Detailed experience:

I joined IAU as an individual member in 2012 and am a member of the organizing committee in the H2 Commission "Astrochemistry".

Motivation:

My motivation to serve as a vice president of the H2 IAU commission "Astrochemistry" is to help the organizing committee of the H2 commission, and in particular, its President, to achieve the H2 commission's goals of fostering further development of astrochemistry research and training the new generation of astrochemistry/astrophysics researchers. I have experience organizing small- and large-scale national and international scientific meetings, workshops, training schools for students, etc., and I enjoy doing that. With the launch of JWST and the enormous flow of unprecedented data and exciting new results from JWST, ALMA, ngVLA, NOEMA, etc., the need to have focussed, well-structured yet diverse and inspiring meetings, workshops, lecture series, and training school is very high. Therefore, in the role of the vice president of the H2 Commission, I would like to play a more active role in planning and organizing such meetings, training schools, and lecture series, as well as other duties of our H2 Commission "Astrochemistry."

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First Name: Federica

Last Name: Spoto

Email: federica.spoto@cfa.harvard.edu

Secondary Email: spoto.fede@gmail.com

Gender: Female

Country of Work: United States

Position: Commission Organizing Committee member

Detailed experience:

Member of Division A Fundamental Astronomy
Member of Division F Planetary Systems and Astrobiology
Member of Commission A1 Astrometry
Member of Commission F4 Asteroids, Comets & Transneptunian Objects
Member of Cross-Division A-F Commission Solar System Ephemerides
Member of Inter-Division A-F WG Near Earth Objects
Member of Executive Committee WG Women in Astronomy

Motivation:

I am eager to be part of the organizing committee for the cross-division on solar system ephemerides.

My work focuses on the dynamical characterization of small bodies, including high-precision astrometry—particularly solar system observations from the Gaia mission—and the characterization of asteroid families.

As the current project scientist of the Minor Planet Center, I am preparing for upcoming surveys like Vera Rubin and NEO Surveyor while maintaining our existing services. I believe my experience in this area aligns closely with the division's goals of improving ephemeris computation and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration.

Moreover, I see great potential for a strong collaboration between the Division and the MPC, which would be mutually beneficial, advancing both our objectives.