This is a standalone SPD meeting, so sessions will be organized primarily by abstract pressure. The topical categories are just guidelines, and the SOC will adjust and tailor the actual sessions as needed.
Some highlights of the week include a student-only afternoon on Sunday August 9th, followed by an all-SPD reception on Sunday evening. Science sessions will run 4.5 days (M-F, with a half day on Friday), and we will hold an early career mixer, Prize Lectures, townhalls, tutorials, including a PUNCH data tutorial, the SPD Business meeting, and student poster awards throughout the week, per usual. Specific requests to hold a townhall or tutorial can be sent to the [email protected]
Two new things this year of note:
- Calling advisors of REU students! Due to the timing of this year’s SPD meeting, we are extending a special invitation to advisors of REU programs to send their REU student to present their poster at the SPD. We were able to keep presenting student registration fees low, and we will allow late poster abstract submission for REU students if the advisor lets us know in advance of the abstract deadline here https://forms.gle/
8jXLXVE2ZHRvroAu8 - We are holding a special Memorial Celebration session in celebration of the life and science of any solar or heliophysicist that has passed away in the last several years. These talks can be casual, and will not count towards any scientific talk limit, but we are asking for titles and short abstracts to help us organize this session. Select ‘Memorial’ under abstract type in the submission portal.
The SPD is offering six Dependent Care grants (max $800 per grant) to help offset added expenses that SPD members with dependents may incur while participating in the upcoming SPD standalone meeting. These grants are offered on a reimbursement basis, and are meant to cover caregiving expenses incurred only as a result of attending the meeting that would not have been incurred otherwise. For example, eligible expenses may include costs for dependent care at the meeting, or costs for additional dependent care at home as a result of the member’s absence during the meeting. The SPD will follow the AAS Dependent Care Grant guidelines found at Dependent Care Grants | American Astronomical Society in determining who is eligible, who qualifies as a dependent, and which expenses are eligible for reimbursement. Applicants must be a current member of the SPD to be eligible.
To start the application process for a Dependent Care grant, please send an email indicating your interest to the SPD Treasurer, Marc DeRosa ([email protected]), by May 19, 2026. (IMPORTANT: To apply, do NOT use the orange application link on the aforementioned AAS Dependent Care Grant guidelines webpage, as this link applies to AAS248 and not to the SPD standalone meeting.) Applicants will be notified before the on-time registration deadline.