Posted by Michael Kirk | February 14, 2026 | AAS/SPD news
The 2026 Irene González Hernández Prize is presented to Dr. Paola Testa of the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian for her significant mid-career contributions to solar physics and the solar–stellar connection. Dr. Testa’s research has advanced our understanding of coronal heating, high-energy stellar emission, and the complex plasma processes that govern the outer atmospheres of the Sun and other stars. In addition to her scientific achievements, she has provided visionary leadership in the development of major solar missions and instruments, shaping the future of observational heliophysics.
spd.aas.org/Press