Committee Interest Form

All members are invited to attend the committee meetings being held during the Annual Meeting and are encouraged to commit to continued involvement in the committee activities throughout the year.  The committees have direct interaction with the board and can make a difference in the success of the society.

Journal Committee

Chair: Dr. Jamie Foster, University of Florida

The Journal Committee prepares and solicits articles relevant to ASGSR interests for ASGSR publications and other journals, including international publications, as well as providing technical reviewers upon request. The journal committee supports outreach activities that promote the advancement of gravitational and space. At minimum, the Journal Committee should annually: 

  • Solicit input and assemble the articles for ASGSR publications, including the ASGSR refereed journal.
  •  Provide an editor(s) for ASGSR publications.
  •  Promote the Society’s publications, including providing access to the publications for Society members through the website.
  •  Provide guidance with regards to the evolution of ASGSR publications. 
  •  Facilitate the promotion of ASGSR authored articles to the general public and lay press. 
  •  Provide input for the ASGSR newsletter and website. 
  •  Manage the Gravitational and Space Research Journal

Innovative Initiatives Committee

Chair: Dr. Kevin Sato, NASA Ames Research Center

The Innovative Initiatives Committee supports outreach activities that promote the advancement of gravitational and space biology. The committee also assists in the publication of the ASGSR quarterly newsletter. This committee can also coordinate the development of position or white papers (also a role for the external affairs committee). The ASGSR Web site will be monitored by the committee, with a member(s) designated as content manager. At minimum, the Innovative Initiatives Committee should annually: 

  • Solicit input and assemble the articles for ASGSR publications, including the ASGSR refereed journal.
  •  Provide an editor(s) for ASGSR publications.
  •  Promote the Society’s publications, including providing access to the publications for Society members through the website.
  •  Provide guidance with regards to the evolution of ASGSR publications. 
  •  Facilitate the promotion of ASGSR authored articles to the general public and lay press. 
  •  Provide input for the ASGSR newsletter and website. 

Education and Outreach Committee

Chair: Dr. Richard Barker, Purdue University

The core vision of the committee is that “Space increases engagement”. Our mission is to “find ways to increase space science impact”. Ultimately, we aim to “inspire and empower the next generation of space scientists and engineers through immersive, collaborative learning experiences” by strategically aggregating existing open educational resources and dismantling access barriers to create an inclusive and dynamic ecosystem that nurtures scientific curiosity and technological innovation.  The Committee convenes bi-monthly to discuss ideas generated by space science subject matter experts that can enhance the educational impact of the ASGSR community. Some key activities and initiatives of the committee include:


  • Promoting Space Science Educational Programs: The committee works to promote existing educational programs developed by NASA scientists, such as the Space Physical Sciences LabXchange cluster.
  • Provide an avenue for educators to share online Learning & Emerging Technologies: The committee aims to leverage online learning by developing interactive online courses, creating virtual lab experiences, and welcomes collaboration from the EdTech industry.
  • Partnerships and Collaborations: The committee seeks to create new industry partnerships with aerospace companies for internships and project opportunities, engage retired space scientists as mentors, and partner with technology companies. They also aim to expand strategic partnerships with organizations like NASA GeneLab, NASA Open Science Data Resporty, Sierra Space, Space TANGO, Magnitude, AstroBotany, USAF, SEEC, BPS, OSTEM, ISS National Labs and the NASA growing beyond Earth program as well as engaging with citizen science initiatives, local schools, and universities across the world.
  • Flagship Project: The committee is organizing “Space Game Night” at the conference with the goal of providing some space-themed board games to conference participants to create a fun and safe environment to share scientific insights and ideas through the gamification of space exploration. We welcome collaboration on this idea and encourage this year’s ASGSR participants to bring their favorite educational game.

External Affairs Committee

Chair: Dr. Elizabeth Blaber, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

The External Affairs committee is responsible for organizing the ASGSR’s involvement with key policy makers and other professional organizations that promote ASGSR’s positions and key issues. The committee, with coordination by the ASGSR board and executive director, develops key messaging for the society. The messaging can be short-term and long-term (i.e., strategic). This committee provides assistance in updating and publishing educational materials used for policy makers and will coordinate with other organizations (e.g., AIAA) to establish cooperation, keeping in mind future plans of jointly held sessions and workshops at ASGSR conferences. This committee will also be active in inviting state and local ASGSR members to key meetings. At minimum, the External Affairs Committee should annually:

  • Prepare and organize ASGSR positions and key issues with coordination and approval by the ASGSR board and executive director. 
  • Coordinate development of position papers (also a role for the Communications Committee).

  • Facilitate collaboration with other organizations.
  • Coordinate appropriate activities with ASGSR local, regional, and student members.

Meetings and Workshops Committee

Chair: Dr. Michael Pecaut, Loma Linda University

Do you have new ideas for workshops, sessions or symposiums for our annual meeting? If so, we encourage you to participate with the meetings and workshops committee. The Meetings and Workshops Committee is responsible for assisting the conference chair in organizing technical sessions for the ASGSR annual meeting. The ASGSR past president serves as the Program Chair for the Annual Meeting. Each year, this committee will work with Program Chair to identify the technical program. The committee will also work with the ASGSR board of governors to identify candidate geographic locations for the annual meeting.  The committee also identifies other venues for ASGSR technical participation, such as the AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting (ASM), ELGRA, and ISGP. If other venues are identified, the committee submits a short proposal to the ASGSR board of directors, and executive director for approval, especially if there is an anticipated expenditure of funds. The committee will coordinate with other conference committees for joint sponsored conferences, co-located meetings, and workshops. At minimum, the Meetings and Workshops Committee should annually: 

  • Assist the Program Chair in organizing technical sessions for the ASGSR annual meeting.
  • Seek and coordinate joint venue activities at other conferences (e.g., ASM, ELGRA, ISGP) that promote gravitational and space research

Space Workforce & Community Engagement Committee

Chair: Kevin Crosby, Carthage College

Our SWCE Committee is dedicated to expanding access to career pathways in gravitational and space research, strengthening workforce pipelines, and fostering a sense of professional belonging within ASGSR. The committee develops targeted initiatives that support students, early-career researchers, and professionals by providing mentorship, career development, and industry connections.

The SWCE Committee works to connect talent to opportunity in the space sciences by advancing equitable access to career pathways in gravitational and space research. The committee promotes targeted initiatives that support students, early-career researchers, and professionals through mentorship, career development programming. By fostering professional belonging and building robust workforce pipelines, the committee helps ensure ASGSR’s future leadership reflects the full breadth of our research community.

Social Media & Marketing Committee

Chair: Anjali Gupta

The Marketing & Communications Committee was formed to enhance communication with the Society. As the Society’s newest committee, this is a great time to get involved. The Committee can use your help in gathering notable content to share with society members via the newsletter, website, and social media. Content and stories from members across the Society are welcomed and encouraged. 

  • Have you been with the Society for decades?  Dust off those cobwebs in your brain and share a memory from the archives.
  • Is there a research finding or a publication you’d like to highlight? Write-up a short review and include the article link.

We are eager to share news about the biological and physical sciences, space science policy, space science related events and discoveries — anything space science and ASGSR-related. Send your publication-ready stories, whether they are in text, photo, or video format (with appropriate copyright permissions) via email to marketing@asgsr.org.