MIT Stars & Planets WOrkshop 2025

This focused, in-person workshop will bring together ~30–50 researchers working across stellar and exoplanetary science to share results, strengthen collaborations, and identify future directions for joint efforts.

Over three days, we'll hold informal talks, working session, and collaborative discussions centered on stellar modeling, atmospheric characterization, and collaborative opportunities. The workshop is deliberately small and loosely structured to maximize interactions and creative progress.

Workshop themes:

• Stellar contamination in transmission and emission spectroscopy

• Constraints on stellar photospheric heterogeneity and variability

• Joint modeling of stellar photospheres and exoplanet atmospheres

• Tools and libraries for spectra and light curve analysis

• Opportunities with current and upcoming missions and observatories (JWST, Rubin, Roman)

📅 Schedule

The workshop will run from Tuesday, August 26 to Thursday, August 28, with sessions each day from approximately 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

The agenda, shaped by participants' interests, includes:

• 3-min lightning introductions from each participant, sharing their background, expertise, and workshop goals

• 12+3-min research presentations on other topics

• Focus sessions for hands-on activities and discussions

• Open time for collaborations

📝 Registration

Given space constraints, participation is by invitation only. A registration link will be emailed directly to invited participants.

Registration deadline: August 12, 2025

The registration fee of $150 covers the lunch and two coffee breaks provided daily.

🏛️ Venue & Travel

Location:

Room 55-108 + 109 + 110 (aka 55-100)
Department of Earth, Atmospheric & Planetary Sciences
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA, USA 02139

Getting here:

• Closest airport: Boston Logan International (BOS)

• Public transit: MIT is easily accessible by "the T" (i.e., the subway). Just take the Red Line to Kendall/MIT.

• Limited parking options available nearby (meters on Memorial Drive)

Hotel suggestions:

• Kendall Hotel (6 min walk)

• Le Méridien Boston Cambridge (20 min walk)

• Morrison House Bed and Breakfast (20 min on the T)

📬 Contact

Organizers:

• Benjamin Rackham (brackham [at] mit [dot] edu)

• Julien de Wit (jdewit [at] mit [dot] edu)

For questions about logistics or accessibility, please feel free to email us directly.