Based out of the Australian National University, the Ultraviolet Extinction Sky Survey (UVESS) is a small-satellite mission concept designed to map how interstellar dust shapes starlight across the Milky Way and nearby Local Group galaxies. By measuring ultraviolet extinction curves and variations of the 2175 Å feature over most of the sky, UVESS will reveal the composition, size distribution, and processing of interstellar dust grains along diverse sightlines. Leveraging recent advances in compact, high-throughput UV instrumentation, UVESS aims to deliver the first systematic, wide-area UV extinction atlas, providing essential constraints for models of the interstellar medium and galaxy evolution.

Contact: andrew.battisti@uwa.edu.au

Based at Monash, this team is developing an all-sky FUV spectral-imaging mission, mapping fluorescent H₂ (primary star-forming gas). 

Mission lead Dr. Thavisha Dharmawardena is a lecturer at the School of Physics and Astronomy at Monash University. Their expertise lies in Galactic structure, interstellar medium, and data-driven astronomy, statistical and machine-learning methods to map dust, gas, and stars using large astronomical surveys. They experience developing public-ready data products from space missions through Gaia DPAC, and lead target selection and the dust science case for a proposed NASA SMEX mission. 

Position to fill: The team needs help identifying an industry engagement specialist. They are open to having experts in the other categories join if they are interested.

Contact: thavisha.dharmawardena@monash.edu