First Announcement for the “Empowering Science in the Data-Rich Era of Astronomy” Conference

NSF NOIRLab is pleased to announce that registration and abstract submission are now open for the “Empowering Science in the Data-Rich Era of Astronomy” conference, which will take place from 20–24 April 2026 in Tucson, AZ.

The astronomical community has entered an era of rapidly evolving datasets of unprecedented volume and complexity, requiring cutting-edge analysis resources and tools, including AI and machine learning. NSF NOIRLab is positioning itself to better support the community in this era of data and software-driven growth. With this conference, we will provide a forum for collaborative discussion of science enabled by data from surveys such as DESI and NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory’s Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST), and observing facilities such as Gemini, WIYN, SOAR, and CTIO, as well as joint studies with other surveys and facilities. The discussion at this meeting will inform the planning process for evolving the data, software and service products across NOIRLab.

Scientists are invited to present scientific cases that have been (or will be) enabled by rich data sets and cutting-edge analyses in fields including transient and variable discovery and characterization, galactic structure, cosmology, extragalactic science, the Local Universe, and the Solar System. We also welcome contributions on how to further advance scientific discoveries using AI and machine learning, advanced computing resources, software and service development, data archives, and science platforms. We encourage discussions that touch on (but are not limited to) the following aspects:

• Coordination and joint scientific studies between different surveys and observing facilities.

• Opportunities and challenges as astronomers acquire large statistical samples of astronomical objects that were previously rare.

• AI-driven scientific discoveries and their infrastructure needs.

Please fill out this form to register your interest in participating.

Important Dates:

Registration and abstract submission opens: Friday, January 16, 2026

Abstract deadline: Monday, March 2, 2026

Registration closes: Friday, April 3, 2026

Conference: April 20-24, 2026

For any inquiries or assistance, you can reach out to the SOC/LOC co-chairs at dmsconference@noirlab.edu

Sincerely,

The Scientific Organizing Committee

Yuanyuan Zhang (NSF NOIRLab; Co-Chair)

Siyi Xu (NSF NOIRLab; Co-Chair)

Jeff Carlin (NSF NOIRLab; Co-Chair)

Christina Williams (NSF NOIRLab)

Monika Soraisam (NSF NOIRLab)

David Sand (University of Arizona)

Javier Sanchez (STScI)

Stephanie Juneau (NSF NOIRLab)

Leanne Guy (NSF NOIRLab)

Wes Fraser (NRC Herzberg)

Adam Bolton (SLAC)

LOC:

Alexus Busch (NSF NOIRLab; Co-Chair)

Siyi Xu (NSF NOIRLab; Co-Chair)

Glenaver Charles-Emerson (NSF NOIRLab)

Kevin Cullens (NSF NOIRLab)

Phoebe Dubisch (NSF NOIRLab)

Taralu Green (AURA)

Vannessa Gressieux (NSF NOIRLab)

Jessica Harris (NSF NOIRLab)

Nicole Kuchta (NSF NOIRLab)

Tom Matheson (NSF NOIRLab)

Samantha Thompson (NSF NOIRLab)

Benjamin Weaver (NSF NOIRLab)