This session aim to inform early career researchers in the European astrophysics community about ESA and specifically the space science programme of the ESA Science Directorate.

ESA and in particular the Science Directorate operate a range of cutting-edge missions on the forefront of today's astronomy and astrophysics, from cosmology with recently launchen Euclid telescope, X-ray astronomy with XMM-Newton and exoplanet science with Cheops to revolutionizing our understanding of our own Galaxy with Gaia and exploring the most distance Universe with JWST. ESA's science programme is defined bottom up by the scientific community of the ESA member states, but its long time-scales and wide reach (and many, many acronyms!) often seem intimidating to early career researchers. In particular, during the interaction with early careers researchers, for example at the ESA exhibition booth, but also in individual session, it became clear that there is high interest in a more systematic introduction and in the possibility to discuss and ask questions that go beyond individual one-to-one conversations. After the lunch session in 2023 and 2024, this is the third in the series.

Programme

Our session will consists of four introduction talks, followed by ample time for discussion and a Q&A panel session. The topics that will be covered will include:

- "From mission proposal to functional spacecraft"

- "Getting the science out of a space mission"

- "Science operations at ESA: what, how and why?"

- "What does a project scientist do?"

The talks will be followed by a panel discussion, including the speakers and further ESA staff ranging from ESA fellows to senior management.

Scientific organisers

Victoria Grinberg (ESA), Gaitee Hussain (ESA)

Contact

victoria.grinberg @ esa.int