American University joined nine other leading research institutions on Capitol Hill for the Science of Space, a November 18 gathering dedicated to the future of innovation. The event highlighted how crucial federal investment in research and development is for driving economic growth, sparking breakthroughs, and sustaining American global competitiveness.

The Science of Space was hosted by the Science Coalition, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization made up of more than 50 public and private research universities.

Thomas Fauchez, a research professor in the Department of Physics and a member of AU’s Integrated Space Science and Technology Institute (ISSTI), represented the university at the event. ISSTI partners with the DC NASA Space Grant Consortium, housed at AU, to facilitate opportunities to advance space science research through federal and private-sector partners and promote student engagement in STEM.

Throughout the event, scientists from each of the universities offered demonstrations and presentations detailing how they are contributing to advancements in the field. Fauchez, an astrophysicist and planetary scientist, presented his research on rocky exoplanet atmospheres—or planets orbiting a star other than the sun—and weather on Mars.

“Most of the challenges that we will have to tackle in the future can be solved by science—by better understanding the world that surrounds us and protecting us from harmful events,” Fauchez said.

While offering attendees a virtual reality tour of Mars, Fauchez explained the critical necessity of a Martian weather forecast system. First, precise weather data is essential for safely landing humans on the surface. Second, a real-time forecasting system is vital for predicting hazardous conditions, such as incoming dust storms or surface frost. Fauchez also detailed how he employs complex climate models and telescope simulators to identify exoplanets that may harbor life or support human colonization—a prospect that is no longer science fiction.

The event included remarks from government officials and scientists, who underscored the importance of federal research funding and the key role universities play in scientific advancement. They included Jared Isaacman, nominee for NASA administrator; Representative Vince Fong (R-CA); and Representative Valerie Foushee (D-NC), the ranking member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics; and science entertainer Kate the Chemist.

“Science and space are our future,” Fauchez said. “A nation with a vision has no other way than to invest into public science, which guarantees more freedom and autonomy than privately funded science.”