Government, industry leaders meet to prepare U.S. for looming space weather threats

Some of the world’s top space weather leaders, forecasters and policy experts will meet in Washington, D.C., next week at the Space Weather Enterprise Forum (SWEF) to discuss ways to prepare the U.S. for increasing threats from solar activity. 

During the one-day meeting, panel discussions will cover a range of topics, including progress on the Promoting Research and Observations of Space Weather to Improve the Forecasting of Tomorrow (PROSWIFT) Act, a law that directs federal agencies to develop formal steps to transition space weather research models and capabilities to operations.

Other topics will include shoring up U.S. vulnerabilities to space weather impacts, especially as the Sun quickly approaches solar maximum. SWEF brings together policymakers, senior government leaders, researchers, service provider agencies, private-sector service providers and key users to raise awareness of space weather and its effects on society.

WHAT

Space Weather Enterprise Forum

WHEN

Thursday, June 22, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EDT

WHERE

Russell Senate Office Building SR 325 & virtually via webcast

FEATURED SPEAKERS

• Rick Spinrad, Ph.D., NOAA administrator 
• Gary Peters, Senator from Michigan, Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and Sponsor of the PROSWIFT Act
• Frank Lucas, U.S. Congressman from Oklahoma and Chairman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee
• Ezinne Uzo-Okoro, Ph. D., assistant director for Space Policy for the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy

REGISTRATION

For in-person attendance, space is very limited. Media must register in advance at: nesdis.pa@noaa.gov. Virtual access is available. Please use the same email address to obtain the link.