Yokohama, Japan played host for this year’s SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics Conference last week, for which ANU InSpace Director Professor Anna Moore was Symposium Co-Chair. 

A highlight of the conference was the daily headline Plenary Speakers, and Professor Moore was honoured to Chair the Day 1 Session.

The 2,800 attendees heard first on "Moving TMT forward: Japan’s contributions and transformative approach toward community engagement" with Tomonori Usuda and Yuko Kakadu.  The second speaker of Day 1 was Dr Charles Takalana, PhD, who spoke on "From dark skies to bright futures: the evolution of astronomy in Africa and the hosting of the historic International Astronomical Union General Assembly 2024."

At the Day 2 Plenary, we heard from the former Director General of JAXA: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Saku Tsuneta, who presented the present and future of the Japanese space program. Joining him was Dr Mark Clampin, Director of the Astrophysics Program at NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration Headquarters , and Dr John O'Meara from W. M. Keck Observatory, who introduced "NASA astrophysics: from today to the Habitable Worlds Observatory."

Such an exciting meeting in Yokohama!

📸 Photos 1 & 2: Professor Anna Moore Chairing the Day 1 Plenary Sessions
📸 Photo 3 & 4: Former Director General of JAXA, Saku Tsuneta, presenting on the present and future of Japan’s space program