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About
NASA's Earth Science Division (ESD) 2026 Hydrosphere Investigator Meeting will provide NASA-funded researchers the opportunity to hear about recent updates with NASA Earth System Science Research (ESSR, formerly Research & Analysis, or “R&A”) and what this means for NASA's water research across the Earth’s atmosphere, land, and oceans. This hybrid meeting will be hosted at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. from 1-3 September 2026 and will be open by invitation only to approximately 150 in-person participants.
Invitees will receive a variety of town hall style updates from all Division elements in addition to hearing from new programs and enabling capabilities for ESD. In addition, community-led state of science talks will present recent accomplishments and help chart the way forward for NASA’s research in ocean physics, precipitation science, and terrestrial hydrology. Other breakout sessions will focus on intra-sphere and interdisciplinary research opportunities while advancing ESD’s portfolio for integrated hydrological science. Finally, investigators can also present short lightning talks and share research priorities during thematic breakout sessions.
Please note that the above research now falls in the newly named “Hydrosphere,” as designated during our recent reorganization around science Spheres. An overview can be found on our homepage (https://science.nasa.gov/earth-science/research/hydrosphere/). The newly formed Hydrosphere encompasses a wide-ranging swath of Earth Science, and the broad and overarching goals our sphere intends to address are outlined on our website.
Registration
In person registration has closed. You may still register to attend the meeting online by completing the Google form at this link. The deadline for response is Friday, August 21, 2026.
Meeting Agenda Outline
The meeting will follow the general outline illustrated below. Please note that details are subject to change. Updated July 13, 2026.
Important Information
- NASA participants: Forecasting/tracking this meeting is not required; do not enter this meeting into NCTS (NASA Conference Tracking System) or the new SCTMS (Science Conference and Travel Management System). This is a formal operational meeting with attendance limited to invited participants.
- To join the new NASA Hydrosphere mailing list, please send an email with “Subscribe” in the subject line to hydrosphere-join@espo.nasa.gov (anyone who registers for the meeting will be subscribed to the new list).
- If you have questions about meeting logistics you may contact ESPO.
