AAS Solar Physics Division Press Officer

Michael S. Kirk

[email protected]

+1 301-614-7045

Press Releases

Wednesday, February 11, 2026

Solar Physics Division of the AAS Announces 2026 Hale, González Hernández, and Harvey Prize Winners

The Solar Physics Division (SPD) of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) is proud to announce the recipients of its prestigious 2026 awards, honoring outstanding contributions to the field of solar physics. This year’s honorees are Dr. Yi-Ming Wang, Dr. Paola Testa, and Dr. Lakshmi Pradeep Chitta, recognized for their transformative scientific achievements and significant impact on our understanding of the Sun and heliospheric processes.
Dr. Yi-Ming Wang of the Naval Research Laboratory has been awarded the 2026 George Ellery Hale Prize for his sustained, foundational contributions to understanding solar magnetism, the solar cycle, and the solar wind. Over the course of his career, Dr. Wang has shaped the field through pioneering theoretical insights and models, including the Wang–Sheeley–Arge (WSA) solar wind model, which has become central to both research and operational space weather forecasting. His work has profoundly influenced how the community models and interprets variability in solar magnetic activity and its effects throughout the heliosphere.
The 2026 Irene González Hernández Prize is presented to Dr. Paola Testa of the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian for her significant mid-career contributions to solar physics and the solar–stellar connection. Dr. Testa’s research has advanced our understanding of coronal heating, high-energy stellar emission, and the complex plasma processes that govern the outer atmospheres of the Sun and other stars. In addition to her scientific achievements, she has provided visionary leadership in the development of major solar missions and instruments, shaping the future of observational heliophysics.
The 2026 Karen Harvey Prize is awarded to Dr. Lakshmi Pradeep Chitta of the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research in recognition of his exceptional early-career achievements in unraveling the magnetic coupling between the solar surface and atmosphere. Dr. Chitta’s innovative work blending high-resolution observations with theoretical analysis has yielded new insights into the physical mechanisms that energize and structure the solar atmosphere. His collaborative spirit and commitment to community service exemplify the values of this prize.
The Solar Physics Division congratulates these distinguished scientists on their achievements and their ongoing contributions to advancing our understanding of the Sun and its influence on the heliosphere. Their work continues to inspire new research directions and foster excellence across the solar physics community.
About the SPD Prizes
The George Ellery Hale Prize recognizes outstanding contributions to the field of solar astronomy over a sustained career. The Irene González Hernández Prize honors mid-career scientists whose work demonstrates scientific excellence, leadership, and service to the field. The Karen Harvey Prize acknowledges significant research contributions by scientists in the early stages of their professional careers. These awards will be presented at the 57th Meeting of the AAS Solar Physics Division, to be held August 9–14, 2026, in Baltimore, Maryland.

Hale Prize Press Release  |   Harvey Prize Press Release  |  González Hernández Prize Press Release.

Wednesday, Jan 15th, 2025

Solar Physics Division of the AAS Announces 2025 Hale, Harvey, and González Prize Winners

The Solar Physics Division (SPD) of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) is proud to announce the recipients of its prestigious 2025 awards, honoring outstanding contributions to the field of solar physics. This year’s honorees are Dr. James Klimchuk, Dr. Lisa Upton, and Dr. Holly R. Gilbert, recognized for their groundbreaking scientific achievements and exemplary leadership within the solar physics community. The awards will be presented at the SPD’s 56th meeting, held jointly with the AAS and the Laboratory Astrophysics Division from June 8–12, 2025, in Anchorage, Alaska.

Dr. James Klimchuk of NASA Goddard Space Flight Center has been awarded the 2025 George Ellery Hale Prize for his transformative contributions to understanding the Sun’s hot atmosphere. His pioneering research on the coronal heating problem and his development of accessible hydrodynamics modeling tools have advanced the field of heliophysics and supported a global community of researchers. Dr. Klimchuk’s efforts to foster collaboration through initiatives like the Solar Coronal Loops Workshop and the Triennial Earth-Sun Summit (TESS) exemplify his commitment to community-building and mentorship.

Dr. Lisa Upton of the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) is the recipient of the 2025 Karen Harvey Prize, recognizing her innovative work on large-scale solar flows and magnetic flux transport. Her development of data assimilative surface flux transport models has significantly enhanced solar cycle prediction and global coronal modeling. As co-chair of the NASA/NOAA Solar Cycle 25 Prediction Panel, Dr. Upton has played a critical role in advancing solar forecasting capabilities. Her dedication to public outreach, mentorship, and advocacy for a solar polar mission underscores her commitment to fostering an inclusive and dynamic scientific community.

Dr. Holly R. Gilbert of the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) has been awarded the inaugural Irene González Hernández Prize, recognizing a mid-career scientist for transformative contributions to solar physics. Dr. Gilbert is honored for her research on solar prominences and their role in solar dynamics, as well as her leadership in setting scientific priorities and promoting diversity within the heliophysics community. Her visionary approach has catalyzed innovative research and advanced the development of cutting-edge instrumentation.

The Solar Physics Division congratulates these distinguished scientists on their achievements and their ongoing contributions to advancing our understanding of the Sun and its impact on the heliosphere. Their work continues to inspire the next generation of solar physicists and drive progress in the study of solar phenomena and space weather.

About the SPD Prizes: The George Ellery Hale Prize recognizes exceptional contributions to the field of solar astronomy. The Karen Harvey Prize honors early-career scientists for significant advances in solar physics research. The Irene González Hernández Prize, established in 2024, celebrates mid-career scientists for transformative contributions to solar research, leadership, and community service.

Hale Prize Press Release.

Harvey Prize Press Release.

González Hernández Prize Press Release.

Tuesday, Dec 10th, 2024

Sun and Earth Science Meeting to be Renamed ‘Heliophysics Summit’

WASHINGTON — The Triennial Earth–Sun Summit (TESS), a premier science meeting held every three years that focuses on the Sun and its connection with the solar system, has been renamed the “Heliophysics Summit.”

The announcement was made at the 2024 American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting during the Space Physics and Aeronomy (SPA) reception by AGU SPA President Kathy Reeves. This pivotal moment highlighted the scientific community’s shared vision for a more unified and inclusive approach to heliophysics research and collaboration.

The Heliophysics Summit co-conveners, the American Astronomical Society (AAS) Solar Physics Division (SPD) and the AGU SPA, made the change to better highlight the breadth of the conference, emphasizing its comprehensive coverage of heliophysics: solar, interplanetary, magnetospheric, and ionospheric physics.

Full press release: WORD

Wednesday, Feb 28th, 2024

Naval Research Laboratory’s Dr. Judith Lean Awarded the Prestigious 2024 George Ellery Hale Prize by the American Astronomical Society Solar Physics Division

The American Astronomical Society’s Solar Physics Division (AAS SPD) is proud to announce Dr. Judith Lean as the recipient of the esteemed 2024 George Ellery Hale Prize. Following a 30 year-career at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) she now works part-time at the Laboratory for Atmosphere and Space Physics (LASP). This honorary award is presented annually to a scientist who has made outstanding contributions to the field of solar astronomy over an extended period.

Full press release: WORD

University of Arizona’s Prof. Kristopher Klein Awarded the Prestigious 2024 Karen Harvey Prize

The American Astronomical Society’s Solar Physics Division (AAS SPD) is proud to announce Prof. Kristopher Klein of the University of Arizona as the esteemed recipient of the 2024 Karen Harvey Prize. Established in May 2002, this prestigious award honors the memory of the late Karen Harvey by recognizing significant contributions in solar physics research made early in a professional career.

Full press release: WORD

 Tuesday, May 24th, 2022 

Winners of the SPD Popular Media Awards, 2022

The AAS Solar Physics Division (SPD) is proud to announce the winners of the 2022 Popular Media Awards are Colin Stuart, Mara Johnson-Groh, and Joy Ng.

  • Colin Stuart is awarded for his article “Solar Trouble: How Well Do We Know the Sun?,” published in the April 2021 edition of Sky & Telescope Magazine, where he describes the ongoing uncertainties in quantifying solar elemental abundances and the ramifications for understanding the Universe.
  • Mara Johnson-Groh and Joy Ng are jointly recognized for their article and accompanying video entitled “NASA Enters the Solar Atmosphere for the First Time, Bringing New Discoveries,” published on 2021-12-14 on nasa.gov and YouTube, respectively, where they explain the revolutionary discoveries made by Parker Solar Probe as it passed through the coronal Alfvén surface for the first time.

Full press release: WORD

Tuesday, February 2, 2021

AAS Solar Physics Division Announces 2022 Hale and Harvey Prizes

The Solar Physics Division (SPD) of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) is proud to announce the 2022 winners of its two most prestigious scientific prizes.

AAS Solar Physics Division 2022 George Ellery Hale Prize

Dr. Sami Solanki of the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (MPS) in Göttingen, Germany, is awarded the George Ellery Hale Prize for his foundational studies of solar magnetism, its impact on the Sun–Earth system, and magnetic fields of other stars.

AAS Solar Physics Division 2022 Karen Harvey Prize

Dr. Adam Kowalski, who is joint faculty at University Colorado Boulder’s Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences, the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics and National Science Foundation’s National Solar Observatory in Boulder, CO, is awarded the Karen Harvey Prize for his innovative research into stellar flares towards resolving long-standing problems relating to flares on both the Sun and other stars.

Full Press Release: WORD

Tuesday, January 12, 2021

AAS Solar Physics Division Announces 2021 Hale and Harvey Prizes

The Solar Physics Division (SPD) of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) is proud to announce the 2021 winners of its two most prestigious scientific prizes.

AAS Solar Physics Division 2021 George Ellery Hale Prize

Dr. Russell Howard of the United States Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, DC, is awarded the George Ellery Hale Prize for his seminal contributions to the discovery, measurement, and understanding of Coronal Mass Ejections and their role in Space Weather and for his outstanding leadership in innovative space instrumentation that forms the foundation of much current Heliophysics research.

AAS Solar Physics Division 2021 Karen Harvey Prize

Dr. Lucia Kleint of the University of Geneva, Switzerland, is awarded the Karen Harvey Prize for her substantial contributions to solar polarimetry and radiative transfer modeling, and exceptional leadership in next-generation solar instrumentation.

Full Press Release: WORD

Tuesday February 25, 2020

AAS Solar Physics Division Announces 2020 Hale and Harvey Prizes

The Solar Physics Division (SPD) of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) is proud to announce the 2020 winners of its two most prestigious scientific prizes.

AAS Solar Physics Division 2020 George Ellery Hale Prize

Dr. Kazunari Shibata of Kyoto University, Japan, is awarded the George Ellery Hale Prize for his outstanding work on the properties and behavior of magnetized solar and astrophysical plasmas.

AAS Solar Physics Division 2020 Karen Harvey Prize

Dr. Hui Tian of Peking University, China, is awarded the Karen Harvey Prize for his ultraviolet and extreme-ultraviolet observations of the Sun and what they reveal about the dynamics of the solar atmosphere.

Thursday May 24, 2018

The Expanded Owens Valley Solar Array Reveals New Insights into Solar Flares’ Explosive Energy

Celebrating it’s first year of observations, the Expanded Owens Valley Solar Array is giving solar physicists new insights to the inner working of solar flares.

Tuesday February 18, 2018

2018 George Ellery Hale Prize

The 2018 George Ellery Hale Prize for outstanding contributions to the field of solar astronomy is awarded to Sarbani Basu for her many seminal contributions to our understanding of the internal structure and dynamics of the Sun and stars.

2018 Karen Harvey Prize

The 2018 Karen Harvey Prize for a significant contribution to the study of the Sun early in a person’s professional career is awarded to Nicholeen Viall for  her fundamental contributions to understanding coronal heating and the slow solar wind, and for her valuable service to the science community and the general public.