2nd Annual Cosmic Horizons Conference

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AI-Powered Insights Into the Universe

Bringing together researchers who are actively developing and applying AI/ML methods in astronomy.

The NSF-Simons AI Institute for Cosmic Origins (CosmicAI) is excited to announce the 2nd Annual Cosmic Horizons Conference hosted by the NSF National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) in Charlottesville, VA from July 14th to 16th, 2026.

Rationale and Focus:

The recent revolution in AI is fundamentally changing how astronomers observe, explore, analyze, and model astronomical data. The Cosmic Horizons Conference aims to bring together researchers who are actively developing and applying AI/ML methods in astronomy.

Conference Priorities Include:

  • Recent advances at the intersection of AI and Astronomy and AI-powered progress towards understanding our cosmic origins, from cosmology to habitability.
  • Methodologies to increase the trustworthiness, robustness, interpretability, and efficiency of AI applications in astronomy.
  • Preparation for the big-data challenges posed by next-generation observing facilities and approaches for analyzing high-dimensional data.
    Connections with industry and the parts of the private sector that are also actively researching AI for operational processes.
  • The use of AI in proposal preparation, reviews, and paper writing.

Confirmed Invited Speakers:

Yusra AlSayyad (Princeton/Rubin); Greg Bryan (Columbia University); Paul Chichura (University of Chicago/SkAI Institute); Lena Evans (Google); Cecilia Garraffo (Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics/AstroAI); Gerard Lemson (Johns Hopkins University/Institute for Data Intensive Engineering and Science); Josh Peek (Space Telescope Science Institute); Noelle Samia (Northwestern/SkAI)

Building on the success of last year's Cosmic Horizons Conference, which brought together more than 40 presentations and fostered interdisciplinary dialogue across artificial intelligence, machine learning, and astronomy--the upcoming conference will continue to center the needs and ideas of the scientific community as well as provide updates on the Institute's progress and the opportunity to discuss how CosmicAI may best serve the community.

Key Dates

January 20th -- Speaker & Abstract Submission Opens

February 4th -- Registration Opens

March 1st -- Abstract Review Begins

April 1st -- Abstract Submissions Close

May 1st -- Abstracts Announced & Initial Program Released

May 15th -- Discounted (Early Bird) Registration closes

June 12th -- Discounted Hotel Block Expires

June 29th -- Registration Closes & Final Program Released

Registration Price Includes:

2 Receptions
Lunches Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday
Morning & Afternoon Snacks
Coffee, Tea & Soft Drinks Available All Day

Competitive local hotel pricing (i.e., GSA per diem rate) will be offered and local excursions will be planned.

Discounted Student Registration Pricing

Early Bird Registration Pricing will be available until May 15th.

More details and information will be shared soon, please return here to register for this exciting event!

Scientific Organizing Committee:

Arya Farahi (UT Austin), Matt Lease (UT Austin), Jessy Li (UT Austin), Ryan Loomis (NRAO), Eric Murphy (chair-NRAO), Stella Offner (UT Austin), El Kindi Rezig (University of Utah), Paul Torrey (University of Virgina)

Local Organizing Committee:

Omkar Bait (NRAO), Jane Cortez (UT Austin), Lisa Jordan (NRAO), Ryan Loomis (NRAO), Pratik Mhatre (UT Austin), Brian Mason (NRAO), Issi Marsh (NRAO), Eric Murphy (chair-NRAO), Xiaowei Ou (University of Virginia), Paul Torrey (University of Virginia), Ci Xue (NRAO)

For HELP or to REPORT A PROBLEM, please email organizers at: Cosmic-Horizons2@nrao.edu

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Connect with NRAO

The NSF National Radio Astronomy Observatory and NSF Green Bank Observatory are facilities of the U.S. National Science Foundation operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc.

Founded in 1956, the NSF NRAO provides state-of-the-art radio telescope facilities for use by the international scientific community. NSF NRAO telescopes are open to all astronomers regardless of institutional or national affiliation. Observing time on NSF NRAO telescopes is available on a competitive basis to qualified scientists after evaluation of research proposals on the basis of scientific merit, the capability of the instruments to do the work, and the availability of the telescope during the requested time. NSF NRAO also provides both formal and informal programs in education and public outreach for teachers, students, the general public, and the media.

The U.S. National Science Foundation (U.S. NSF) is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 "to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense..."

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