Standing Committee

Board on Physics and Astronomy (BPA)

The Board on Physics and Astronomy brings the evolving subdisciplines of physics and astronomy and other related expertise together to address physics and astronomy issues of national importance.

Work with us

In progress

News and Updates

Explore exciting breakthroughs in space science with The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine at Space Science Week 2026 on March 23-27

Update

Each year, Space Science Week brings together leaders across the space science disciplines to explore the latest developments and discuss the future of the field. This year will feature a plenary session with updates from leaders at NASA and an array of international space agencies, a joint session about leveraging AI for space science research, and a public lecture with singer Jewel on the intersection of art and science.

Mar 10, 2026

Partial solar eclipse above the curvature of the Earth in the foreground.

Elementary Particle Physics: The Higgs and Beyond

Update

Our new report presents a bold 40-year vision for particle physics and highlights the actions necessary to make this vision reality.

Sep 8, 2025

Colorful fission of particle in collider

Proceedings Released: Frontiers of Engineered Coherent Matter and Systems

Update

The Proceedings from the CMMRC's hybrid workshop on quantum coherent matter and systems and their relation to fundamental problems and applications in condensed matter physics, materials science, and quantum information is now available for download.

Nov 20, 2025

About Events Projects Publications/Resources News and Updates

Upcoming Events

Frontiers of Metastable Materials Development Using Artificial Intelligence: A Workshop Telecon #6

April 17, 2026
4:30 PM - 5:00 PM (EDT)

Closed
Tele Conference
Upcoming

Committee on Radio Frequencies (CORF) - Monthly Call May 2026

May 4, 2026
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM (EDT)

Closed
Meeting
Upcoming

The committee is meeting in closed session.

Space Studies Board and Board on Physics and Astronomy Joint Meeting Fall 2026

October 20 - 22, 2026

Meeting
Upcoming

The 193rd meeting of the Space Studies Board will be held October 20-21, the meeting of the Board on Physics and Astronomy will be held October 21-22. October 21 will be a joint session.

Past Events

Committee on Radio Frequencies (CORF) - Monthly Call April 2026

April 6, 2026
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM (EDT)

Closed
Meeting
Past

The committee is meeting in closed session.

Frontiers of Metastable Materials Development Using Artificial Intelligence: A Workshop Telecon #5

April 3, 2026
4:30 PM - 5:00 PM (EDT)

Closed
Tele Conference
Past

Committee on Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Sciences April Virtual Meeting

April 1, 2026
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM (EDT)

Closed
Tele Conference
Past

The committee will meet in closed session to discuss report writing.

An Instrument Nature Can Play - Keynote Public Lecture: Space Science Week 2026

March 25, 2026
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM (EDT)

Lecture
Past

Space Science Week 2026 Keynote Public Lecture An Instrument Nature Can Play: Data, Sound, and the Work of Imagination in Science Wednesday, March 25, at 7:00 PM ET Speakers: Jewel Prof. Greg Niemey...

Jewel's sculptural installation, Seven Sisters, which is driven by astronomical data from the Pleiades star grouping. Radiation patters from each star, captured by the Kepler telescope's extended mission, determine the fluctuations of light and sound.

Plenary Session: Space Science Week 2026

March 24, 2026
5:00 AM - 6:00 PM (EDT)

Conference
Past

Register now for Space Science Week 2026! At the Space Science Week Plenary Session on Tuesday, March 24, Leaders from NASA and other federal agencies, as well as international representatives from ES...

Space Science Week 2026

March 23 - 27, 2026

Conference
Past

Register now for Space Science Week 2026! Each year, Space Science Week brings together leaders across the space science disciplines to explore the latest developments and discuss the future of the fi...

Committee on Radio Frequencies: Space Science Week 2026

March 23 - 25, 2026

Conference
Past

Space Science Week 2026 will be held in a hybrid format March 23-27, 2026. There will be plenary sessions on March 24 and a keynote public lecture on March 25. The Committee on Radio Frequencies will...