Pathways to Discovery in Astronomy and Astrophysics for the 2020s: Highlights of a Decadal Survey (2023)
Chapter: Front Matter
PATHWAYS TO
DISCOVERY
in Astronomy and Astrophysics for the 2020s
Highlights of a Decadal Survey
About
Decadal surveys of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine bring together leading experts to identify a field’s most compelling science challenges and frontiers for the next decade and beyond. This booklet highlights key themes and recommendations from the most recent decadal survey for astronomy and astrophysics, Pathways to Discovery in Astronomy and Astrophysics for the 2020s.1
This decadal survey represents a monumental undertaking, involving approximately 150 experts who collectively reviewed nearly 900 community white papers during a deliberative process spanning more than 2 years. The resulting report serves as a guide for scientists, policy makers, and federal agencies invested in advancing visionary research in the astronomical sciences. It outlines priority areas for exploring the cosmos, along with the investments needed to cultivate and sustain the people who drive innovation and discovery, the tools to carry out the science, and the research insights that will expand humanity’s horizons.
1 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2023, Pathways to Discovery in Astronomy and Astrophysics for the 2020s, Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, https://doi.org/10.17226/26141.
