Joshua Pepper is a Program Scientist for NASA's Astrophysics Division while on academic leave as a professor in the Physics Department at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA.  He is a Deputy Program Scientist for the Exoplanet Exploration Program (ExEp), Deputy Program Officer for the Astrophysics Data Analysis Program, and is the Program Scientist for the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission.  He also works on the Time Domain And Multi-Messenger (TDAMM) program and the NASA Open-Source Science Initiative.

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Lia Medeiros has been a member of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, NJ, since 2019. She held an NSF Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowship from 2019-2022 and will start as a NASA Einstein Fellow in Fall 2023. Lia led the recent paper that published a new image of the black hole in M87 using a new machine-learning based algorithm she developed with collaborators. She also co-coordinated the testing gravity paper in the 2022 EHT Sgr A* publications, and lead the Gravitational Physics Working Group within the EHT for the past two and a half years. She graduated with a PhD in Physics from the University of Santa Barbara in 2019, having completed the majority of her dissertation research at the Steward Observatory at the University of Arizona. She develops simulations of accreting black holes and develops novel algorithms that perform model fitting and image reconstruction of EHT data based on these simulations. She also simulates what black holes would look like if they differed from what is expected based on the Theory of General Relativity and compares these simulations to EHT observations to constrain deviations from General Relativity.

NASA JPL Solar System Ambassador (Bethlehem, PA)

Marty McGuire is an amateur/backyard astronomer and lifelong aeronautical & space enthusiast in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and enjoys presenting to groups of all ages in the Lehigh Valley area. He can be found on social media as "Backyard Astronomy Guy" and has participated in "#NASAsocial" events at NASA Headquarters, NASA Kennedy Space Center, NASA Goddard and NASA Wallops Flight Facility. He likes to stay current with developments in human spaceflight, solar system exploration and deep space telescope missions.

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Formal and Informal Science Educator | Curriculum Developer | Amateur Astronomer

Over the past 20 years, I have spent my time in education world, from being a teacher in the classroom to working in a planetarium, to coaching other teachers.

NASA JPL Solar System Ambassador (Lancaster, PA)

Axel Diaz was born and raised in Ponce, Puerto Rico and came to Lancaster, PA in 1998. After graduating from high school he decided to pursue a career in technology. After graduating from the Institute of Technology of Ponce in 1987 with an associate degree in Biomedical Technology, he attended the Ponce Paramedical College where he studies sales and marketing. While living in Puerto Rico, Axel learned American Sign Language and acted as interpreter. Since 1999, Axel has been working for a manufacturing company as a production supervisor in Lancaster and recently went back to college to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering.

NASA JPL Solar System Ambassador (Monroe, NJ)

On any given clear night in East Brunswick, New Jersey, you can find Isaac Osores, equipped with his telescope, observing planets, stars, and moons from his backyard. It is through these sessions that he captures images and videos of these astronomical objects that are often shared through his social media accounts. He is originally from New York where he earned his bachelor's degree in Computer Science from the College of Staten Island -- CUNY. When he isn’t programming or doing some amateur astronomy, you can count on him 3D printing objects at home and tinkering with electronics.

NASA JPL Solar System Ambassador (Basking Ridge NJ)

Paul has been fascinated by astronomy and space missions all his life and enjoys sharing his knowledge with the public. Paul is a member of the New Jersey Astronomical Association, which operates the largest public observatory in New Jersey.  In 1998, he organized Somerset County’s 4-H Space & Astronomy Club and was its leader for ten years. He has a Bachelor of Science degree from Rutgers University and is a volunteer outreach “Ambassador” for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Paul has an easy style of communicating, which allows diverse audiences to easily understand and enjoy his presentations on the wonders of the universe and how we are exploring it.  His presentations always include the very latest astronomical images from observatories both on and off the Earth!  

NASA JPL Solar System Ambassador (Aberdeen, NJ)

An aerospace engineer concentrating in spacecraft thermal control, Art is an energetic aerospace professional with an excellent history of presenting exciting aerospace topics to adults and children. He is a long-time member and Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and a recent addition to NASA JPL's Solar System Ambassador (SSA) Volunteer program. Art’s connections to the industry include artists, scientists, engineers and astronauts and the stories of their experiences help form the basis for the creative and engaging discussions that Art shares with his audiences. Art is currently Global Director of Aerospace at Dunmore, a division founded by his father in 1985 that today, continues to be the leader in spacecraft thermal control materials.

NASA JPL Solar System Ambassador (Wayne, NJ)

Richard is a System Design Manager at an aerospace company in Wayne, New Jersey. He has over 25 years’ experience on development programs for the US Armed Forces. He has had various assignments in the design and management of communication products and systems, including Link 16 and the Joint Tactical Radio System. His technical contributions have included the system design and architecture for the Link 16 product line and the application design for integration into airborne, ground and shipboard platforms. Richard led several business development projects for advanced applications of communication products. He led architectural design and analyses of networking austere platforms. He has also contributed to process improvements teams in the areas of the front end of the business process and systems cost estimation. He also served as the local Ethics Officer for nine years. He volunteers as the Athletic Director and basketball coach for Holy Spirit School. Richard has a BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Clarkson University and an MBA in Business Management from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Speaker: "My Big 2001: A Space Odyssey Epiphany"

Joe R. Frinzi has been a professional writer since 1981. In 1998 he began writing a monthly film column, “The Art of Cinema,” for the Lehigh Valley Arts paper, The Easton Irregular. He also is a contributing writer to the AOL Internet news service, Patch.com. His interest in the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey goes back to when he first read the novel in 1970, and then saw the film in 1971.  In addition to this current book, Kubrick’s Monolith, Mr. Frinzi has a collected anthology of his columns from The Easton Irregular titled, Movies On My Mind, and two illustrated children’s books, made in collaboration with Disney artist Cotty Kilbanks, titled Princess Bria of Pickelot, Volume One and Two. Mr. Frinzi is a lifelong resident of Easton, PA. 

* 2001: THE ROAD TO GETTING PUBLISHED / MEETING KEIR DULLEA

* 2001 AND THE AMERICAN SPACE PROGRAM IN THE 1960s

Award winning science teacher Joe Fluhr has taught Earth and Space science for the East Stroudsburg Area School District for nearly two decades. He currently serves as science department head and actively participates in many space related activities. Joe regularly meets with many Space Shuttle and Apollo era astronauts, attends numerous launch events at Kennedy Space Center, is an FAA certified remote pilot and an active member of the Tripoli Rocketry Association. He has been recognized by the Who's Who Among America's Teachers organization, been awarded the prestigious Air Force Academy aerospace science grant, received the PASR Lauretta Woodson Education Award and was named Science Educator of the Year by the scientific research society, Sigma Xi. His science classes and projects have been featured in numerous newspaper, radio and television media outlets. His "Smurf in Space Project '' earned him recognition on the national children's television program Green Screen TV.

James Cahill is an IT specialist by day, amateur astronomer & Astrophotographer at night. His work is shot primarily in Bucks County, PA but he also visits dark sky areas in Maine, Pennsylvania & other states on the east coast. His work in astrophotography ranges in nearby solar system objects, deep sky objects & wide field shots of our own galactic home, the Milky Way. James has just recently joined the community of Astrophotographers, starting to photograph his targets within the past 6 years.

James started with a webcam, imaging the Moon & planets. After that, he was hooked, adding equipment to start taking pictures of further away objects like nebulae, galaxies & star clusters. Pairing a digital camera & using the telescope as a "lens" has enabled him to take pictures of what has always been his passion, the night sky.

James recently received the patron’s award from judge Emmet Gowin for the 2020 Phillips Mill Photography Exhibition, in New Hope, Pennsylvania.