Igniting Discovery: A Showcase of NASA-Funded Research - Planetary Radio

Why It Matters

By showing policymakers concrete examples of federally funded research and its nationwide benefits, the event aimed to blunt proposed budget cuts and shape appropriations decisions that determine America’s leadership in space science and related economic and workforce gains.

Summary

Igniting Discovery was a Capitol Hill showcase organized by the Planetary Society and a coalition of universities and scientific societies to put NASA-funded research on display for congressional staffers the day after the annual Day of Action. The event brought researchers, engineers and students from across the U.S.—representing all five of NASA’s science divisions—to demonstrate tangible scientific outputs, workforce development and regional economic impact. Organizers said the exposition was months in the making and complemented more than 200 in-person meetings with lawmakers and staff to advocate for robust science funding. The timing was deliberately framed as a response to a presidential budget proposal that would sharply cut NASA science and related STEM programs.

Original Description

The Planetary Society's 2026 Day of Action brought something new this year. For the very first time, the advocacy day was followed by a showcase of NASA funded science in an event called Igniting Discovery.

Host Sarah Al-Ahmed speaks with Jack Kiraly, Director of Government Relations at the Planetary Society, about how the event came together, and with first-time advocate Julianna Charlene Kolczynski, whose passion for space traces back to her grandfather's dreams. Megan McKeown, Director of Governmental Affairs at the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities, opens the event. Then we hear from the scientists themselves: Blake Schreurs of the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, planetary scientist Kirby Runyon of the Planetary Science Institute, Christine McCarthy of Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Brent McBride of the University of Maryland Baltimore County, biomechanics PhD student Liliana Delgado of the University of Nebraska Omaha, and science communicator Sarah Treadwell, also known as Space Case Sarah. Planetary Society member Ari Gozlan closes with a reflection on what it means to celebrate science after the Day of Action. Plus, Chief Scientist Bruce Betts joins Sarah for What's Up.

Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2026-igniting-discovery

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