Barbra Sobhani is the State Director for the NASA Colorado Space Grant Consortium (COSGC), based at the University of Colorado Boulder. COSGC provides students with the opportunity to do research and hands-on projects in space. She holds degrees in physics, geophysics, and biology. She has taught a wide array of college courses during her career, from astrobiology to robotics. Her non-traditional career path has included being faculty, Honors Program Director, and Academic Dean. In addition to her academic career, she is also an accomplished artist and naturalist.

Dr. Graham Lau is an astrobiologist, science communicator, and storyteller. Holding extensive academic knowledge in biology, chemistry, astrophysics, and geology, he specializes in scientific and conceptual issues in understanding what life is and searching for life beyond Earth. As the host of the NASA-funded "Ask an Astrobiologist" livestream show, he illuminates the intriguing field of astrobiology for a broad global audience and regularly guides students pursuing careers in space exploration.

Dr. Lau currently serves as the Director of Communications and Marketing for Blue Marble Space, a US-based international non-profit that promotes cooperative exploration of space, examines life as a planetary process, and enables a sustainable future on Earth. Additionally, Graham actively contributes to scientific progress as a Senior Research Investigator with the Blue Marble Space Institute of Science and serves as the Director of the institute's globally recognized Young Scientist Program, an international internship conducted online. Dr. Lau also leads student trips for Smithsonian Student Travel and National Geographic Student Expeditions.

Dr. Lau's passion for sharing knowledge extends beyond the field of astrobiology. He has inspired students worldwide through public lectures, podcast interviews, and his compelling perspectives on our cosmic significance, the Overview Effect, and the future of civilization. Beyond his scientific pursuits, Dr. Lau imparts wisdom as a meditation instructor and cultivates confident speakers as a public speaking coach. His diverse expertise underlines his commitment to education, personal growth, and our shared exploration of our place within the cosmos.

Jack Kiraly is a lifelong space enthusiast and politics nerd. At The Planetary Society, Jack serves as the Washington, D.C.-based Director of Government Relations. In this role, Jack is tasked with implementing The Society’s advocacy strategy, maintaining relationships with elected officials and key decision makers, organizing events to foster community engagement, and serving as the eyes and ears of the organization in the nation’s capital. Through this work, Jack aims to engage the scientific community in the policymaking process and empower members of the general public to take action to support space science and exploration. Jack is the first in his family to attend and graduate college, earning a Masters in Public Policy focusing in space policy from American University. Prior to joining The Planetary Society, Jack worked in electoral politics and community organizing in Maryland, D.C., and Virginia. Jack's advocacy experience earned him the distinction of a Top 20 in 2024 Advocacy Award from the Advocacy Association.

Katherine (Kate) French is a research geochemist in the Central Energy Resources Science Center (CERSC) at the USGS in Denver, Colorado. She specializes in organic and petroleum geochemistry with a focus on hydrocarbon biomarkers in rocks, sediments, and oils.

Kate received a B.S. in chemistry from Yale University (2009), completed a Ph.D. in geochemistry from the MIT/WHOI joint program in oceanography (2014), and was an Agouron postdoctoral fellow at WHOI (2016). She started with the USGS in 2017 where she focuses on molecular characterization of sedimentary organic matter, developing improved analytical methods, and enhancing understanding of biomarkers in the sedimentary record. She has applied her research to geobiology of early Earth and Phanerozoic anoxia, organic matter transport from land to sea, and petroleum systems. She is a member of the Mars Sample Return Campaign Science Group (MCSG), which is a team that provides technical expertise to maximize the scientific potential of the Mars samples that would be returned to Earth as part of Mars Sample Return (MSR).