About RiekeFest
For more than five decades, George Rieke and Marcia Rieke have been central figures in the development of infrared astronomy, from ground-based instrumentation to space missions including the Hubble Space Telescope, Spitzer, and the James Webb Space Telescope. Their work has shaped how we study everything from the Solar System to the most distant galaxies, and has helped establish Steward Observatory and the University of Arizona as a world center for infrared astronomy.
RiekeFest is both a scientific conference and a celebration. It brings together colleagues, collaborators, and former students to survey the current state of infrared astronomy and the study of active galaxies, while honoring the scientific legacy that George and Marcia have built over their careers.
The meeting is organized around two connected themes: the growth of infrared astronomy as a discipline, and the galaxy activity and evolution science that infrared observations have made possible, from nearby active galactic nuclei to the earliest galaxies in the Universe.
Scientific Program
The scientific program spans five days and two connected themes. Detailed session times, speakers, and chairs will be added below as they are confirmed.
The Growth of Infrared Astronomy
These two days trace the development of infrared astronomy and its impact across astrophysics, highlighting the instrumentation and science that George and Marcia helped pioneer.
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Development of IR Detectors
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Legacy of Major IR Facilities
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Future of IR Missions
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Solar System & Exoplanets
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Stellar & Galactic Astronomy
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Galaxies & Cosmology
Active Galaxies and Galaxy Evolution
The remaining three days focus on galaxy activity and evolution, including the growth of supermassive black holes and the discoveries made possible by Spitzer and JWST.
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Supermassive Black Hole Growth
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AGN & Galaxy Co-evolution
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Dust & Obscured Activity
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Star Formation & Galaxy Evolution
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Early Galaxies & Cosmic Evolution
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Spitzer & JWST Discoveries
Detailed program and speaker list coming soon.
Invited Speakers
To be announced soon.
Important Dates
| Conference | March 15–19, 2027 |
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| Registration & abstract submission open | November 15, 2026 |
| Abstract deadline | January 15, 2027 |
| Registration deadline | February 1, 2027 |
| Conference venue | University of Arizona campus |
| Reception | Monday, March 15, 2027, 6:00 PM (location TBD) |
| Banquet | Tuesday, March 16, 2027, 6:00 PM, Arizona Sands Club |
Venue and Travel
Tucson, Arizona
RiekeFest will be held in Tucson, home of Steward Observatory and a major center for astronomical research. Hotel, travel, and transportation details are on the Local Information page; room details will be posted once arrangements are finalized.
Venue
University of Arizona campus. Room details coming soon.
Accommodation
Room blocks are reserved at the Marriott, Graduate, and Aloft, with more hotels to come. See Lodging for rates and booking deadlines.
Travel to Tucson
Fly into Tucson International Airport (TUS), about 20 minutes from campus, or Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX), about 2 hours away by car or shuttle. Arizona does not observe daylight saving time, so during the meeting Tucson is on the same clock as US Pacific time. See Travel to Tucson.
Local Transportation
The block hotels are within walking distance of campus, and the Sun Link streetcar connects campus with Fourth Avenue and downtown. Public transportation in Tucson is free. See Getting Around.
Reception and Banquet
Welcome reception Monday, March 15, 6:00 PM (location TBD). Conference banquet Tuesday, March 16, 6:00 PM, at the Arizona Sands Club.
Local Information
Explore a map and Tucson recommendations for the time around the meeting.
Registration
Registration and abstract submission will be handled through this website (link coming soon).
- Registration & abstract submission open: November 15, 2026
- Abstract deadline: January 15, 2027
- Registration deadline: February 1, 2027. For late registration or cancellation, please contact the LOC.
- Registration fee: Coming soon, including what the fee covers
International participants who need an invitation letter for a visa application should contact the LOC as early as possible.
All participants are expected to follow the RiekeFest Code of Conduct.
We would like to collect pictures of George and Marcia with their colleagues for a photo book. If you are not able to attend the event, you can also record a short video message, which will be played during the conference. Please check back for links and instructions for uploading pictures and videos.
Organizers
Scientific Organizing Committee
- Stacey Alberts, STScI
- Almudena Alonso-Herrero, Centro de Astrobiologia
- Chas Beichman, JPL
- Mark Dickinson, NOIRLab
- Daniel Eisenstein, CfA
- Chair: Xiaohui Fan, Arizona
- Maca Garcia Marin, STScI
- Karl Gordon, STScI
- Tom Greene, Caltech/IPAC
- Sarah Kendrew, STScI
- Rob Kennicutt, Arizona
- Margaret Meixner, JPL
- Casey Papovich, Texas A&M
- Jane Rigby, GSFC
- Yong Shi, Westlake University
- Rogier Windhorst, ASU
Local Organizing Committee
- Chair: Cathi Duncan
- Eiichi Egami
- Xiaohui Fan
- Andras Gaspar
- Kevin Hainline
- Zhiyuan Ji
- Meredith Stone
- Yang Sun
- Christina Williams
- Christopher N. A. Willmer
- Debbie Wilson
- Yongda Zhu
Conference organization coordinated by Steward Observatory, University of Arizona.
Contact
For questions about RiekeFest, please contact the organizing committee.