Speaker: Dr Nestor Espinoza, Johns Hopkins University 

Title: From first galaxies to the atmospheres of Earth-sized worlds: a New Era of Astronomy with the James Webb Space Telescope

Abstract: The recently commissioned James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is set to become humanity's sharpest eye to look at the infrared Universe. From being able to detect the faint light of the first galaxies to being able to characterize the atmospheres of Earth-sized worlds, the observatory's unique capabilities will allow it to perform a wide range of exciting science, that will undoubtedly revolutionize our understanding of the Universe. In this talk, I will introduce the JWST from both a technological and a scientific perspective, sharing a few of the most exciting science cases the observatory will perform during its first year of scientific observations, along with its very first results. Special emphasis will be given to the exoplanet science the observatory will perform, which will dramatically change our understanding of planetary systems in the cosmos, allowing us to put our own Solar System in this exoplanetary context.