"Maximizing the Science of Exoplanet Spectroscopy in the JWST Era"

Over the past six years, JWST has transformed our understanding of exoplanets. From the detection of new atmospheric gases to claims of possible biosignatures, discoveries are emerging at a breakneck pace and rapidly reshaping the field of exoplanet science. As the number of detected exoplanets (and observed exoplanet atmospheres) continues to grow, the field is increasingly moving toward a holistic view of planet formation and evolution.

However, the introduction of JWST observations has also come with new challenges. New instrumental properties that can bias inferences, the overbearing influence of stellar contamination in the spectra of many planets, and conflicting interpretations of the same results have all led to questions about our ability to truly understand and interpret planetary spectra. In order to build our picture of planetary evolution, we must be able to trust our inferences and provide reliable measurements of exoplanet atmospheres.

In this talk, I will discuss recent advances in exoplanet spectroscopy and outline strategies for robust, trustworthy modeling methods and analyses that will ultimately enable a deeper understanding of planets as a whole.