Lowell Observatory Announces Strategic Changes to Sustain Research Mission
Flagstaff, Arizona – Lowell Observatory today announces a strategic restructuring of its science program to ensure the long-term sustainability of its research mission. The Observatory will consolidate its resources around key areas of scientific strength while expanding initiatives to build private support for future growth.
The new framework centers on two defining pursuits: Planetary Defense, safeguarding our world from cosmic hazards, and Exoplanetary Research, seeking to understand distant worlds and the potential for life beyond Earth.
Declines in federal research funding, coupled with uncertainty about future national priorities, have impacted research institutions across the country. At the same time, Lowell’s historic reliance on internal funding to sustain research is no longer a viable long-term model. To ensure stability and growth, the Observatory will focus its efforts on key scientific areas while building new endowments to support the scientists and technology that drive discovery. The Lowell Discovery Telescope (LDT) will remain a cornerstone for premier research collaborations, and we deeply value the partners who make that possible. We are committed to continuing and strengthening those collaborations in the years ahead.
“Our goal is to strengthen the foundation of Lowell Observatory science,” says Dr. Amanda Bosh, Executive Director. “By focusing on our core research areas and building new endowments, we can ensure that Lowell continues to make discoveries that advance science and inspire the public.”
Focused Areas of Research
Lowell’s scientific directives will center on areas where it holds both historic leadership and modern technological expertise. These priorities continue the lineage of Lowell’s most significant scientific achievements, discoveries that have shaped humankind’s understanding of the universe and our place in it.
Planetary Defense
In Planetary Defense, Lowell Observatory’s contributions span more than a century. Vesto Slipher’s early measurements of asteroid motions helped lay the groundwork for modern orbital science, and the Observatory’s long-running LONEOS (Lowell Observatory Near-Earth-Object Search) program was one of NASA’s earliest and most productive asteroid detection efforts.
That same expertise now drives Lowell’s ongoing tracking of potentially hazardous asteroids and comets, combining historical data with cutting-edge instrumentation to protect our planet and inform global defense strategies. Building on that legacy, Lowell Observatory played a key role in the world’s first Planetary Defense mission in 2022.
Exoplanetary Research
Carrying forward the spirit of exploration that led to the discovery of Pluto, Lowell scientists now use high-precision photometry and spectroscopy to study the atmospheres and formation of planets orbiting distant stars. These efforts use Lowell’s unique optical and infrared capabilities to characterize planetary systems and trace their origins.
With advanced instrumentation on the LDT and new upgrades expanding its reach, scientists are pushing closer to answering one of humanity’s oldest questions: Does life exist beyond our own world?
The New Structure of Science at Lowell Observatory
To remain at the forefront of discovery, Lowell must evolve how its science is supported. This year, the Observatory will move to a funding model that reflects the realities of modern research while allowing for a more intentional and strategic approach to science.
In support of these new directives, Lowell Observatory remains committed to nurturing the next generation of scientists. Through initiatives like the prestigious Percival Lowell Fellowship, the Observatory continues to serve as a dynamic incubator for early-career researchers, empowering them to explore bold ideas and shape the future of astronomy.
Lowell Observatory will transition from the traditional academic tenure system to a model that provides both flexibility and financial stability for the organization. The new science funding model will include:
- Lowell Mission Scientists are internally supported researchers who will align research activity directly with the Observatory’s core directives in Planetary Defense and Exoplanetary Research. These scientists will lead mission-driven investigations that advance Lowell’s institutional goals while collaborating with partners across the industry.
- Lowell Independent Scientists are externally funded researchers who have the freedom to pursue their own research interests while contributing to the Observatory’s broader scientific impact.
- The introduction of a formal Emeritus Status policy will provide continued access to collaborative research, publication, and mentorship resources for scientists without active research grants.
- Percival Lowell Fellows will continue to represent the next generation of discovery, supported by endowments to explore bold questions and develop their research careers.
The Observatory’s long-term goal is to expand the number of Lowell Mission Scientist positions through private, endowed support. This will ensure permanent funding for the institution’s research mission. This restructuring reflects the Observatory’s commitment to thoughtful stewardship: aligning its resources to support ongoing scientific excellence and outreach programs that make astronomy accessible to everyone.
“For 130 years, Lowell Observatory has carried forward Percival Lowell’s vision: the study of astronomy with an emphasis on the solar system,” says W. Lowell Putnam, Sole Trustee of Lowell Observatory. “By exploring other worlds and solar systems, we better understand our own – what hazards exist and how we fit into the larger story of the cosmos. That mission remains unchanged. What is changing is how we fund and focus our research to ensure it endures.”
Few institutions combine Lowell Observatory’s depth of heritage, technological sophistication, and public mission. Thanks to the LDT’s growing suite of state-of-the-art instruments and a legacy rooted in curiosity and discovery, Lowell Observatory is poised to lead a new era of research and engagement.
Through Lowell’s award-winning Astronomy Discovery Center, recognized by TIME as one of the World’s Greatest Places and by Newsweek as one of America’s Best Science Museums, Lowell will continue to connect the public with the frontier of science, transforming complex discoveries into shared human experiences.
“We are building a future that our founder would recognize. One in which discovery is for scientists and the public who share in it,” Putnam adds. “By taking these steps now, we are ensuring that Lowell Observatory’s legacy of discovery will remain strong for generations to come.”
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About Lowell Observatory
Founded in 1894, Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, is a renowned nonprofit research institution. It is the site of historic and groundbreaking discoveries, including the first evidence of the expanding universe and the discovery of Pluto. Today, Lowell’s astronomers utilize global ground-based and space telescopes, along with NASA spacecraft, for diverse astronomical and planetary science research. The observatory hosts more than 100,000 visitors annually for educational tours, presentations, and telescope viewing through a suite of world-class public telescopes.
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