Colloquium with Natalie Hinkel, Lead Scientist, Southwest Research Institute

The exoplanetary science field is only ~30 years old and yet it's one of the most inherently interdisciplinary fields. Input from planetary and data scientists help define a context to characterize exoplanets using measurements of key stellar and planetary properties from current/upcoming exoplanet missions -- such as TESS, JWST, NGRT, and PLATO. In addition, geologists and biologists are necessary to understand planetary interior and surface processes and their impact on (potential) life. Since stars and planets are formed from the same material, meaningful connections can be made between the composition of stars and their orbiting planets. I will review some of my research leveraging stellar elemental abundances -- per the Hypatia Catalog -- to understand how stars influence the chemical make-up of planets. I will also describe my work on the SAKHMET balloon mission to observe M-dwarf stars, which are the most common stars in the galaxy and easiest for detecting rocky planets, but are extremely difficult to measure and characterize from the ground. Throughout my talk, I'll discuss my plans for the future, on both large and small-scales, to explore the diversity of stellar systems, stellar and planetary compositions, and planetary environments at LSU.