Johns Hopkins Scientist to Discuss ‘Challenges and Opportunities in Space Science’ at TAMIU Oct. 14

Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) will welcome Principal Professional Staff at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Dr. Ralph McNutt, for an upcoming lecture.

Titled, “Challenges and Opportunities in Space Science,” the lecture is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, at 7 p.m. in the TAMIU Center for the Fine and Performing Arts Recital Hall. A livestream for overflow seating will be available at the Student Center, room 236.

Admission to the lecture is free and open to the public.

This special lecture is made possible through the generosity of Memo Benavides, longtime TAMIU partner and Laredo philanthropist.

McNutt will discuss several landmark space exploration missions, including the New Horizons mission to Pluto and Parker Solar Probe, and offer an update on Voyager, drawing on decades of experience with each mission and his long-standing roles on their science and planning teams. 

McNutt was Project Scientist and a Co-Investigator on NASA's MESSENGER mission to Mercury and a member of the Ion Neutral Mass Spectrometer Team on the Cassini Orbiter spacecraft, and is currently a Co-Investigator on NASA's Parker Solar Probe mission to the solar corona, Co-Investigator on the PEPSSI investigation on the New Horizons mission, Co-Investigator for the Voyager PLS and LECP instruments, and Deputy Principal Investigator on the PIMS instrument t on the Europa Clipper spacecraft

Throughout his professional career, he has held various NASA grants and served on several NASA review and planning panels and Science and Technology Definition Teams for Solar Probe and Interstellar Probe. McNutt has published over 250 science and engineering papers and  given numerous professional and popular talks.

He received his Bachelor's of Science degree in physics at Texas A&M University in 1975 and his doctorate in physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1980.

For more information, contact TAMIU's Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at 956.326.2180, email prmis@tamiu.edu, or visit offices located in the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library, room 268.

A proud member of The Texas A&M University System, TAMIU provides a world-class educational experience to students from throughout South Texas, Northern Mexico, and beyond.

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