As 2025 comes to a close, LSST Discovery Alliance CEO Beth Willman reflects on the first Rubin Observatory images, the progress of our community, and the challenges ahead.
Dear Colleague,
2025 has been thrilling, humbling, and sobering for me as CEO of LSST Discovery Alliance.
I was thrilled to see the first LSST Camera images from the NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory, and even more thrilled by the public’s remarkable response. By many measures, these first Rubin images reached and engaged more people than the debut of JWST.
I felt humbled as I reflected on the privilege of spending the past 17 years in the LSST ecosystem, learning from many individuals who have given so much to bring Rubin Observatory to life. I carry that gratitude into my role at LSST Discovery Alliance, where we strive to return that investment by listening to the global science community so we can deliver the resources you need to realize the full potential of discovery with Rubin’s LSST.
At the same time, we were all confronted by sobering new challenges. Recent U.S. executive orders that reject the inclusive, open values at the heart of our scientific community, and growing uncertainty around federal support for research and student training have caused real harm and cast a shadow over what should be a purely celebratory moment.
Into this complex and propitious environment, LSST-DA stepped up to seize on the opportunity and energy of the new Rubin era. LSST-DA highlights from 2025 include:
- Over half of the initial science papers (5 of 8) from Rubin’s Data Preview 1 used LINCC Frameworks’ spatial and temporal analysis framework (LSDB).
- Four new institutional members joined LSST-DA from 3 continents;
- A global alliance of 3 dozen Rubin LSST-focused postdocs, launched at LSST-DA’s November Catalyst Symposium.
- Dozens of undergraduate and graduate students were trained and built cohorts through the Data Science Fellowship and Summer Student Programs;
- Professional software engineers provided active, iterative support to more than a dozen science teams through LINCC Frameworks Incubators and Project Dovetail;
- The Rubin Undergraduate Network found a home with LSST Discovery Alliance.
Support from the Heising-Simons Foundation, Schmidt Sciences, Templeton Foundation, Research Corporation for Science Advancement, Brinson Foundation, WoodNext Foundation, and you made this work possible. Your individual support positions us to be agile and seize opportunities like engaging professional software engineers through Project Dovetail or bringing undergraduates to present research at top conferences.
Thank you so much to those of you who have already given to LSST-DA in 2025 (our staff giving is at 100%!) If you haven’t yet and if you are able: Your fully tax-deductible donation is more important than ever to help us keep this momentum going. Click here to make a gift today, or reach out to learn about other ways to give.
Wishing you a peaceful end to 2025, and a 2026 filled with collaboration, discovery, and joy.
Warmly,
Beth Willman
CEO, LSST Discovery Alliance
Image: First look at the rich southern region of the Virgo Cluster captured by the NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory’s LSST Camera, revealing millions of stars and galaxies in unprecedented wide-field detail.
Credit: Credit: RubinObs/NOIRLab/SLAC/NSF/DOE/AURA