Institute for Advanced Study / Princeton University Joint Astrophysics Colloquium

The discovery of numerous relatively close planets orbiting low-mass stars signals a major planetary population that may be the primary environment explored in the search for life beyond the Solar System. The environments of these types of stars are unique, and their climatic impacts, along with the effects of the many other factors and processes that can strongly influence planetary climate and habitability, must be understood to accurately determine a planet's habitability potential. Professor Shields will describe the methods used by her research group, the Shields Center for Exoplanet Climate and Interdisciplinary Education, to quantify the effects on planetary climate of a range of factors currently unconstrained by observations. She will share recent results from this work using a hierarchy of computer models, and discuss the implications of these results for planetary habitability and the identification of those planets most capable of supporting life.