The Department of Astronomy 2024-2025 Colloquium Series Presents:

"Dynamic Protoplanetary Disks: New Perspectives from JWST"

Protoplanetary disks surround many pre-main-sequence stars, but the process by which these systems evolve into planetary systems remains a fundamental question in astronomy. By studying these variable young stars across multiple wavelengths, we can gain valuable insights into the environments where plants form. In this talk, I will highlight will key observations of protoplanetary disks and their young host stars, focusing on recent findings from JWST. I will discuss changes in the high-energy stellar radiation fields reaching the disk surface, as well as fluctuations in disk structure. To conclude, I will outline future directions for advancing our understanding of these dynamic systems using JWST.