As the next solar maximum approaches, society is increasingly reliant on satellite communications and navigation technologies, which are vulnerable to solar storms. To prepare for the upcoming peak in solar activity, expected in 2013, the U.S. National Space Weather Program Council organized the 2009 Space Weather Enterprise Forum, held 19–20 May in Washington, D. C. The conference, themed “Space Weather and Our Technological Society—Are We Ready for Solar Max?, “ attracted more than 225 participants, representing government agencies, industry, and academia. Presentations and panel discussion throughout the conference addressed issues including opportunities for coordinated collaboration among various agencies and with industry; the need for more effective outreach to stakeholders, policy makers, and the public; and ways to improve communication between scientists and space weather forecasters. Participants also agreed that it is important to plan for follow-up projects that will replace aging space weather satellites, such as the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE), which provides continuous solar wind monitoring. In an opening address, Mary Glackin, deputy undersecretary for oceans and atmosphere at NOAA, pointed out that recent government support for space weather prediction has been strong. “I think we're in good shape going into the solar max, but we have some vulnerabilities,” she said. She noted that although the current solar cycle has been weak so far, it only takes one powerful solar storm to cause serious damage to the infrastructure on which society relies. Some speakers at the conference focused on research needs. “We are not proceeding rapidly enough to develop the scientific underpinnings for our ability to predict space weather,” warned Lennard Fisk (University of Michigan). He also expressed concern that scientists tend to concentrate on questions they find intellectually stimulating, not necessarily the problems that are most relevant for society. The transition from research to operational technologies that will be needed for the upcoming solar maximum also poses difficulties. In a panel discussion on the topic, participants agreed that increased communication and feedback are needed between the users of space weather forecasting products and the scientists who conduct the underlying research. In a panel on the socioeconomic impact of space weather, moderator Daniel Baker (University of Colorado at Boulder) noted that if an extreme solar storm were to occur today, it could cause an estimated $1–2 trillion in damage. Despite the potential for enormous damage, it is difficult to sustain society's attention on natural disasters that happen infrequently, noted Todd LaPorte (George Mason University). “We react; we do not anticipate,” he said. John Kappenman (Metatech Corporation) emphasized the vulnerability of the power grid, noting that current design practices and the lack of a design code have greatly escalated the risk. A solar storm “could permanently damage large portions of this infrastructure,” he said. Several speakers brought up the need for improved education and outreach to increase awareness of the potential effects of space weather during the approaching period of increased solar activity. David Jones (StormCenter Communications, Inc.) suggested educating television meteorologists about space weather so they can inform the public. Delores Knipp recommended that colleges and universities offer courses covering space weather. In a luncheon talk, astrophysicist Neil de Grasse Tyson described his success in communicating science to the public using visualizations and short sound bites. Keynote speaker congressional representative Donna Edwards (D-Md.) emphasized the need to educate students to produce the next generation of scientists. Ideas and information gathered at the conference will be used to help the National Space Weather Program develop a strategic plan for the next decade and to prepare for the upcoming solar maximum. Conference presentations can be found at http://www.ofcm.gov/swef/2009/index.htm. Ernie Tretkoff is a staff writer for the American Geophysical Union.