Subject: [DPS Members] DPS Mailing #11-01 Issue11-01, January 22nd 2011 +-----------------------------CONTENTS--------------------------------+ 1) DPS Membership Renewals For 2011 2) 2011 Prize nominations 3) EPSC-DPS 2011 Joint meeting 4) Hartmann Travel Grants for EPSC-DPS 2011 meeting 5) YSS Update 6) Job Opportunities 7) Upcoming Meetings +---------------------------------------------------------------------+ 1---------1---------1---------1---------1---------1---------1---------1 DPS MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS FOR 2011 The 2011 renewal period is open online at http://dps.aas.org/membership/ You will find there all the information you need on how to renew your membership whether an AAS member or non-AAS members. Please take the time to update your member data also if you have changed status or e-mail or address recently. Be aware that DPS members should have been renewed by 31 December 2010, but to avoid becoming "inactive" in the AAS lists, should pay no later than 27 February 2011. For your convenience you may renew online at members.aas.org. Prompt cooperation saves the AAS substantial cost and increases funding for our program. Please direct any questions regarding your renewal status to membership@aas.org or (202) 328-2010 extension 101. The Director of Membership Services at AAS further told us that : - The renewal time line is 9/1, that's when the online renewing begins. Members are notified by the Newsletter, Exploder and website. - Paper renewals are mailed the 1st week of November (except for International Affiliate (IA) members). - A reminder renewal notice is mailed shortly after our Winter Meeting. The best practice would then be for members to renew at the DPS Meeting time. - The reinstatement fee is applied to the AAS members record. Also it is very difficult for the DPS member that has lapsed more than a year to pay for years he/she missed, as the AAS do not carry over balances. While you are renewing please take a moment and consider making a contribution to one of our important programs or prize funds and help ensure the stability and growth of your DPS. 2---------2---------2---------2---------2---------2---------2---------2 2011 PRIZE NOMINATIONS Every year the DPS recognizes exceptional achievement in our field. It is time to consider nominating a respected colleague for one of the annual DPS prizes. The Gerard P. Kuiper Prize honors outstanding contributions to the field of planetary science. The Harold C. Urey Prize recognizes outstanding achievement in planetary research by a young scientist. The Harold Masursky Award acknowledges outstanding service to planetary science and exploration. The Carl Sagan Medal recognizes and honors outstanding communication by an active planetary scientist to the general public. The Jonathan Eberhart Planetary Sciences Journalism Award recognizes and stimulates distinguished popular writing on planetary sciences. Detailed descriptions of each of the prizes and the criteria for nominees for each are found at http://dps.aas.org/prizes. The nomination form and instructions can also be retrieved from this website. Anyone may submit a nomination. The nomination form and supporting material are emailed to dpsprize@aas.org. The deadline for nominations this year is April 4. 3---------3---------3---------3---------3---------3---------3---------3 JOINT DPS-EPSC 2011 MEETING A joint meeting of the European Planetary Science Congress -- EPSC and the American Astronomical Society Division for Planetary Sciences -- DPS +-------------------- First Announcement and Call-for-Sessions The joint EPSC-DPS Meeting will take place at La Cité Internationale des Congrès Nantes Métropole in Nantes, France, 3-7 October 2011. This modern congress centre is very close to the centre of Nantes, an attractive city, the historical capital of Brittany, on the west coast of France, about 2 hours by high speed train from Paris. The aim is to provide an attractive platform for the worldwide planetary science community to exchange and present timely results, develop new ideas, and to network. The format of the meeting will be a mix of plenary sessions, topical oral and poster sessions, and workshops. Given previous experience with EPSC and DPS we are expecting a large attendance from around the world. We hope to make it THE planetary science meeting of 2011! The meeting website is http://meetings.coperni cus.org/epsc-dps2011/. Travel funding will be available for students: Europlanet will provide contributions to a large number of European PhD students to support their attendance; DPS will provide scholarships to recipients of the Hartmann Student Travel Grant. We hereby invite you to take an active part in organizing the scientific programme of the conference by suggesting Sessions and Conveners at: http://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/epsc-dps2011/provisionalprogram me If you have ideas for press or media events, please communicate them to Anita Heward, Europlanet Press and Outreach Officer, anita.heward@europlanet-eu.org , or Vishnu Reddy, DPS Press officer, dpspress@aas.org. Important dates: 16 January 2011: Proposals for Sessions : closed, but suggestions can be sent to the SOC 31 May 2011: Abstracts due (NOTE EARLY DEADLINE) 21 June 2011: Letter of Acceptance to authors 7 July 2011: Letter of Schedule to authors Future announcements: More information will be available in future updates and posted on the meeting website as well as sent by e-mail. Please also forward this email to interested colleagues. Best regards, Manuel Grande, Renu Malhotra For the Scientific Organizing Committee The EPSC represents a cooperation between Europlanet RI and the European Geosciences Union. The Europlanet RI project is a EU supported initiative to strengthen and unify European planetary science. A main objective is to achieve a long term integration of planetary sciences in Europe through the networking of the European research groups and to provide a major distributed European infrastructure to be shared, fed and expanded by all planetary scientists. The DPS is the world's largest professional organization dedicated to the study of the solar system and other planetary systems. Links : Meeting Homepage http://meetings.coperni cus.org/epsc-dps2011/ Cité Internationale des Congrès Nantes http:// www.lacite-nantes.com/uk/discover/press-pictures.html EuroPlaNet http://www.europlanet-ri.eu/ DPS Homepage http://dps.aas.org/ 4---------4---------4---------4---------4---------4---------4---------4 Hartmann Travel Grants for the join DPS/EPSC meeting in Nantes, France 2-7 October, 2011. Starting with a generous contribution from William K. Hartmann, followed by member contributions and matching funds from the DPS Committee, a limited number of student travel grants are made available to assist toward participating at the annual DPS meeting. Travel grants are primarily intended for students, but post-doctoral scientists without other means of support will also be considered. Travel grants for the Nantes meeting will be no more than approximately five hundred dollars and are intended to provide a supplement that makes the difference on whether or not a student is able to attend the annual meeting. In some cases the travel grant may be requested to cover the meeting registration fee. Preference is given to students who have not received a Travel Grant in the past. Because of the joint meeting there will be several changes to the DPS travel grant program for this meeting only: DPS travel grants will be limited to students or post-docs attending US institutions only. We have a reciprocal agreement with the EPSC that they will fund European (and other foreign) students. The deadline for applications will be will be very early this year. Application deadline is 9:00 PM PDT, Friday May 20, 2011. Late applications cannot be accepted. All notifications will be made on or before June 3, 2011. Please see the Hartmann Travel Grant page at the DPS web site (http://dps.aas. org/meetings/travel_grant_application) for detailed information on submittal and format. 5---------5---------5---------5---------5---------5---------5---------5 Year of the Solar System Update DPS members are invited to participate and showcase their exciting results via NASA's Year of the Solar System (YSS), themed "New Worlds, New Discoveries", spanning a Martian year of 23 months. YSS covers the timeline of upcoming missions/encounters with the Moon, Mercury, Jupiter, comets and asteroids. YSS provides DPS scientists with immediate outreach opportunities through its website and streamlined process for submission of products/results. A themed calendar for YSS provides an opportunity to highlight new results, create and upload E/PO products and share information regarding related local activities. Please visit the following websites for more information: http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/yss For more detailed information, please contact any of the following: Padma A. Yanamandra-Fisher (DPS; padmayf@gmail.com) Nick Schneider (DPS; Nick.Schneider@lasp.colorado .edu) Stephanie Shipp (YSS; shipp@lpi.usra.edu) Daniella.M.Scalice (YSS; daniella.m.scalice@nasa.gov) 6---------6---------6---------6---------6---------6---------6---------6 JOB OPPORTUNITIES a) At the Bear Fight Institute The Bear Fight Institute (www.bearfightinstitute.com) is seeking candidates for scientist staff positions and post-doctoral fellowships who have experience and interest in studying the surfaces of Solar System objects and interpreting their origin and evolution. Current programs emphasize planning, operations, data analysis, and background science disciplines associated with active and proposed space missions, and conducting research using multi and hyperspectral images and related data. This may include laboratory studies of candidate outer solar system surface materials and modeling of optical radiation-material interaction behavior. Experience is needed in data processing and analysis and in the science, mathematical and computer skills associated. Work is centered with a small research group located near Winthrop WA, but extensive domestic and international travel is typically involved to participate in space flight team and Professional society meetings and workshops, and for collaborative efforts with other research groups. Good writing and communication skills in English are needed for preparing professional articles, progress reports, and funding proposals. Candidates may be at any stage in their careers but are expected to develop and maintain their own research program, including funding, as well as to participate in existing Institute programs. Especially desired are those candidates in the early stages of their careers with developing research programs or in mid to latter career stages and interested in taking a leadership position. Position(s) could start immediately and is/are annually renewable, dependent on federal funding. Ph.D. in fields related to planetary science and the ability to work independently is required. Salary and benefits are competitive. The Institute has full legal, fiscal, and administrative capabilities to administer grants and contracts that candidates may already posses or proposals for new funding. Part-time and off-site associations will also be considered. We value diversity and are committed to equality of opportunity. Forwarded by Thomas B. McCord, The Bear Flight Institute, Winthrop, WA 98862 b) JOB OPENING - LUNAR SAMPLE CURATOR - January 5 through January 26, 2011 Vacancy number: JS11B0022 Level: GS-14 The Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science Directorate (ARES) at NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) invites applications to a civil service position in Planetary Science in the Astromaterials Acquisition and Curation Office. The successful applicant will serve as Lunar Sample Curator. Responsibilities include overseeing the preservation, protection, and distribution of NASA's Apollo lunar samples; the safe operation of the Lunar Sample Laboratory Facility at JSC and the Curation Remote Storage Facility at the White Sands Test Facility; as well as providing overall technical insight into the development and management of policies, procedures, and operational schedules necessary for lunar sample curation. The successful applicant will also be encouraged to conduct their own fundamental research in planetary science and to support mission planning for exploration of solar system objects. For more information about Lunar Sample Curation see http://curator.jsc.nasa. gov/lunar/index.cfm or contact Dr. Carlton Allen, Astromaterials Curator, at carlton.c.allen@nasa.gov or 281-483-5126. To apply please go to www.usajobs.gov --add the vacancy number (JS11B0022) as the keyword in the first box --click on search jobs c) JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS AT NASA MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER (1) LABORATORY MANAGER for the MSFC Noble Gas Research Laboratory (MNGRL) to assist in initial set-up and subsequent routine maintenance and operation of the new multi-collector noble-gas mass spectrometry facility. The incumbent will also participate in collaborative or independent research on geochronology of planetary materials. Qualifications include an MS or PhD in planetary or earth sciences and experience in high-precision mass spectrometry (noble gas and/or ICPMS, TIMS, etc.). Applications will be reviewed starting Feb. 1. Please go to <http://cspar. uah.edu/research/lunarjobopportunity.html> for more information and how to apply. (2) POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW in noble-gas isotopic analysis of planetary materials. Postdocs will conduct a mix of directed and original research using noble gas mass spectrometry (Ar, Ne, Kr, Xe) on lunar, martian, and/or asteroid samples to obtain their isotopic age, cosmic ray exposure age, or isotopic composition. The application deadline is March 1. Candidates must apply through the NASA Postdoctoral Program <http://www2.orau .gov/NASA_Catalog/Opportunity/18395> and are encouraged to contact us directly to develop a research proposal. Additional information, application instructions, and more about the MSFC Planetary Science group and facilities can be found on our website (http://planetary.msfc.nasa.gov), or by contacting Dr. Barbara Cohen (Barbara.A.Cohen@nasa.gov). 7---------7---------7---------7---------7---------7---------7---------7 UPCOMING MEETINGS You may want to consult the excellent Planetary meetings and Conferences Calendar at: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/< /a> a) Fourth International Workshop on the Mars Atmosphere: Modelling and Observations February 8-11, 2011 ; Paris, France http://www-mars.lmd.jussie u.fr/paris2011/ b) TARGET NEO Workshop: Providing a Resilient NEO Accessibility Program for Human Exploration Beyond LEO Speakers and an agenda have been announced for the Target NEO Workshop. The workshop is scheduled for February 22, 2011 at the George Washington University Morton Auditorium in Washington, DC. Panel discussion topics include: The NEO Population: Known and Unknown Mission Design: Getting There and Back NEO Characteristics for Safe and Meaningful Exploration Mission Duration: Quantifying the Risks Affordable Options for Providing a Resilient NEO Accessibility Program for Human Exploration Beyond LEO Flyer and agenda is available online: http://www.targetneo.org/ Registration is free and open: http://www.gwu.edu/~spi/sy mposiumrsvp.cfm c) PLATO Science Conference Berlin, 24-25 February 2011 http://ww w-astro.physik.tu-berlin.de/plato-2011/index.html d) 42nd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC 2011), 7-11 March 2011, The Woodlands, Texas http://www.lpi.usra.edu/m eetings/lpsc2011/ Abstract deadline : January 4, 2011 e) Second International Conference on the Exploration of Phobos and Deimos March 14-16, Moffett Field, CA see: http://www.seti.org/PhD2011 f) European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly 2011 Vienna, Austria, 3-8 April 2011 http://meetings.cop ernicus.org/egu2011/home.html There will be several Planetary Sciences Sessions during the meeting, see h ttp://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2011/sessionprogramme/PS The abstract submission is closed. g) Observing with ALMA - Early Science ALMA is currently under construction and should start full operations in 2013. However, already in 2011, ALMA will be operated with a limited number of antennas (16) and restricted capacity (e.g. baselines < 1 km). This is an announcement of ALMA Community days, April 6-7, a two-day event aimed at familiarising the community with ALMA Early Science capabilities, as well as the procedure and software involved in proposal preparation and submission. These ALMA community days will be hosted by the central European ARC node at ESO Garching on April 6 and 7, 2011. Attendance could be useful to anybody interested in obtaining ALMA Early Science observing time. The first part of the meeting will be dedicated to both technical and scientific presentations on ALMA and what can be expected during the first period of Early Science. Subsequently, we will organise group tutorials on the ALMA Observing Tool (OT), which will be used for the preparation and submission of observing proposals. The conference website is now online at http://www.es o.org/sci/meetings/2011/alma_es_2011.html and registration is open. Note that we can host only a limited number of participants that will be accommodated on a first-come-first-serve basis. You can still get in a waiting list. h) Exploring Strange New Worlds: From Giant Planets to Super Earths Flagstaff, Arizona, May 1-6, 2011 http://nexsci.caltec h.edu/conferences/Flagstaff i) Astronomical Union (IAU) Symposium 280 on: The Molecular Universe May 30 - June 3, 2011 Toledo, Spain http://www.cab.inta-c sic.es/molecular_universe Deadline for full payment of the registration fee and abstract submissions : February 1st, 2011 Contacts: Prof. J.Cernicharo jcernicharo@cab.inta-csic.es CAB. INTA-CSIC Crta Torrejon km 4 28850 Torrejon de Ardoz. Madrid. Spain Dr. Marcelo Castellanos Gestor Equipo Consolider-Ingenio "ASTROMOL" (CSIC) Campus del Instituto Nacional de Tecnica Aeroespacial Centro de Astrobiologia (CSIC-INTA) Departamento de Astrofisica Ca. de Ajalvir km 4 28850 Torrejon de Ardoz (Madrid) j) 8th International Planetary Probe Workshop 6 – 10 June, 2011; Portsmouth, Virginia 4 – 5 June, Short Course: “Atmospheric Flight Systems Technologies” Sending space vehicles to other worlds is one of humankind’s most challenging and rewarding ventures. The 8th International Planetary Probe Workshop (IPPW‐8) will bring together scientists, engineers, technologists, mission designers, space agency leaders, and exceptional students from around the world for a compelling, weeklong collaboration focused on exploring solar system destinations via in‐situ missions. This 8th workshop will build upon the IPPW tradition by encouraging international cooperation in planetary probe missions, new technologies, and scientific discoveries. In addition, students from around the world will have a unique opportunity to present their work and to interact with the leaders in their discipline areas. IPPW‐8 will be held June 6‐10, 2011, near the NASA‐Langley Research Center in southeastern Virginia, USA. Our program includes invited talks, contributed presentations, posters, and opportunities for networking with colleagues. Preceding the workshop, on June 4‐5, we will offer a 2‐day short course on “Atmospheric Flight Systems Technologies.” Mark your calendars now! For more information: Michelle.M.Munk@nasa.gov k) The Second CoRoT Symposium: Transiting planets, Vibrating stars and their connection; 14-17 June 2011, Marseille The first CoRoT symposium was held in February 2009 in Paris. At this symposium, the first results were presented to the scientific community. Since, the analysis of these initial high precision data gained scientific maturity. In addition, the first two years of data are now public and reviewed by a community much larger. It is thus time to gather again planet and star communities. The second CoRoT symposium will be held from 14 to 17 June 2011 in Marseille (France) at the Palais des Congrès. Besides presenting the latest results achieved in these two scientific domains, the objective of this symposium is to highlight the complementarity of these two fields of research. The symposium therefore will also focus on the connection between stars and planets and what the studies in one of the two field could bring to the other. Bringing together the two communities will give rise to new projects that will ultimately lead to new advances in the field of planetary systems, considered as a whole. You are invited to pre-register as soon as possible, for a final registration before 15 May. You are also welcome to propose topics for splinter sessions on half days, before 31 January. Important dates and deadlines * 31 January 2011: travel grant submission * 31 January 2011: end of theme submission for splinter session * 31 March 2011: end of pre-registration * 30 April 2011: end of abstract submission * 15 May 2011: end of final registration and payments * 14–17 June 2011: colloquium * December 2011: publication of the proceedings http://symposiumcorot2011.oamp.fr / l) 9th IAA Low Cost Planetary Missions conference June 21-24, 2011. Hosted at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel MD. Abstract Submission is Open! The 9th Low-Cost Planetary Missions Conference, organized and hosted by The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, MD, is an international forum for planetary scientists, technologists, engineers, managers, and agency officials to collect and exchange information and ideas for making this class of robotic mission scientifically valuable and yet affordably low cost. The Low-Cost Planetary Missions conference is designed to increase and enhance the global community of practitioners. Areas covered in the conference program include, but are not limited to: missions and scientific results; mission planning and operations; mission management, technology and engineering, and delivery methods. The call for papers is posted: http://lcpm9.jhuapl.edu/submi ssion.php Due date for Abstracts: February 1, 2011 Author notification will be sent by March 1, 2011 http://lcpm9.jhuapl.edu/index.php< /a> for more information. m) IUGG/IAMAS General Assembly Melbourne 28 June- 7 July 2011, see: http://www.iugg2011.com/pr ogram-iamas.asp At that meeting, the ICPAE Commission has planned two Symposia: M05 : Comparative Atmospheres of the giant planets and their satellites Conveners : Athena Coustenis, Darrell Strobel and Frank Mills Scope: Papers are invited which report progress on all aspects of our current understanding of the evolution of atmospheres of the outer planets, their moons and their interactions with their environment (rings, magnetosphere, surfaces). The emphasis will be on insights gained from recent space missions, including Cassini-Huygens and Earth-orbiting satellites. Contributions describing the atmosphere-related objectives of the relevant missions, analysis of observations, and the results of model simulations of atmospheric evolution are also welcome. Research on exoplanetary atmospheres in comparison to the ones in our solar system is also of relevance. The relation of all of these aspects to the field of Astrobiology shall be put forward. and J-M07 : Atmospheres and ices on terrestrial planets Conveners: Dimitri Titov, Ralf Greve, Athena Coustenis Scope: Papers are invited on the physics and chemistry of the lower, middle and upper atmosphere, ionosphere and surface ice of the inner planets and comets. Comparative studies of the atmospheres of Venus, Earth and Mars, as well as the ices on Earth and Mars, are also invited, with emphasis on the differences and similarities in their climates. Results from recent missions to Mars, Venus and the terrestrial planets in general are of particular interest. Reports on improvements in general circulation models of the thermosphere and lower atmospheres of the planets, coupled atmosphere/cryosphere models and descriptions of future planetary missions are also invited, as well as advances in laboratory experiments. n) ORIGINS 2011 ISSOL and Bioastronomy Joint International Conference Montpellier, France, July 3rd-8th 2011 http://www.origins2011.univ-m ontp2.fr/ Due date for submission is February 19th. Additionally, the travel grants are due the same day! (You must submit and abstract to be considered for a travel grant.) Muriel Gargaud & Robert Pascal Chairs of Origins 2011 Organizing Committee o) JENAM2011 St. Petersburg, Russia, 4-8 July 2011. http://jenam2011.org/conf/ S2: Planets of the Solar System and Beyond Conveners: Mikhail Marov (Vernadsky Inst.Geochemistry/Keldysh Appl. Math. Inst. Russia), Therese Encrenaz (Observatoire de Paris, France) The symposium will be a meeting place for exchanging new results and discussing future ground-based and space projects. The symposium will be organized in six sessions: -The Moon. Conveners: Sasha Bazilevsky, Yves Langevin -Inner planets. Conveners: M. Lopez-Valverde, Igor Mitrophanov -Outer planets. Conveners: Therese Encrenaz, Oleg Korablev -Small bodies. Conveners: Maria-Teresa Capria, V. Emel'yanenko -Exoplanets and planetary cosmogony. Conveners: Artie Hatzes, Leonid Ksanfomality, Helmut Lammer -Astrobiology. Conveners: Athena Coustenis, Alexei Rozanov Deadline for abstracts : 25 April 2011 p) ASTEROIDS, COMETS, METEORS 2011 An International Conference On Small Solar System Bodies July 18-22, 2011 Niigata, Japan The scope of presentations and discussion is broad, including all topics related to asteroids, comets, and meteors. ACM 2011 is expected to bring together experts on small-bodies studies from around the world. It will be the first meeting held after several significant and anticipated events, which include the return of "Hayabusa" mission and the expected result of "Dawn", "EPOXI" and "NExT", as well as many others. ACM 2011 will highlight the research currently being conducted, and encourage discussion among researchers in various areas, and identify new avenues of research. General information and important dates are available at: http://chiron.mtk.nao.ac.jp/ACM 2011/ All the process of registration and abstract submissions etc. should be performed in the USRA/LPI meeting portal site with the kind help of the Lunar and Planetary Institute. You can register your e-mail address for receiving further information of the ACM2011 at the following site: https://www.lpi.usra.edu/meeting_portal/iofi/?mtg=acm2011 21 March 2011 Abstract deadline21 May 2011 Deadline for early registration at reduced rate q) IAU Symposium 282 "From Interacting Binaries to Exoplanets: Essential Modeling Tools" July 18-22, 2011 at Tatranska Lomnica, Slovakia http://www.ta3.sk/IB2E/ r) Gordon Research Conference on Origins of Solar Systems July 17-22, 2011, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA Chair:Michael R. Meyer; Vice Chair:Edward D. Young The 2011 Gordon Research Conference on Origins of Solar Systems will take place at Mt. Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA 17-22 July. This unique interdisciplinary meeting includes astronomers and astrophysicists interested in star and planet formation, planetary scientists and cosmochemists interested in the early history, structure, and evolution of the Solar System, as well as scientists in related disciplines. By bringing together this mix of expertise the conference attempts to address fundamental questions that are not tractable within the confines of just one discipline. Our goal is to understand whether planetary systems like our own, and the potential for habitability that they represent are the exception or the rule in the Milky Way galaxy. The focus of the 2011 meeting (the 11th since this series began twenty years ago) will be "Composition of Forming Planets: A Tool to Understand Processes". Topics covered will include: 1) the initial conditions for planet formation in circumstellar disks, including estimates of solar nebula composition from the Genesis mission; 2) the evolution of the physical structure of the gas and dust from which planets form; 3) progress in our theoretical understanding of the major physical processes that control planet formation; 4) the interplay between disk dynamics and disk chemistry in determining the composition of forming planets including new results from the Herschel Space Telescope; 5) meteoritic constraints on the physical and chemical conditions in the solar nebula; 6) the role of giant impacts in the structure and evolution of forming planets; 7) satellites and rings of giant planets as mini-laboratories to study the process of planet formation; 8) current census of extra-solar planets including new results from the Kepler and COROT missions as well as other facilities; 9) the essential chemical conditions for life and whether those are readily obtained through our current understanding of planet formation; and many other topics. The conference will continue the usual format of invited lectures, extended discussion, and poster sessions. The meeting provides an excellent opportunity for young researchers to present their latest research results and to participate in the dynamic informal conversations that are typical of a Gordon Conference. We encourage young scientists, including graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, to attend. Special efforts will be made to promote interactions between invited speakers and junior participants and we expect to provide some financial support to facilitate the latter’s participation. s) 2011 Sagan Summer Workshop: Exploring Exoplanets with Microlensing Pasadena, CA, July 25-29, 2011 http://nexsci.caltech.edu/wo rkshop/2011 t) First Announcement Of Rings 2011 Scientific Workshop Tentative Dates: July 27-29, 2011 Location: Cornell University in Ithaca, New York This workshop will explore the present state of investigations into the structure, composition and dynamics of planetary rings, emphasizing recent results from the Cassini Mission to Saturn as well as current theoretical work and numerical simulations. The format will combine daily oral sessions with ample time for splinter meetings and informal discussion. Contributed oral and poster papers are welcome. Possible session topics include ring origins, ring composition and particle size distributions, gravitational over/instablities and accretionary phenomena, dynamics of ring-embedded objects, dusty ring features' interactions with the electromagnetic environment, and comparative studies of various ring/disk systems. In addition to formal sessions we will allow time for outdoor activities to make the best of Ithaca's scenic setting in the heart of the Finger Lakes. These might include hikes to spectacular waterfalls, a dinner lake cruise featuring wines from local vineyards, world-renowned museums (Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Corning Museum of Glass, Museum of the Earth), and more. Participation in the workshop is open to anyone, but space may be limited to ~100 participants on a first-come, first-served basis. Instructions for registration and abstract submissions will be given at a later time, but if you think you may attend, please e-mail M. Hedman at mmhedman@astro.cornell.edu so we may begin to obtain a rough head count. The meeting dates may shift slightly depending upon availability of rooms in Ithaca. Please let us know if you would prefer other dates. Feel free to forward this notice to any interested colleagues u) Asia Oceania Geosciences Society (Aogs) 2011 August 8-12, 2011, Taipei. http:// www.asiaoceania.org/aogs2011/public.asp?page=home.htm Abstract deadline : 15 March 2011. v) New-Horizons Workshop On Icy Surface Processes August 30 - 31, 2011 at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona. The principal objective of this workshop is to review the state of knowledge and present new ideas pertaining to the geological and geochemical processes that operate on the surfaces of icy worlds, with the goal of aiding our understanding of the Pluto system during the first reconnaissance in 2015 by NASA’s New Horizons mission. In recognition of the Lowell Observatory’s key role in the discovery of the Pluto System, Lowell is hosting the workshop on the old Observatory grounds in Flagstaff AZ. The workshop is co-sponsored by Southwest Research Institute and NASA Ames Research Center. The workshop will focus on Solar System solid body icy surfaces (anywhere in the Solar System) and the physical and geological processes that shape icy landforms and mobilize surface materials. Subjects to be covered include possible analogs for surfaces of Pluto system, compositional considerations, the physical properties of surface materials, landscape and volatile origin and evolution, the implications for other KBOs, and the plans and expected datasets resulting from Pluto system investigations by the New Horizons mission. There will be both invited and contributed talks. Contributed oral or poster papers are welcome. Participation in the workshop is open to anyone, but is limited to ~75 researchers. Instructions for registration and submissions will be given at a later date. SOC: Jeffrey Moore, Will Grundy, Alan Stern, William McKinnon, and Paul Schenk LOC: Will Grundy POC: Carrie Chavez (carrie.l.chavez@nasa.gov) ---------------------------------+