Issue 12-5, March 4, 2012
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1) DPS 2012 PRIZE NOMINATIONS REMINDER
2) HOUSE SCIENCE COMMITTEE SCHEDULES NASA BUDGET HEARING
3) RESEARCH PROGRAM PROPOSALS : ROSES-2012 & EXOZODI
4) OBSERVING CALLS : KECK AND CFHT 2012B
5) ICARUS SPECIAL ISSUE ON EXTRA-SOLAR PLANETS
6) JOB OPPORTUNITIES
7) UPCOMING MEETINGS
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DPS 2012 PRIZE NOMINATIONS REMINDER
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 can be found at prizes. The nomination form and
instructions can also be retrieved from this website. The completed nomination
form and supporting material should be emailed to [email protected].
Anyone may submit a nomination. A completed nomination will be retained and
considered by the Prize Subcommittee for three years, or as long as the nominee
is eligible, whichever is less. Past nominees may be re-nominated after the
expiration of a prior nomination. A posthumous nomination is allowed for a
limited time after the nominee’s death, except for the Sagan Medal. For specific
details, see the url noted above.
The deadline for nominations this year is May 1.
Consider for example the Carl Sagan Medal, that recognizes excellence in
public communication in planetary science. Do you have a colleague that
excels in reaching out to the public, that has a particularly effective way
of communicating new findings in our field? We want to recognize those
efforts, that are so important to the health of our field!
The Masursky Award recognizes meritorious service to planetary science. Do
you have a colleague whose efforts made a significant difference in the
success of an endeavor you’ve been involved in through engineering,
managerial, programmatic or public service activities? Consider nominating
that individual!
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HOUSE SCIENCE COMMITTEE SCHEDULES NASA BUDGET HEARING
http://www.spacepolitics.com/2012/02/27/house-science-committee-schedule…
The House Science Committee has now scheduled its usual hearing on the administration’s budget proposal for NASA. The hearing is scheduled for 2 pm on Wednesday, March 7. NASA administrator Charles Bolden is the sole scheduled witness. While members got some opportunities to pose questions (or raise concerns) about the NASA budget earlier this month when presidential science advisor John Holdren talked about the overall FY13 R&D budget proposal, this will be an opportunity for the full committee to go into greater detail with the head of the space agency about the funding, or lack thereof, for specific NASA programs.
http://science.house.gov/hearing/full-committee-hearing-overview-nasa-fy…
Full Committee Hearing – An Overview of NASA FY13 Budget
2318 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 | Mar 7, 2012 2:00pm
An Overview of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Budget for Fiscal Year 2013
Witnesses
The Honorable Charles F. Bolden, Jr., Administrator, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
The hearing will be webcast live at the above link.
House committee on Science, Space, and Technology membership:
Republican Members (23)
Ralph M. Hall, Texas
F. James Sensenbrenner, Wisconsin
Lamar S. Smith, Texas
Dana Rohrabacher, California
Roscoe G. Bartlett, Maryland
Frank D. Lucas, Oklahoma
Judy Biggert, Illinois
W. Todd Akin, Missouri
Randy Neugebauer, Texas
Michael T. McCaul, Texas
Paul Broun, Georgia
Sandy Adams, Florida
Benjamin Quayle, Arizona
Charles J. “Chuck” Fleischmann, Tennessee
Scott Rigell, Virginia
Steven Palazzo, Mississippi
Mo Brooks, Alabama
Andy Harris, M.D., Maryland
Randy Hultgren, Illinois
Chip Cravaack, Minnesota
Larry Bucshon, Indiana
Dan Benishek, Michigan
Democratic Members (17)
Eddie Bernice Johnson, Texas
Jerry F. Costello, Illinois
Lynn Woolsey, California
Zoe Lofgren, California
Brad Miller, North Carolina
Daniel Lipinski, Illinois
Donna Edwards, Maryland
Marcia L. Fudge, Ohio
Ben Ray Lujan, New Mexico
Paul Tonko, New York
Jerry McNerney, California
John Sarbanes, Maryland
Terri Sewell, Alabama
Frederica Wilson, Florida
Hansen Clarke, Michigan
Suzanne Bonamici, Oregon
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RESEARCH PROGRAM PROPOSALS
A) ROSES-2012 AND SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION AVAILABLE
The 2012 omnibus solicitation Research Opportunities in Space and
Earth Sciences (ROSES-12) has been released with PDFs, table links,
due dates, and the new versions of the Guidebook for Proposers:
http://go.nasa.gov/ROSES12
To track all updates, amendments and corrections to ROSES and
subscribe to a convenient RSS feed, see:
http://science.nasa.gov/researchers/sara/grant-solicitations/roses-2012/
Proposers should be aware of the following significant changes from
last year:
1. Public Law 112-55 prevents NASA from funding proposals with
bilateral participation, collaboration, or coordination with China
(see GIC 12-01 in Section III (c) of the ROSES-12 Summary of
Solicitation).
2. Three new programs will be using a 2-Step submission process:
Geospace Science (Appendix B.3), Solar and Heliospheric Science
(Appendix B.4), and Cassini Data Analysis and Participating Scientists
(Appendix C.10) REQUIRE a Step-1 proposal (an enhanced NOI).
(Essential) Step-1 proposal due dates for the following programs:
Solar and Heliospheric Science – 03/16/2012
Cassini Data Analysis and Participating Scientist – 03/23/2012
Geospace Science – 04/13/2012
3. Please read Section II if you are interested in a Suborbital and
Suborbital-Class Investigation.
Many other small changes and other features of note are described at:
http://science.nasa.gov/researchers/sara/faqs/#1
[Edited for length.]
B) LARGE BINOCULAR TELESCOPE INTERFEROMETER EXOZODI KEY SCIENCE TEAM PROPOSAL CALL
NASA solicits proposals to become members of the Large Binocular Telescope Interferometer (LBTI) Exozodi Key Science Team (LBTI-ST). The LBTI-ST will work under the leadership of the LBTI Principal Investigator (Dr. Phil Hinz, University of Arizona) in order to most effectively execute the exo-zodi key science program. LBTI-ST members will participate in science deliberations, target selection, LBTI observations, data processing and analysis, follow-up observations, and publication in peer-reviewed journals.
Proposals from participants are due April 27 2012.
Results of the selection will be announced in early June 2012. Additional information may be obtained from Dr. Rafael Millan-Gabet, NASA-LBTI Project Scientist, at [email protected].
For detailed information about this proposal call please refer to:
http://nexsci.caltech.edu/missions/LBTI/cfp_keysci.shtml
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OBSERVING CALLS
1) 2012B NASA KECK CALL FOR PROPOSALS
NASA is soliciting proposals to use the Keck Telescopes for the 2012B observing semester (August 2012 – January 2013). NASA intends the use of the Keck telescopes to be highly strategic in support of on-going missions and/or high priority, long term science goals. NASA Keck time is open to a wide range of disciplines including exoplanets and solar system topics, galactic and extragalactic topics, cosmology and high energy astrophysics. This semester and continuing into future semesters, there is limited time available for observations of targets based on public Kepler data or data obtained through the Kepler Guest Observer programs. In addition, this is the *final* semester to request time to support CoRoT Key Science. Proposals are also sought in the following discipline areas: (1) investigations in support of EXOPLANET EXPLORATION science goals and missions; (2) investigations of our own SOLAR SYSTEM; (3) investigations in support of COSMIC ORIGINS science goals and missions; (4) investigations in support of PHYSICS OF THE COSMOS science goals and missions; and (5) direct MISSION SUPPORT.
The proposal process is being handled by the NASA Exoplanet Science Institute (NExScI) at Caltech and all proposals are due by 4 pm PDT on March 15, 2012.
Please see the website http://nexsci.caltech.edu/missions/KeckSolicitation/index.shtml for further information and the proposal submission site. Questions not answered on these pages can be directed to [email protected].
2) 2012B CFHT CALL
The call for requests of time allocation in CFHT 2012B is open
Information can be found at :
http://www.cfht.hawaii.edu/en/science/Proposals/
And for each instrument at :
– MegaCam : http://www.cfht.hawaii.edu/en/science/QSO/ph1_MC.html ;
– WICam : http://www.cfht.hawaii.edu/en/science/QSO/ph1_WC.html.
– ESPaDOnS : http://www.cfht.hawaii.edu/en/science/QSO/ph1_ESP.html ;
– PUEO : http://www.cfht.hawaii.edu/Instruments/Imaging/AOB/
Deadline: Wednesday 21 March, at 23:59 UTC.
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ICARUS SPECIAL ISSUE ON EXTRA-SOLAR PLANETS
As announced at the Extreme Solar Systems II meeting and at the 2011
DPS/EPSC meeting, the journal Icarus would like to publish a special
issue devoted to extra-solar planets. You are encouraged to submit
original research papers on detection, characterization (orbital or
physical) or theoretical modeling (formation, dynamics, interior structure,
star-planet interactions…) of extra-solar planets.
The deadline for submission is April 15. Each paper will be reviewed
by two experts, as is standard practice for Icarus. Publication is
expected in early 2013. The special issue will also contain a few review
papers, written at the invitation of the Editors.
Icarus is traditionally viewed as an “international journal of Solar
System studies”, with emphasis on spacecraft and telescopic observations,
as well as theoretical modeling and laboratory work.
With this special issue, the journal wishes to affirm its strong interest
in extra-solar planetary science.
In Icarus, the mean time between submission and editorial response
(with 2 reviews) is 9 weeks, and the mean time from submission to final
decision is 28 weeks. Contrary to rumors, authors are free to post
manuscripts submitted to Icarus on preprint servers such as AstroPh
for more rapid dissemination of the results. This can be done at any
time, although the journal encourages authors to do so only after the
final acceptance of the paper. Icarus has no page charges, but a fee
of about US$400 is charged for each printed page with color art. (Color art
in the on-line issue is free.)
The Editors: P. Nicholson, G. Tinetti and A. Morbidelli
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JOB OPPORTUNITIES
1) SCIENTIST IN IONOSPHERIC TOMOGRAPHY AT THE FINNISH METEOROLOGICAL INSTITUTE, HELSINKI, FINLAND
The Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI, Helsinki, Finland) is seeking for a scientist in the area of ionospheric tomography with experience in GPS data analysis, starting from April 1, 2012, lasting until April 1, 2014 (2 years).
This position is part of the “TomoScand” project funded by the Academy of Finland. The main goal of this project is to obtain mesoscale 3D distributions of the ionospheric electron density over Scandinavia, with high spatial and temporal resolution, using GPS and Beacon satellite data as well as including information from the extensive network of ground-based ionospheric observations in the region.
The work of the successful applicant focuses on the analysis of data from a dense network of several hundreds of GPS receivers in Scandinavia, using tomographic inversion techniques, and on the interpretation of the results in terms of ionospheric and magnetospheric physics. The successful candidate is expected to be able to work independently along the goals of the “TomoScand” project, and to contribute to the implementation of the GPS data into a newly developed tomographic inversion routine that allows to simultaneously incorporate a multitude of different information into the inversion. Further, the successful candidate is expected to contribute to the technical aspects of acquiring and processing the GPS and Beacon satellite data.
Candidates must hold a PhD in the area of physics, mathematics, or geosciences, and should recognize themselves in as many as possible (but not necessarily all) points of the following profile:
– good or at least basic knowledge of ionospheric and magnetospheric physics
– good knowledge of mathematics (particularly inversion techniques)
– good abilities in programming and handling of large data sets
– experience in tomography (not necessarily ionospheric tomography)
– ability to work and publish independently
– ability to work in a team
Applications for the position need to be submitted not later than February 26, 2012, addressed [email protected] and cc:[email protected], including a CV, list of publications and a short statement of scientific interests.
For further information, please contact Olaf Amm, tel. +358919294689 or [email protected].
2) POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER IN DYNAMICAL MODELING OF TERRESTRIAL PLANET ACCRETION AT OBSERVATOIRE DE LA CÔTE D’AZUR (NICE, FRANCE)
This postdoc position, which can be filled for up to 4 years, is for a scientist who will investigate the dynamical process of terrestrial planet formation in collaboration with A. Morbidelli, at Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur in Nice, France.
The position is funded by the European Research Council project “Accretion and Early Differentiation of the Earth and the Terrestrial Planets” (PI. D. Rubie, Bayreuth University, Germany). The successful candidate will work in a multidisciplinary and international team with expertise that covers planetary science, accretion modeling and cosmochemistry (see: http://www.accrete.uni-bayreuth.de).
Experience in numerical simulations and/or terrestrial planet formation issues is required.
Applications, consisting of a CV, publication list, details of three referees and a statement of current and future research interests, should be sent to Dr. A. Morbidelli ([email protected]), from whom further details can be obtained.
3) POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH IN EXTRASOLAR PLANETARY SYSTEMS AND/OR PARALLEL N-BODY TOOLS (GANESVILLE, FLORIDA)
The University of Florida’s Astronomy Department invites applications
for a Postdoctoral Research Associate. The successful candidate will
collaborate with Eric Ford on research relating to the analysis of
exoplanet observations (Doppler and Kepler), orbital dynamics of
planetary systems, planet formation, and/or development of GPU-based
n-body tools. The successful applicant will be encouraged to develop
new initiatives related to these areas and to participate in the
department’s intellectual activities. Closely related research at UF
currently includes exoplanet searches, planetary dynamics, star
formation, planetary atmospheres, and instrumentation. UF has
extensive high-performance computing facilities and is a partner in
the 10.4m Gran Telescopio Canarias Observatory and the SDSS III
survey.
Position includes a competitive salary, health benefits, and research
funds. The anticipated start date is Summer or Fall 2012. The
appointment is renewable annually for up to 3 years based on
satisfactory performance, needs of the Department and College, and
available funding. Ph.D. in relevant field by starting date required.
Interested applicants should submit a CV, publications list, statement
of research accomplishments, interests and plans, and names and email
addresses of three potential references. Please note experience in
scientific and/or parallel programming. All application materials
should be sent to Eric Ford<[email protected]> (email
preferred). Applicaitons will be considered immediately until the
position is filled. Women and underrepresented minorities are strongly
encouraged to apply.
The University of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Institution
More information about Ford’s research group and UF Astronomy are
available athttp://www.astro.ufl.edu/~eford/ and
http://www.astro.ufl.edu/.
Included Benefits:
Information about health insurance (UF PostDocCare) is available at
http://hr.ufl.edu/benefits/post_doc_care/bcbs.asp which states “There
is no cost to the Postdoctoral Associate for PostDocCare coverage;
coverage for both the Postdoctoral Associate and covered dependents is
paid for by the University of Florida.”
Information about optional dental insurance (multiple choices with
different premiums) are available at
http://hr.ufl.edu/benefits/insurance/supplemental/dental.asp
4) EAS JOB OFFERS
We would like to draw your attention to the EAS Job page. You can find
it by going to this URL : http://eas.unige.ch/jobs.jsp?tab=job.
To upload job-related information simply click on “Post a new Job
Offer”. Then you can select in “Offer Type:” both “Job Offer” or “PhD
position”. This service is free. EAS Members can login using their
membership details.
If you are not a member of EAS, you can request a guest account to
login.
5) POSTDOCTORAL POSITION AT UCLA
The Department of Earth and Space Sciences at UCLA invites applications for a postdoctoral position in the field of planetary science. The postdoc will be expected to participate in the analysis of Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment observations of the Moon, and produce a set of improved mapped data products. See http://diviner.ucla.edu for more information. Applicants with a background in planetary surfaces, remote sensing, computer science, large datasets, parallel computing, Fortran, and Unix are encouraged to apply.
The initial appointment is a full-time 1-year appointment beginning as early as April, 2012 with an expectation of continuation depending on progress and availability of funding.
Applicants should send a CV with a list of publications, addresses and e-mail addresses of at least 2 references, and a one page summary of current research to Professor David A. Paige – [email protected].
The University of California is an Equal-Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer
6) LRO-LAMP POSTDOCTORAL POSITION AT SWRI
The Lyman Alpha Mapping Project (LAMP) on the Lunar Reconnaissance
Orbiter (LRO) mission is seeking a postdoctoral planetary scientist to
join our team’s investigations of a variety of lunar science questions
using far-UV observations of the lunar surface. Topics of study include
characterization of permanently shaded regions at the lunar poles,
mapping of surface water frost and hydrates, and identifying regional
space weathering effects. The far-UV map and spectra analyses to be
performed include comparisons with other LRO and lunar datasets for
detailed surveys of regions of interest. Applicants having experience
with imaging and/or spectroscopy from space-based observations, and a
background in scientific analysis and publication of lunar geology
and/or volatiles topics are encouraged to apply.
This is a 1 year limited term position at Southwest Research Institute
in San Antonio, TX, with extension dependent on availability of funding.
Visit http://www.swri.edu/HR/JobListing.asp and enter Job Code 15-01040
to apply now. For additional inquiries contact Dr. Kurt Retherford at
[email protected].
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Additional Career opportunities are listed at http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/careers/
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UPCOMING MEETINGS
INTERNATIONAL PLANETARY PROBE – 9 WORKSHOP – ABSTRACT DEADLINE EXTENDED
Week of June 17, 2012 in Toulouse, France.
Abstract deadline extended 16 March 2012
Al Seiff Award nomination deadline 15 March 2012
The 9th International Planetary Probe Workshop (IPPW-9) will be held in Toulouse, France on June 18-22, 2012. It will be hosted by ISAE (Institut Supérieur de l’Aéronautique et de l’Espace) on its campus. The list of session topics includes: Giants planets, Titan, Venus, Mars, Airless & Primitive Bodies, Science and technologies of probes, Landers and penetrators, Earth entry and Sample return technologies.
Short course
In addition to the five-day workshop, a two day short course is normally held on a related topic during the preceding weekend. The topic selected for IPPW-9 is “ Probe Science Instrumentation Technologies ” (June 16-17, 2012).
For more information, the website for the workshop is:
http://www.planetaryprobe.eu/
CONTACTS:
The IPPW9 conference secretariat
Carte Blanche
7, chemin En Barbaro – 81710 Saïx – France
Phone: +33 – 5 63 72 30 73 – Fax: +33 – 5 63 72 30 32
Email: [email protected]
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OPAG MEETING, MARCH 29-30, 2012, ST. LOUIS
The Outer Planets Assessment Group (OPAG) will meet 29-30 March at the
Renaissance Grand St. Louis Hotel, St. Louis, Missouri. Information
regarding hotel and other logistics can be found at:
Potential attendees are kindly asked to go to this website, and click
on the invitation link and RSVP for attendance (this will assist our
meeting planners). Please note that the hotel room block closes
7 March 2012.
This OPAG meeting will focus on the the recently released FY13 NASA
budget for Planetary Science, reports from the Europa Science
Definition team on the 3 Europa options, a report from our European
colleagues on JUICE, and other important, related matters. A detailed
agenda will follow.
Bill McKinnon, OPAG Chair
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TRANSITING PLANETS IN THE HOUSE OF THE SUN: A WORKSHOP ON M DWARF STARS AND THEIR PLANETS
3-6 June 2012, Maui, HI
http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/GG/FACULTY/GAIDOS/haleakala.html
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THE ORIGINS OF STARS AND PLANETARY SYSTEMS
10-15 June 2012, Hamilton, Ontario
http://origins.physics.mcmaster.ca/oi_planets/
Ralph Pudritz ([email protected])
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2012 SAGAN SUMMER WORKSHOP: WORKING WITH EXOPLANET LIGHT CURVES
23-27 July 2012, Pasadena, CA
Dawn Gelino ([email protected])
http://nexsci.caltech.edu/workshop/2012/
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THE SPACE RESOURCES ROUNDTABLE (SRR) AND THE PLANETARY & TERRESTRIAL MINING SCIENCES SYMPOSIUM (PTMSS), IN COLLABORATION WITH THE LUNAR AND PLANETARY INSTITUTE (LPI),
will convene their third joint meeting on June 4–7, 2012, at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado.
A special bonus this year will be the Transit-of-Venus observation event that we have prepared for the afternoon of June 5. This is an astronomical occurrence you won’t be able to experience again in your lifetime!
For more information, please visit the SRR webpage at: http://www.isruinfo.com and open the SRR/PTMSS 1st Announcement pdf file.
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AOGS-AGU(WPGM) JOINT ASSEMBLY
Resort Worlds Sentosa, Singapore
13-17 August 2012
**** ABSTRACT SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS March 12 ****
Website:
www.asiaoceania.org/aogs2012
Session PS09 – Active Satellites in the Outer Solar System
Convenors: Dr. Dennis Matson (JPL); Dr. Athena Coustenis (Paris Observatory); Dr. Steven Vance (JPL); Dr. Ashley Davies (JPL)
This is a session of contributed and invited papers on the geophysics of satellites, especially those that are currently active – Io, Enceladus, Triton, and possibly Europa and Ganymede. Research is progressing rapidly due to the stream of new spacecraft data. Welcome are papers on processes that affect the interiors of individual bodies as well as the surface expressions they produce. Included are the affects and chronology of internal heating (e.g., radioactivity, tidal dissipation, and other), structural evolution (e.g., differentiation), tides, and other processes. These geophysical processes themselves are universal in their application and transcend the compartmentalization suggested by nomenclature such as “satellite,” “dwarf planet,” “asteroid,” “comet,” “KBO,” “TNO,” “parent body,” and “planetesimal”.