Issue 26-08, July 3, 2026
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- IN MEMORIAM: FRANCOIS RAULIN
- AAS ACTION ALERT: SUBMIT COMMENTS OPPOSING HARMFUL CHANGES TO FEDERAL GRANTS
- RESOURCES FOR THE PLANETARY SCIENCE COMMUNITY TO RESPOND TO OMB’S PROPOSED GRANT-MAKING RULE CHANGES
- DPS-58 REGULAR REGISTRATION OPEN; LATE ABSTRACT DEADLINE EXTENDED
- LOW-COST MEETING OBSERVER OPTION AT DPS-58
- CONFERENCE LODGING AT DPS-58
- INFORMATION FOR DPS-58 EXHIBITORS AND SPONSORS
- STUDENT LED REU PRESENTATIONS AT DPS-58
- DEPENDENT CARE APPLICATIONS DPS-58
- FIELD TRIP FOR DPS-58
- DPS SEEKS A NEW SECRETARY
- DPS SEEKS A NEW EDUCATION SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR
- DPS ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS SUBCOMMITTEE SOLICITS MEMBERS
- JOIN THE INAUGURAL UPLIFT PHYSICISTS PROGRAM (UPP) COHORT – APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN!
- AGU SESSION P026 – STARS TO EXOPLANETS, SUN TO EARTH: BRIDGING DISCIPLINES IN SEARCH OF HABITABILITY IS NOW OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS
- [GSA 2026] GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA CONNECTS ANNUAL MEETING: ABSTRACT SUBMISSION IS OPEN
- SAVE THE DATE: SYMPOSIUM ON PLANETARY REGOLITH AND AEOLIAN PROCESSES: A TRIBUTE TO THE LIFE AND CAREER OF ROB SULLIVAN
- ICARUS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR A NEW EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
- WORKSHOP ON THE INTEGRATED SCIENCE OF COMETS
- NASA PLANETARY DATA TRAINING WORKSHOP
- MARS L1 WORKSHOP – EXPLORING A RED PLANET SPACE WEATHER MISSION CONCEPT
- ROSES-25 AMENDMENT 60: DUE DATE EXTENDED FOR C.2 SOLAR SYSTEM SCIENCE
- SELF NOMINATIONS BEING ACCEPTED TO JOIN THE SBAG STEERING COMMITTEE
- AGU 2026 SESSION P003 – CREATING SUSTAINABLE HABITATS AND ECOSYSTEMS BEYOND EARTH
- TABLES OF CONTENTS FOR ICARUS AND THE PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL
- JOBS, POSITIONS, AND OPPORTUNITIES
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IN MEMORIAM: FRANCOIS RAULIN
It is with immense sadness that we learned of the passing of our colleague and friend François, one of the founders of the French Society for Exobiology and its first president.
François was one of the architects of the emergence and growth of exobiology in France. He was among those who gave substance, rigor, and credibility to a discipline that, in its early days, seemed almost like a scientific dream. Through his pioneering work on prebiotic chemistry, planetary atmospheres, Mars, comets, and Titan, he helped establish French astrobiology as an internationally recognized field of excellence.
Beyond his own scientific contributions, François played a pivotal role in building and nurturing the exobiology community. He understood that progress in the search for life in the Universe requires dialogue across disciplines, and he worked tirelessly to foster collaboration and mutual learning among astrophysicists, chemists, biologists, geologists, and philosophers of science. He was equally committed to sharing the excitement of exobiology with the broader public, helping generations discover the profound questions at the heart of this field.
At the Laboratoire Interuniversitaire des Systèmes Atmosphériques (LISA), where he was one of the laboratory’s iconic figures and among its first directors, François helped create an environment in which intellectual boldness went hand in hand with scientific excellence. Today, exobiology and astrochemistry hold a prominent place within the laboratory’s activities, and they continue to bear the imprint of his vision, dedication, and leadership.
For more than 30 years, François also served under different roles the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR), and until present days he was still a member of the Editorial Board and of the Panel on Planetary Protection, placing his expertise at the service of safe and sustainable scientific space exploration. Even in recent months, it was a pleasure to see him actively contributing to our discussions and meetings, always bringing thoughtful insight and perspective.
Yet it would be impossible to define François solely through his scientific achievements.We will remember a man whose intellectual energy and boundless curiosity remained undiminished until his final days. He had a unique gift for communicating the most profound questions—how life began on Earth, whether life exists elsewhere in the Universe—with enthusiasm, clarity, and wonder. He could make even the most complex subjects accessible, not only to his students and doctoral candidates, but to anyone fortunate enough to cross his path.
Many of us will never forget the sparkle in his eyes when discussing a new discovery, a space mission, or a bold scientific hypothesis. As a testament to his enduring passion, François was still actively participating in the latest CNES meetings dedicated to the ExoMars mission—an endeavor to which he had been one of the key contributors—only two weeks ago. He was already looking ahead to the mission’s launch preparations and to the scientific opportunities that would unfold from 2028 onward.
François belonged to that generation of researchers who opened entirely new paths without ever seeking recognition for themselves. His influence is measured not only by his publications and his involvement in major international space missions, but also by the countless vocations he inspired. Several generations of students, doctoral researchers, academics, and engineers benefited from his confidence, guidance, encouragement, and unwavering generosity. I was privileged to have known him and benefited from his teaching and from his friendship even when I was a student. And then to have exchanged and worked together on the Cassini-Huygens mission where he was one of the Interdisciplinary scientists, ensuring optimal outputs from the many instruments of the mission over the years of its duration. We could never thank François enough for all that he gave to science, to exobiology, and to each of us personally.
In a discipline devoted to the search for life in the Universe, François constantly reminded us that science is, above all, a human adventure. He had a rare ability to bring people together, to build communities, and to share knowledge with generosity and humility. His humanity, kindness, and intellectual elegance will remain deeply engraved in the memories of all those who had the privilege of working alongside him.
François’ vision will continue to guide us toward the worlds he devoted his life to investigating.
To his family, his loved ones, his colleagues, and his many former students, we extend our heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathies.
Athena Coustenis for the COSPAR Panel on Planetary Protection
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AAS ACTION ALERT: SUBMIT COMMENTS OPPOSING HARMFUL CHANGES TO FEDERAL GRANTS
On 29 May 2026, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released a proposed rule that alters how the government handles the management of federal grants and other forms of financial assistance. Among the many changes in this proposed rule, OMB proposes giving political appointees greater control over the grant selection process, expanding the authority of the government to terminate active grants if they do not align with Administration priorities, and placing significant restrictions on the use of federal funds for publishing costs, conference attendance, and international collaborations.
Please take action! The AAS and DPS encourage individuals to submit comments to this proposed rulemaking by the deadline of 13 July 2026. Please reach out to[email protected]with any questions.
– Participate in AAS’s Action Alert now!
– Learn more about the proposed changes from the AAS blog post
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RESOURCES FOR THE PLANETARY SCIENCE COMMUNITY TO RESPOND TO OMB’S PROPOSED GRANT-MAKING RULE CHANGES
The Planetary Society has created the following resources to help the planetary science community respond to these proposed rule changes during the open comment period:
(1) A tracked-changes dashboard comparing the current and proposed regulatory text, section by section: https://dashboards.planetary.org/rules-change/
(2) Our advocacy action, the quickest way for someone to submit a comment, with guidance on making it personal and effective: https://planetary.org/ombgrantrules
(3) An overview article detailing the impacts these regulatory changes would have on NASA Science: https://planetary.org/articles/when-science-answers-to-politics
The comment period is open until July 13.
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DPS-58 REGULAR REGISTRATION OPEN; LATE ABSTRACT DEADLINE EXTENDED
https://aas.org/meetings/dps58/registration
https://submissions.mirasmart.com/DPS58/Splash.aspx
Regular registration and a newly extended period for late abstract submission are open for DPS-58 at the Spokane Convention Center, 25-30 October 2026. DPS will be a hybrid meeting with live-streamed in-person and recorded virtual talks and in-person posters. Three classes of
registration include: full in-person, full virtual, and virtual meeting observer for low cost. Abstract submission will indicate a science theme plus a class of bodies pertinent to the abstract, from which the Science Organizing Committee will formulate the program. There is also an option to submit to a special session:
– 5 Years of Perseverance Exploration at Jezero
– Juno at 10 years
– 20 years of MRO observing Mars
– 30 years of asteroid rendezvous missions
– Interstellar comets
Regular registration deadline: 28 July 2026 at 9:00pm ET
Late abstract EXTENDED DEADLINE: 30 July 2026 at 12:00pm ET
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LOW-COST MEETING OBSERVER OPTION AT DPS-58
Are you interested in planetary science, and ready to attend professional talks on topics of interest, but costs of a professional conference are not affordable? DPS is pleased to announce a virtual attendance option that can fit a tightly constrained budget, as a virtual meeting observer. This option is meant for a wide variety of planetary science amateurs and professionals:
- amateurs who want a deeper dive than what is in the popular press
- leaders of high-school science clubs who will share with a group
- students and faculty at community colleges and tribal colleges
- retired professionals who lack emeritus status in a professional society
- active professionals who don’t have funding to attend *all* the conferences they would like
The virtual attendance option, available for $50 (a modest out-of-pocket cost), allows full watching and listening to oral presentations and access to recorded sessions.
For more information visit the DPS-58 registration page.
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CONFERENCE LODGING AT DPS-58
Please consider arranging your hotel for DPS-58 at official conference lodging. There is a block of rooms at government rates, and lodging is connected to the conference venue—the Spokane Convention Center—via a covered a walkway. The hotel features an onsite restaurant and other options are located nearby. Utilizing this lodging will cut both cost to attend the conference and carbon footprint to attend the conference by eliminating the need for car rental.
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INFORMATION FOR DPS-58 EXHIBITORS AND SPONSORS
The Local Organizing Committee for DPS-58 is soliciting exhibitors and sponsors for the meeting. Exhibitor spaces are located in a heavily trafficked are between the poster sessions and common area in a large, shared ballroom. If you are interested, please contact Conor Sherry ([email protected]) at the American Astronomical Society.
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STUDENT LED REU PRESENTATIONS AT DPS-58
The Science Organizing Committee for DPS-58 is aware that the regular abstract deadline of June 11 was early for students participating in a summer internship program such as Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU). The late abstract deadline has been extended to July 30. When submitting a student-led abstract to DPS-58 that describes work completed as part of an REU or other internship, authors are asked to note in the “Special requests” field that the abstract is student-led work from an REU or other internship, and whether oral or poster presentation is desired. For such abstracts, oral presentation will be considered even for submissions made as “late abstracts” by July 30.
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DEPENDENT CARE APPLICATIONS DPS-58
The Division for Planetary Sciences (DPS) offers Susan Niebur Dependent Care grants to support attendance at DPS-58 to be held 25-30 October 2026 in Spokane, Washington, U.S.A. These grants provide financial assistance to qualifying members to facilitate their meeting
attendance by offsetting costs for child care, elder care, spousal care, etc., at the meeting location or at home during the DPS conference. Apply for a dependent care grant here:
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FIELD TRIP FOR DPS-58
You are all invited for a planetary field trip to take place the Sunday (October 25) before this fall’s DPS meeting in Spokane, Washington. Eastern Washington’s geology boasts particularly strong planetary connections. Spokane sits on the Columbia River Flood Basalts – lava a kilometer deep from just 15 million years ago that serves as an analog for basalt flows on the Moon and Mars as well as Mercury, Venus, and even Vesta. This part of the country is also
known as the Channeled Scablands due to water megaflood features from Pleistocene glacial Lake Missoula. The megaflood features match streamlined hills and other surface flow features from Mars. The trip will return to the Spokane Convention Center in time for the opening reception. You will soon be able to register on the AAS site for ~$165, which covers bus transportation from the conference center and lunch. Most stops are just overlooks, and so don’t require hiking, but some have very short walks to outcrops. Should be a great time if you can make it!
– Jason W. Barnes, Local Organizing Committee Chair, DPS58 https://aas.org/meetings/dps58
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DPS SEEKS A NEW SECRETARY
As she nears the completion of a 3-year term as DPS Secretary, Dr. Denise Stephens has announced that she will be stepping aside from that position to focus on research and teaching. The term of office is expiring and it is time for a change.
The DPS seeks a motivated, organized candidate to succeed Dr. Stephens as DPS Secretary. If this impactful position interests you, submit a letter of interest and a CV to DPS Chair Scott Murchie at [email protected] or [email protected]. As DPS Secretary, you would be part of the DPS Executive Committee, helping to lead the division and to formulate rapid responses to planetary community events. Regular duties of the DPS Secretary are to:
- Compile and distribute eNews to DPS members;
- Take minutes of meetings and archive them;
- Maintain DPS records and documents including the DPS Meeting Guide, instruction guides for subcommittees, official Committee and Subcommittee membership lists, letterhead, bylaws, and membership data;
- Oversee membership applications and the membership roster;
- Collected statements from candidates for elected DPS offices identified by the Nominating Subcommittee, circulate them, conduct the annual election, and announce the results;
- Prepare prize certificates and citations; and
- Contribute to the corporate memory of DPS along with other officers.
Nominees are reviewed by the DPS Committee and one candidate will be elected to a 3-year term.
If you are interested please contact DPS Chair Scott Murchie and submit a CV at [email protected] or [email protected]
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DPS SEEKS A NEW EDUCATION SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR
The DPS seeks a successor to Dr. Sanlyn Buxner as Chair of the DPS Education Subcommittee. If you are interested please contact DPS Chair Scott Murchie and submit a CV at [email protected] or [email protected].
The Chair of the Education Subcommittee oversees the following activities:
- Maintains the Education portion of the DPS website together with the DPS webmaster
- Maintains the searchable database of Research Experiences for Undergraduate students in planetary science
- Maintains the searchable database of graduate schools for planetary science
- Intermittently, manages DPS Education and Outreach Grants – ($200 to $500) – awarded on rolling basis
- Supports education-related activities during DPS meetings in coordination with DPS leadership and other committees
Nominees are reviewed by the DPS Committee and one candidate will be elected to a 3-year term.
If you are interested please contact DPS Chair Scott Murchie and submit a CV at [email protected] or [email protected]
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DPS ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS SUBCOMMITTEE SOLICITS MEMBERS
The DPS Environmental Affairs Subcommittee (EAS) is soliciting new members. If you are interested please contact EAS Chair Rosemary Killen at [email protected] with your name, affiliation and email. In addition, please provide a brief statement concerning your priorities for environmental sustainability as it relates to the DPS.
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JOIN THE INAUGURAL UPLIFT PHYSICISTS PROGRAM (UPP) COHORT – APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN!
The Uplift Physicists Program (UPP) is a newly launched mentorship initiative created by the National Society of Black Physicists (NSBP) Student Council in partnership with the National Society of Hispanic Physicists (NSHP) with the mission of fostering meaningful mentorship, community, and professional development opportunities for students pursuing careers in physics and related STEM fields. Through intentional mentor-mentee pairings, UPP is designed to strengthen pathways into physics by connecting undergraduate students with graduate students who can provide guidance, encouragement, and insight as they navigate their academic and professional journeys.
We are currently seeking undergraduate students interested in participating as mentees as well as graduate students interested in serving as mentors for our inaugural 2026–2027 cohort. Participation is open to current members of NSBP and NSHP, and all active members are eligible to apply. If you are not currently a member but are interested in joining the program, we encourage you to visit either organization’s website to become a member and take advantage of this exciting opportunity. If you are passionate about mentorship, community building, and supporting the next generation of physicists, we encourage you to apply. We encourage advisors to please share this opportunity with their students.
For additional information or to apply to join, please visit this link. Applications close July 30th, 2026 but if you have any questions, feel free to contact Ayanna Mann at [email protected].
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AGU SESSION P026 – STARS TO EXOPLANETS, SUN TO EARTH: BRIDGING DISCIPLINES IN SEARCH OF HABITABILITY IS NOW OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS
The research of all four of NASA’s science divisions provides critical insights into the formation and evolution of planetary systems, particularly those that may be capable of supporting life. Working across these science divisions is a must for the community to make forward progress. In this session, we seek to highlight work that demonstrates that interdisciplinary ideal. We want to hear about your laboratory experiments, theoretical studies, modeling efforts, and observations. Whether your work applies lessons learned from old contexts to new (e.g., Earth biology and planetary evolution to exoplanets broadly), or takes a novel approach to characterizing exoplanet systems and their potential to harbor life, we want to hear from you. This session is sponsored by NASA’s Nexus for Exoplanet System Science (NExSS), a research coordination network aimed at fostering communication and collaboration across disciplines in exoplanet research. Early career researchers are especially encouraged to showcase their work.
The conveners – Ofer Cohen (Mass Lowell), Linda Sohl (NASA GISS), and Hilairy Hartnett (UW)
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[GSA 2026] GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA CONNECTS ANNUAL MEETING:
ABSTRACT SUBMISSION IS OPEN
Abstract submission is open for the Geological Society of America Connects Annual Meeting, October 11-14 in Denver! https://connects.geosociety.org/
Planetary related sessions include:
- Big Science from Small Worlds
- Boxwork and Fracture Halos: Changes in mineralogy and erosion resistance around fracture features on Earth, Mars, and across the Solar System
- Friends of Hoth, Rogue Moons: Icy Ocean Worlds
- The G.K. Gilbert Award Session
- Geomorphology and Landscape Evolution of Mars
- Geomorphology and Surface Processes Across the Solar System
- Hydrothermal Processes Across the Solar System
- Impact Cratering: From the Earth into the Solar System
- Mineralogy in the Solar System
- Myths and Misrepresentations surrounding Cosmic Impact claims in Paleoclimatology, Paleontology, Paleoecology, Geoarchaeology, and Quaternary Research
- Planetary Exploration and Education: How We Learn About Our Solar System and Beyond
- Planetary sample science: Unlocking the history of lunar, Martian, and asteroidal materials
- Shake and Bake: Volcanism and Tectonism across the Solar System
- The Astro-Geoheritage of the Solar System: Past Explorations and Future Considerations
- Venus and Earth: Separated at Birth
Abstract deadline: August 6
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SAVE THE DATE: SYMPOSIUM ON PLANETARY REGOLITH AND AEOLIAN PROCESSES: A TRIBUTE TO THE LIFE AND CAREER OF ROB SULLIVAN
“Symposium on Planetary Regolith and Aeolian Processes: A tribute to the life and career of Rob Sullivan” will take place October 12-13, 2026 at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. The program will include public lectures, keynote speakers, and contributed talks. For more information and registration, go to https://astro.cornell.edu/news/symposium-planetary-regolith-and-aeolian-processes-tribute-life-and-career-rob-sullivan
Keynote Speakers and symposium agenda will be announced soon.
SOC: Don Banfield (Ames), Jim Bell (ASU), Alex Hayes, Julie Rathbun (Cornell)
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ICARUS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR A NEW EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
The role of the Editor-in-Chief, along with other members of the Editorial Board of the Journal and Elsevier, is to manage the peer review process for manuscripts submitted to the journal using the online journal system.
The Editor-in-Chief role entails:
- Responsibility for the scientific content of the Journal taking into account the Aims and Scope, the Publisher’s editorial policies as updated from time to time (including without limitation those on ethics and AI in publishing found at the Publisher’s website) and the editorial policy of the Journal.
- The evaluation and selection of articles for publication in the Journal that are consistent with the high standards of the journal.
- Assisting in the recruitment of Associate Editors who are tasked with coordinating an objective and unbiased peer-review process for submitted Articles, ensuring that they obtain a minimum of (2) reviews for each article, and will reject, or return for revision to the authors Articles that do not meet the required standards of the Journal.
- Ensuring an appropriate and sufficient level of submissions of Articles for publication to meet the publication goals of the Journal. If necessary, the Editor will solicit Articles to help meet such publication goals.
- Conduct activities in accordance with generally accepted industry standards for integrity and objectivity in all matters respecting the selection, editing, acceptance and reviewing of Articles
The Editor-in-Chief is asked to periodically participate in discussions with Elsevier about the journal’s development and potential new initiatives. The Editor team will hold meetings approximately twice a year via video call, as well as in-person meetings in conjunction with certain events or training sessions, as required.
The Editor-in-Chief is also tasked with liaising with the Division for Planetary Sciences of the American Astronomical Society, annually, providing them with updates on the journal.
The applicants:
- Must have a PhD in a field of study relevant to the scope of this journal and have demonstrated broad expertise in the field of planetary science.
- Be knowledgeable in research publishing, managing a journal publication, the peer review process and in growing a journal
- Demonstrate skills as a good collaborator with ability to lead a team effectively
Elsevier is committed to inclusion and diversity in our work and want the Journal to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. We are therefore committed to ensuring that the Editorial Board is representative, and encourage all individuals interested to apply for a position with the board.
Interested candidates are asked to provide a complete CV, including publication record, as well as a one-page summary of their relevant experience and area of expertise for this Editor-in-Chief position by July 27, 2026. Please include up to three references.
Applications and relevant supporting documents must be sent to Christina Gifford, Publisher, [email protected].
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WORKSHOP ON THE INTEGRATED SCIENCE OF COMETS
The Workshop on the Integrated Science of Comets: From Laboratory Studies of Cometary Materials to Remote Observations is scheduled for September 22–24, 2026, at the Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) in Houston, Texas. The workshop will be held in person with opportunities for virtual participation and presentations.
Abstract submission deadline: July 12, 2026
Registration fees are not being collected for this workshop, but registration is required. Registration will be available through September 24. Before the workshop, all registrants will receive an email from Houston Meeting Info with virtual connection information.
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NASA PLANETARY DATA TRAINING WORKSHOP
The NASA Planetary Data Training Workshops project is offering our in-person only August Planetary Data Training Workshop, to be held at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona on Tuesday-Friday, August 11-14, 2026. The content will cover training in various software to analyze planetary surface data including JMARS, ArcGIS Pro, ISIS3, QGIS, and techniques for planetary geologic mapping. Two $2000 Travel grants are available for early career participants to build the US planetary workforce. Please visit this webpage for the Google Docs Reservation form and separate Travel Grant form:
https://rgcps.asu.edu/gis-pdtw-2026-aug
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MARS L1 WORKSHOP – EXPLORING A RED PLANET SPACE WEATHER MISSION CONCEPT
The NASA Space Weather Program would like to invite the community to participate in the “Mars L1 Workshop – Exploring a Red Planet Space Weather Mission Concept”. This 2.5 day workshop from October 20-22, 2026 at NASA Ames Research Center will focus on user needs, observational requirements, and science opportunities of a potential dedicated space weather mission at the Sun-Mars L1 point. The workshop aims to bring together academia, industry, government partners, and end-users to conceptualize what a mission designed specifically to support future robotic and human exploration at Mars could look like. The workshop will be hybrid and is free to attend.
Abstract submission will be open through Friday July 10, 2026. Submit an abstract and register for the workshop at https://sservi.nasa.gov/mars-l1/.
Questions and comments may be sent to [email protected].
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ROSES-25 AMENDMENT 60: DUE DATE EXTENDED FOR C.2 SOLAR SYSTEM SCIENCE
C.2 Solar System Science solicits proposals for research, data analysis, data preservation, and tools that support investigations to help ascertain the content, origin, and evolution of the Solar System and the search for life’s origin, evolution, distribution, and future in the universe. The Planetary Science Division is committed to supporting the most meritorious research, data analysis, data preservation, and tools development, and encourages efforts that involve emerging fields, systems science, and convergence research that works across disciplines to solve compelling scientific problems. Proposals may be submitted at any time, but reviews will occur a few times a year (see Table C.2-1 in Section 3.1).
Anonymized technical proposals may be submitted at any time, but reviews will occur a few times a year (see Table C.2-1 in Section 3.1). ROSES-2025 Amendment 60 adds a new row to Table C.2-1 in Section 3.1 with a new final cutoff date of November 12, 2026.
Those planning to submit to this November due date should be aware of two upcoming changes:
Potential proposers are reminded in Section 3.1 that for any proposal for federal assistance submitted > August 5, 2026, PIs and any Co-Is that would spend > 10% time on a proposed grants or cooperative agreements must certify they have taken research security training. NASA will be satisfied with the four online research security training modules on the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Research Security Training website at https://www.nsf.gov/research-security/training or the SECURE Center condensed version of the four modules at https://www.secure-center.org/ctm
The Summary of Requirements for Expertise and Resources Not Anonymized Document in Section 3.5 was updated to indicate that biographical sketches and current and pending support documents submitted after September 1, 2026 must use the NASA-specific Science Experts Network Curriculum Vitae (SciENcv) format found at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sciencv/, per Grant Notice 26-01.
On or about July 2, 2026, this Amendment to the NASA Research Announcement “Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 2025” (NNH25ZDA001N) will be posted on the NASA research opportunity homepage at https://solicitation.nasaprs.com/ROSES2025 and will appear on SARA’s ROSES blog at: https://science.nasa.gov/researchers/solicitations/roses-2025/
Questions concerning C.2 Solar System Science may be directed to Katharine Robinson, Rebekah Dawson-Rigas, and Curtis Williams at [email protected].
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SELF NOMINATIONS BEING ACCEPTED TO JOIN THE SBAG STEERING COMMITTEE
Building on the recent successful SBAG meeting, the Steering Committee (SC) warmly invites individuals from around the world to self-nominate to join the SBAG SC. The nominal term of service is three years, starting in August 2026. The next few years will be a pivotal period for SBAG, and we are particularly interested in recruiting members who are eager to help shape SBAG’s future.
SBAG’s ability to thrive depends on volunteers and we urge members of the community to consider self-nominating. The time commitment for SC members is a few hours a month, plus semiannual SBAG meetings. Please send application packages to the SBAG Chair, Terik Daly, ([email protected]) by July 17, 2026, 8:00 PM EDT.
Applications for Steering Committee membership must include: (1) a two-page CV, including a description of participation in SBAG, other small-bodies organizations, or related activities; and (2) a short statement of interest (300 words maximum). Selection criteria include participation in small-bodies community organizations, commissions, panels, committees, or related activities; demonstrated leadership experience; and relevant research, mission, or technical experience. Please reach out to Terik Daly, contact above, if you have any questions.
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AGU 2026 SESSION P003 – CREATING SUSTAINABLE HABITATS AND ECOSYSTEMS BEYOND EARTH
If we decide in the future to create sustainable habitats and ecosystems beyond Earth, enlarging our environmental responsibilities, then science will have a critical role to play. As the cost of access to space continues to fall, a fresh look at the research agenda for creating sustainable habitats and ecosystems is timely and necessary. We encourage contributions on all aspects of either local terraforming or global terraforming on or beyond Earth, including planetary atmospheres, climate modeling and climate feedbacks, monitoring of climate change beyond Earth, spacecraft data analysis, hydrology, soil/regolith composition, soil and regolith characterization and remediation for biological suitability, biogeochemistry, in-situ resource utilization for environmental control and life-support, oxygen production, ecology, and space physics, as well as the exploration and distribution of terraforming-relevant resources. Submissions on technologies and techniques that support applied astrobiology goals are particularly encouraged.
To submit an abstract, please visit:
https://agu.confex.com/agu/agu26/prelim.cgi/Session/279867
Conveners: Edwin Kite, Nils Averesch, and Chuanfei Dong
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TABLES OF CONTENTS FOR ICARUS AND THE PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL
The current issues for both DPS-affiliated journals are here:
Icarus:
Icarus | Vol 452, 1 July 2026 | ScienceDirect.com by Elsevier
The Planetary Science Journal:
Issue 7 – Volume 7 – The Planetary Science Journal – IOPscience
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JOBS, POSITIONS, AND OPPORTUNITIES
Job seekers and employers are encouraged to browse DPS’s job listings and advertise open positions **for free** on the DPS job board.
Full details for several new positions can be found on the DPS job board.
A summary of recent job announcements and postdoc opportunities is listed below.
- NEO Surveyor Assistant Survey Scientist Position at UCLA
NASA’s Near-Earth Object (NEO) Surveyor is a planned mission (launch: September 2027) with a goal of finding, identifying, and characterizing potentially hazardous asteroids in our Solar System. The Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences is an academic unit within the UCLA Division of Physical Sciences. The NEO Surveyor Assistant Survey Scientist will be supported under UCLA’s contract with NASA. The NEO Surveyor Assistant Survey Scientist will work with the Principal Investigator and Science Team in developing the NEO Surveyor survey plan, which determines where the Observatory points as a function of time. The Assistant Survey Scientist will participate in testing and verifying that the survey plan obeys survey rules defined by the Science Team. The Assistant Survey Scientist will also participate actively in studying the ability to link detections of small body candidates observed by NEO Surveyor to ensure that they result in the determination of high-quality orbits. Qualifications for the position include: 1+ years research experience in planetary astrophysics, solar system bodies, exoplanets or related subarea(s); strong programming skills with 2+ years Python or equiv. language programming experience; ability to interpret copious amounts of complex technical information and data. More information on the position, including qualifications, compensation range, benefits and how to apply are provided in the full position description website: https://jobs.ucla.edu/careers-home/jobs/10520
- NASA SMD Graduate Student Research Solicitation – Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology
Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology(FINESST) F.5 of ROSES-25 solicits proposals from accredited U.S. universities and other eligible organizations for graduate student-designed and performed research projects that contribute to SMD’s science, technology, and exploration goals. The Future Investigator, i.e., the student, shall have the primary initiative to define the proposed FINESST research project and must be the primary author, with input or supervision from the proposal’s Principal Investigator, as appropriate.
ROSES-2025 Amendment 52 releases final text and due dates for Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology (FINESST) F.5 of ROSES-25, which was previously TBD. For more information, please visit: F.5 Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology (FINESST).
Neither a notice of intent nor a Step-1 proposal should be submitted. Proposals are due July 14, 2026.
Questions concerning F.5 FINESST may be directed to [email protected].
- Leadership Positions at CU Boulder/LASP
The University of Colorado Boulder’s Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) is seeking talent for four new leadership positions, including Senior Director for Science, Director of Strategy and Partnerships and two in the Technology Division: Director of Projects and Deputy Director for Technology.
These critical roles will help shape the future of LASP and further advance CU’s excellence on critical end-to-end science missions.
Sr. Director for Science:
https://opuspartners.net/searches/current/senior-director-for-science
Director of Projects (Posting closes 7/1/26):
Deputy Director for Technology (Posting closes 7/1/26):
Director of Strategy and Partnerships:
For more information about these roles, please reach out to Scott Tucker (Director of Engineering) or contact Zoe Staarmann (HR):[email protected].
For a complete list of current openings, please see:
- Tenure-Track Faculty Position in Experimental Space Physics
The Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Iowa invites applications for an experimental space physicist. The position is targeted at the rank of tenure-track assistant professor, but strong applications at the rank of associate or full professor will be considered.
Duties of the position include: (1) leading a productive, visible, and externally funded research program in experimental space physics, (2) teaching and mentoring at undergraduate and graduate levels; and (3) service to the departmental, collegiate, and scientific community. Informal inquiries about the position can be directed to Professor Jasper Halekas, with the subject line “Experimental Space Physics Faculty Search.”
To apply, please visit the submission website Jobs@UIowa at:
https://jobs.uiowa.edu/content/faculty
Refer to requisition #75971. The review of applicants will begin on October 1, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled.
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Send submissions to: Denise Stephens, DPS Secretary, at this address: [email protected]