Alessondra Springmann, Author at AAS Division for Planetary Sciences

DPS Newsletter 25-23

Issue 25-23, Oct 7, 2025

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CHAIR’S REPORT TO MEMBERS: CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP AT THE PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL
SUPPORT OUR ADVOCATES IN DC BY CONTACTING YOUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES
LET AAS KNOW HOW YOU HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
ASSESSING ASTRONOMICAL IMPACT OF REFLECT ORBITAL’S PROPOSED SATELLITE SYSTEM
FOSTERING WELLBEING THROUGH MENTORING: ONLINE WORKSHOP
CALL-FOR-SESSION-PROPOSALS FOR AOGS2026 PS SECTION
COSPAR SYMPOSIUM ON SPACE EXPLORATION: NOVEMBER 2025 IN NICOSIA, CYPRUS
TRACING ROCKY EXOPLANET COMPOSITIONS (TREC) WORKSHOP
EARTH SCIENCE WOMEN’S NETWORK UPCOMING EVENTS
APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2026 SCHWEICKART PRIZE ARE NOW OPEN!
INTRODUCTION TO ARCGIS PRO FOR PLANETARY SCIENCE
MS/PHD POSITIONS FOR FALL 2026
OPEN MEETING FOR EUROPA SPATIAL DATA INFRASTRUCTURE
ESA ARCHIVAL RESEARCH VISITOR PROGRAMME
CURRENT TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR ICARUS AND THE PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL
JOBS, POSITIONS, AND OPPORTUNITIES

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CHAIR’S REPORT TO MEMBERS: CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP AT THE PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL

The Planetary Science Journal (PSJ) is a fully Gold Open Access Journal devoted to recent developments, discoveries, and theories in planetary science. PSJ welcomes all aspects of investigation of the solar system and other planetary systems and publishes manuscripts that constitute significant new research including observational results, theoretical insights, modeling, laboratory studies, instrumentation, or field studies. PSJ is operated in conjunction with DPS, which sets specific guidelines and policies for the preparation and review of submitted manuscripts and assists in selection of journal leadership. Under the leadership of Editor-in-Chief Dr. Faith Vilas, Senior Scientist at the Planetary Science Institute, the journal’s growth over its first 6 years has been extraordinary. PSJ achieves the highest impact factor among 5 journals dedicated to planetary science. Approximately 300 papers are published annually, with an option for Dual Anonymous Review and an average time from submission to first decision of about 7 weeks. Members of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) who renew or join during the annual renewal drive may receive a 15% discount on their share of the publication charge for one publication per renewal.

Effective December 31, 2025, Faith will be stepping aside to pursue new adventures. We all tremendously appreciate and thank Faith for the great start she has led at PSJ. We are also thrilled to announce that effective January 1, 2026, Faith will be succeeded as Editor-in-Chief by Dr. Brian Jackson, Professor of Physics at Boise State University, Idaho. For the past several years Brian has served as one of the journal’s three science editors. Congratulations Brian, and best wishes Faith!

– Scott Murchie, DPS Committee Chair

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SUPPORT OUR ADVOCATES IN DC BY CONTACTING YOUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES

Monday Oct. 6, on “Save NASA Science Day of Action”, nearly 300 volunteers organized by The Planetary Society, AAS, AGU, AIAA and other leading science organizations went to Capitol Hill to voice their support for planetary and space science to their members of Congress. Even if you weren’t physically there, you can still play an important role in advocating for sustained funding for NASA, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, and our nation’s other science agencies. Take five minutes today to send an email to your congressional offices using AAS action alerts, and then make a phone call with the same message. The action alerts provide options for several different themes to the message: preserving the STEM workforce, supporting the staff of science agencies, supporting funding for planetary and space science, or ending the government shutdown. Even if you have been in contact with your Congressional Representatives in the past, you can continue to regularly communicate these messages. Your voice matters!

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LET AAS KNOW HOW YOU HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

Following the government shutdown on 1 October, the AAS policy team is closely monitoring its impact on our community. If you have been affected by the shutdown, e.g., through furloughs, reductions in force, grant cancellations, or otherwise, please share your story here. These stories will be crucial to our engagement with lawmakers in the coming weeks. All information gathered here will be used completely anonymously, unless you indicate that you are comfortable with your name being shared.

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ASSESSING ASTRONOMICAL IMPACT OF REFLECT ORBITAL’S PROPOSED SATELLITE SYSTEM

The AAS policy team is requesting input from the community regarding the potential impacts of Reflect Orbital’s proposed reflector satellites on astronomical research and night sky visibility. Reflect Orbital is a satellite company that plans to deliver sunlight at night by building a constellation of reflectors in low Earth orbit beginning in 2026, with the goal of 4,000 satellites in orbit by 2030. Each satellite is expected to reflect ~0.8 lux (4–5x the brightness of the full Moon) in a ~5 km diameter beam on Earth’s surface. For more information and to fill out our survey, click here.

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FOSTERING WELLBEING THROUGH MENTORING: ONLINE WORKSHOP

AAS and the American Physical Society (APS) are pleased to share our free online workshop, “Fostering Wellbeing through Mentoring,” on Oct 10, 2025 from 1:00–3:00pm ET.

Research has shown that graduate students struggle with mental health issues such as anxiety and depression at higher rates than the general population. Graduate students of color are often exposed to additional risks. While some stress and uncertainty is unavoidable in graduate training, research mentors have a direct impact on the wellbeing of members of their research group.

In this two-hour virtual workshop, participants will develop skills to recognize and have open conversations about mental health, wellbeing, and racism and learn to proactively affirm and engage students’ cultures in research contexts. These workshops will be led by Equity in Graduate Education Consortium facilitators Dr. Denzil Streete and Dr. John Vasquez. Funding is provided by a Venture Fund grant from the American Institute of Physics. Register here!

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CALL-FOR-SESSION-PROPOSALS FOR AOGS2026 PS SECTION

Dear colleagues,

The Planetary Science (PS) Division of the Asia-Oceania Geosciences Society (AOGS) invites you to propose scientific sessions for AOGS 2026, 2–7 August 2026 in Fukuoka, Japan.

Help shape the PS program by convening a session on topics such as planetary surfaces and interiors, atmospheres, small bodies, exoplanets, mission data analysis, instrumentation, and comparative planetology.

Session proposals should include:

Title & short description (scope and motivation)
Conveners & co-conveners (committed to promote and run the session)
Suggested keywords / themes

Read the guidelines & Submit your proposal online:
👉 AOGS 2026 Call for Sessions & Abstracts

Deadline: October 11, 2025

Let’s create a vibrant planetary science program together. We look forward to your proposals!

Best regards,
Zhonghua Yao, President, AOGS Planetary Science Division

Anezina Solomonidou, President-elect, AOGS Planetary Science Division

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COSPAR SYMPOSIUM ON SPACE EXPLORATION: NOVEMBER 2025 IN NICOSIA, CYPRUS

COSPAR will hold its Sixth Symposium in Nicosia, Cyprus, 3 – 7 November 2025. The general theme will be “Space Exploration 2025: A Symposium on Humanity’s Challenges and Celestial Solutions.”

The Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) is proud to announce the COSPAR 2025 Scientific Symposium in cooperation with the Cyprus Space Exploration Organisation (CSEO).

This Symposium, themed “Space Exploration 2025: A Symposium on Humanity’s Challenges and Celestial Solutions”, will delve into critical global challenges such as climate change, resource depletion, and space weather, while exploring how space exploration and technology can offer solutions. It will present various matters related to ongoing and planned space programs, fostering discussions on international collaboration, responsible space endeavors, and the role of emerging nations in space exploration.

The event will bring together a diverse audience from around the world, including representatives from space and non-space companies, space agencies, international organizations, researchers, and the wider public.

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TRACING ROCKY EXOPLANET COMPOSITIONS (TREC) WORKSHOP

We invite applications to the Tracing Rocky Exoplanet Compositions (TREC) workshop called “Under the Atmospheric Hood: How Geochemical Cycles Affect Exoplanet Biosignatures”. This workshop will be held at Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ January 12-14 (after the AAS meeting in Phoenix).

TREC is a project within the NExSS RCN devoted to detailing the connection between a planet’s natural geological cycles and its atmospheric signature. This workshop will bring together astronomers and geochemists to map out potential geochemical cycles and their effects on biosignatures, across the diversity of rocky exoplanets.

We seek participants across career stages, and across many fields: astronomy, planetary science, and geochemistry. Applications are now open and will close on October 15, 2025. We expect to offer ~40 people in person attendance, which will include stipends to offset attendance

costs. We expect to notify selected in person applicants in late October; all others will be offered virtual attendance. To apply directly, please visit this link: https://forms.gle/FzxaTGF2k2LkSpba8

For more information, please visit the workshop’s website: https://trec-nexss.org/workshop

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EARTH SCIENCE WOMEN’S NETWORK UPCOMING EVENTS

We have several events coming up this season that may be of interest to you and/or your colleagues, students and friends, themed around Wellbeing and Careers Support. These are listed below, together with a web-link that contains more information about each event and how

to register:

October 23 2025, 1600 UTC: Careers Beyond Academia – Engagement and Knowledge Exchange: https://tinyurl.com/5e8tc5ru

November 25 2025, 1630 UTC: Diplomacy on a Global Stage: https://eswnonline.org/diplomacy-skills-november-2025/

Our events on October 23 2025 and November 25 2025 will be recorded for asynchronous participation and posted to our YouTube channel.

We hope to e-see you at our events over the next few months. If you have any questions, please let us know.

Best wishes,

The Earth Science Women’s Network Board and Associate Board of Directors

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APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2026 SCHWEICKART PRIZE ARE NOW OPEN!

Are you a graduate student or recent postgraduate fellow interested in building bold ideas related to Planetary Defense? The Schweickart Prize invites you to submit an innovative proposal for tackling challenges like asteroid detection, impact mitigation, space law, or public education.

The winner will receive a $10,000 USD cash award, a museum-quality prize, public recognition through a press campaign, and mentorship from the Prize Selection Committee, including Apollo 9 Astronaut Rusty Schweickart.

To help applicants prepare, two information webinars with Q&A will be held on October 15th and 16th at 9am PDT / 12pm EDT / 6pm CEST. Interested participants are encouraged to RSVP to receive the webinar login details: http://bit.ly/4mymwht

Key Dates:

Information webinars: October 15th & 16th at 9am PDT / 12pm EDT / 6pm CEST
Application deadline: February 4, 2026

Learn more about the prize at schweickartprize.org.

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INTRODUCTION TO ARCGIS PRO FOR PLANETARY SCIENCE

The Planetary Data Training Workshops program is pleased to announce our next Introduction to ArcGIS Pro for Planetary Science workshop, facilitated by Cornell’s Spacecraft Planetary Image Facility (SPIF), to be held on November 1, 2025, 10am-6pm EDT. This online workshop introduces participants to the basic tools available in ArcGIS Pro, focusing on tasks and features most relevant to planetary science and utilizing various planetary image datasets. Participants will learn to set up a project, load and manipulate image data, create and sketch features, and use data for optimization analysis. It is intended for participants with no prior experience in ArcGIS and for experienced ArcGIS users who are new to ArcGIS Pro. Access to ArcGIS Pro is required to participate.

Submit your notice of interest for this workshop here: https://forms.gle/vCfyj2ktZHMYEdjm6. The deadline for filling out this form is October 22. A Zoom registration link will be sent to all respondents on October 23.

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MS/PHD POSITIONS FOR FALL 2026

I am community sourcing a list of people who are actively in search of MS/PhD students in planetary science/astrobiology/exoplanets for Fall 2026. If you are such a person, please fill out the following google form: https://tinyurl.com/k7zwh3m8

Prospective graduate students, please find the resulting list at: https://tinyurl.com/7hy3e4dv

Questions – Please email Sarah Horst.

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OPEN MEETING FOR EUROPA SPATIAL DATA INFRASTRUCTURE

Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) is the set of standards, formats, policies, data (e.g., images) and people (e.g., users, producers) that enables the efficient use of spatial datasets. A community-based Europa SDI was initiated by the USGS to make recommendations that improve the interoperability of existing datasets, and the rapid integration of data returned by future missions: Planetary SDI

To broaden participation, we are now holding a series of biannual community meetings to discuss the ESDI. Topics can include new spatial data products, challenges to using existing products, appropriate datums and other standards and formats, improving adherence to FAIR

data principles, and potential new collaborations. The first meeting will occur on Monday October 27, from 9 – 11am PDT. We encourage those who use or produce spatial data for Europa to attend. Agenda items will include an introduction to the SDI concept, an overview of the current ESDI effort, an update on current work in the community, and known data issues. Join at the link below. https://tinyurl.com/3555pyyb

Direct questions or comments to: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], and [email protected]

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ESA ARCHIVAL RESEARCH VISITOR PROGRAMME

To increase the scientific return from its space science missions, ESA welcomes applications from scientists interested in pursuing research projects based on data publicly available in the ESA Space Science Archives.

The ESA Archival Research Visitor Programme is open to scientists affiliated with institutes in ESA Member States and Cooperating States (all visits must comply with the ESA security directives, which may necessitate additional checks). Early-career scientists, including PhD

students, are particularly encouraged to apply and so are women and minorities. The anonymised evaluation process ensures equal opportunities for all applicants.

Visiting scientists will have access to archives and mission specialists for help with the retrieval, calibration, and analysis of archival data. All areas of space research covered by ESA science

missions are supported.

Residence lasts typically 1-3 months, distributed over multiple visits. Research projects can be carried out at ESAC (Madrid, Spain) and at ESTEC (Noordwijk, Netherlands). To offset the expenses incurred by visitors, ESA covers travel costs and provides support for lodging expenses and meals.

Applications received by 10 November 2025, 23:59 UTC, will be considered for visits in Spring/Summer 2026.

For further details see: Archival Research Visitor Programme or write to [email protected]

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CURRENT TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR ICARUS AND THE PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL

The current issues for both DPS-affiliated journals are here:

Icarus:

Icarus | Vol 439, October 2025 | ScienceDirect.com by Elsevier

The Planetary Science Journal:

Issue 10 – Volume 6 – 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.

POSTPOSTDOCTORAL POSITION IN PLANETARY ASTRONOMY AND PUBLIC OUTREACH AT BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY

https://aas.org/jobregister/ad/f84b84dd

The Department of Physics at Boise State University invites applicants for a postdoc in Brian Jackson’s group. Expertise in exoplanet transit photometry or martian atmospheric science desired. The postdoc will also participate in outreach efforts and student advising.

Intended start date is Fall 2025 but can be negotiated. Compensation includes about $55k in salary plus benefits, as well as conference travel, publication charges, and moving expenses. The appointment is for one year with a likely renewal for a second year subject to performance and funding availability. Applicants must have a Ph.D. in physics, astronomy, planetary science, or a related field at appointment.

Boise State University is located in downtown Boise, which is rapidly growing and frequently ranked among the best cities in which to live and work in the US.

Please submit a CV, a 3-page research statement, 1-page outreach statement, & contact information for professional references to https://jobs.boisestate.edu/en-us/job/499279/post-doctoral-research-fellow.

Application review is expected to begin the first week of November with an offer by the end of November. Direct questions to Prof. Brian Jackson – [email protected].

POSTDOC IN POLAR AND PLANETARY MICROBIOLOGY AT CORNELL UNIVERSITY

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow to join a field-going research program working in northwest Greenland in the Planetary Habitability & Technology lab group. The ideal candidate would have prior experience working with water sampling, laboratory processing of microbial and nutrient samples, as well as with metagenomic analyses. The ideal candidate would also have prior experience in polar ecosystems and a strong interest in coupling these data to oceanographic/environmental variables to better understand fjord and subglacial processes. The candidate should be able to participate in at least one field campaign. The Fellow will be joining an Astrobiology program-funded project and a vibrant interdisciplinary research group combining oceanography, glaciology, and planetary science with robotics. Desired start date is by January 1. The field campaign would take place from late February to April 2026. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis beginning October 1 until filled. Applicants should submit a cover letter, CV and list of three references to Dr. Britney Schmidt [email protected] and [email protected].

Job description:

https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/30630

POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATE (PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES)

Postdoctoral Research Associate I (Planetary Atmospheres)

The Lunar & Planetary Laboratory at the University of Arizona has an opening for a Postdoctoral Research Associate I in the field of modeling of planetary atmospheres. Research areas include hydrodynamic atmospheric escape from rocky exoplanets, nitrogen and sulfur cycling on early Mars and Earth, chemical kinetics of early Earth, Venus, Mars, and analogous exoplanets, and interior-atmosphere interactions on rocky worlds. Candidates are encouraged to reach out to Prof. Ranjan in advance of their application to cooperatively identify specific research topics of mutual interest. Applicants should have previous experience modeling the atmospheres of planets or exoplanets, although a variety of backgrounds may be relevant. Candidates with expertise in 1D hydrodynamic escape of rocky planet atmospheres and/or in modeling early terrestrial or Martian geochemistry are especially encouraged to apply. The position is for a period of up to three years, renewable annually contingent on satisfactory performance reviews.

First review of applications will begin 12/15/2025. UA LPL is a stimulating, world-class department with strong connections to missions and the next generation of telescopes, as well as to our colleagues in Astronomy and Geoscience. Tucson is a great place to live, with excellent hiking, great food, and a low cost of living. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions!

Web Link: https://arizona.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/4/home/requisition/23799

CARNEGIE POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS AT THE EARTH AND PLANETS LABORATORY

Carnegie Postdoctoral Fellowships Starting in 2026 at the Earth and Planets Laboratory | AAS Division for Planetary Sciences

The Earth and Planets Laboratory (EPL), a division of the Carnegie Institution for Science, invites applications for postdoctoral fellowships at its campus in Washington, DC. Multiple independent research fellowships are available in our interdisciplinary basic research laboratory covering a wide range of fields. EPL scientists engage in observational, experimental and theoretical research in fields including astronomy, cosmochemistry, data science, experimental petrology, geobiology, geochemistry, geodynamics, geophysics, mineral physics, planetary science, physics and chemistry of materials (including materials at extreme conditions, superconductors and ferroelectrics at the atomic scale), seismology, and volcanology. Applicants’ primary field of research should overlap with one or more of these areas. Interdisciplinary research and collaboration with multiple research areas on campus is encouraged.

Carnegie Postdoctoral Fellowships are awarded once a year, with allowed start dates between July 1st and December 31, 2026. New fellows will join a supportive community of about 25 postdoctoral scientists and 30 staff and research scientists engaged in understanding the origin and evolution of Earth and planets and materials under extreme conditions. More information about our research and facilities can be viewed at https://carnegiescience.edu/epl and about our postdoctoral fellowships and postdoctoral experience at https://carnegiescience.edu/about/working/postdocs/epl.

Applicants should have a Ph.D. in a relevant field at the time of the start of the fellowship. The principal selection criteria will be research accomplishment, promise of future achievement, originality and achievability of the research proposal, independence, and relevance to the ongoing scientific pursuits at EPL. Advice for crafting a compelling application and sample applications are available on our postdoctoral website.

Web Link: https://apply.interfolio.com/172660

NOMIS-ETH POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS

NOMIS-ETH Postdoctoral Fellowships | AAS Division for Planetary Sciences

The NOMIS Foundation ETH Fellowship Programme supports postdoctoral researchers at ETH Zurich within the Centre for Origin and Prevalence of Life (COPL). The programme is intended to foster the development of young interdisciplinary researchers in the field of the origin and prevalence of life who have demonstrated scientific excellence in the early stages of their careers, and to enable the conditions necessary to conduct interdisciplinary, fundamental and high-risk research with some level of independence and autonomy.

Once appointed, NOMIS–ETH Fellows become an integral part of and have direct access to an international network of leading interdisciplinary researchers and institutions through the NOMIS collaborative research network and the Origins Federation.

The duration of a NOMIS–ETH Fellowship is three years plus one extension year and cannot be prolonged. The fourth year is granted only following a review 18 months after the start of the fellowship and must be funded by the host professor(s). The fellowship is competitive with a limited number of fellowships available each year. For a start in 2025, up to three new NOMIS– ETH Fellows will be selected.

Applications within three years of obtaining a doctorate will be considered. In duly justified cases, applications falling outside this criterium may also be considered. Preferably, you already will have acquired your first postdoctoral experience and/or interdisciplinary training. You must have an existing affiliation to an academic/research institution.

In each evaluation round, a professor may only submit one candidate as host. A potential host may be co-host of another candidate for the same evaluation round. At least one of the host or co-host professors (mentors) must have a guaranteed ETH position for the entire duration of the proposed fellowship. The hosts and co-hosts shall be members of the Centre; see the COPL website for affiliated professors.

Web Link: https://jobs.ethz.ch/job/view/JOPG_ethz_F0rCyzUUQDlXzSHyku

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR POSITION – BROWN UNIVERSITY

The Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences at Brown University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Planetary Sciences. We encourage candidates from all fields of planetary science and exploration to apply. The appointment will begin on July 1, 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter. Review of applications will begin on October 20, 2025. To receive full consideration applicants should submit all materials by that date. For further information, contact the search committee chair, Chris Huber ([email protected]).

The successful candidate must be engaged in a strong research program with the potential to influence the field, demonstrate the intention to obtain external funding, and demonstrate potential for excellence in undergraduate and graduate teaching and advising in the Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences. Candidates must have received a PhD by the time of appointment.

Candidates should submit a cover letter, a curriculum vitae, the names and contact information for three reference letter writers, and statements describing their research and teaching experience. Candidates should address how they would contribute to the research and/or teaching missions of our diverse and inclusive university community.

To apply, you can go to this link: Assistant Professor in Planetary Sciences

NASA POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP – APPLICATION DEADLINE NOVEMBER 1

The NASA Postdoctoral Program offers US and international scientists the opportunity to advance their research while contributing to NASA’s scientific goals.

The NPP supports fundamental science; explores the undiscovered; promotes intellectual growth; and encourages scientific connections.

Selected by a competitive peer-review process, NPP Fellows complete one- to three-year Fellowship appointments that advance NASA’s missions in Earth science, planetary science, heliophysics, astrophysics, biological and physical science, aeronautics and engineering, human exploration systems, space operations, space technology, and astrobiology.

Search for NPP research opportunities here:

Current Fellowship Opportunities | NASA Postdoctoral Program

Applicants must have a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in hand before beginning the fellowship, but may apply while completing the degree requirements. Please see current eligibility requirements: Eligibility and Requirements | NASA Postdoctoral Program

Stipends start at $70,000 per year, with supplements for higher cost-of-living areas and for certain academic specialties. Financial assistance is available for relocation and health insurance, and $10,000 per year is provided for travel and professional development.

Applications are accepted three times each year: March 1, July 1, and November 1

For further information and to apply, visit:

Information for Applicants | NASA Postdoctoral Program

Questions: [email protected]

NASA HUBBLE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM (NHFP) APPLICATION OPEN

On behalf of the NASA Astrophysics Division, the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) announces the call for applications for postdoctoral fellowships under the NASA Hubble Fellowship Program (NHFP) beginning in the fall of 2026. http://nhfp.stsci.edu

The NHFP supports postdoctoral scientists performing independent research that contributes to NASA Astrophysics (see https://science.nasa.gov/astrophysics/ for more information). The research may be theoretical, observational, and/or instrumental. If your application is successful and you accept our offer, you will become an NHFP Einstein, Hubble or Sagan fellow depending on the area of your research.

The NHFP is open to applicants of any nationality who have or will have completed all requirements for their doctoral degree on or after January 1, 2022 in astronomy, physics or related disciplines. The duration of the Fellowship is up to three years: an initial one-year appointment, and two annual renewals contingent on satisfactory performance and availability of NASA funds. The NHFP is administered for NASA by the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in collaboration with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and NASA Exoplanet Science Institute (NExScI) at the California Institute of Technology and the Chandra X-ray Center at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory.

Important dates:

Applications are due Wednesday, October 29, 2025 (7 PM EDT, 4 PM PDT, 23:00 UTC)
Letters of reference are due Wednesday, November 5, 2025. (Note that the applications are due one week before the letters.) Applicants should emphasize to their letter writers that the letters must be uploaded as PDF files by the November 5th deadline using the submission form (https://catcopy.ipac.caltech.edu/nhfp/letter.php). Letter writers will not receive an automated email with a link to upload their letter.
Offers will be made in early February 2026 and new appointments should begin on or about September 1, 2026. NHFP Fellowships are open to English-speaking citizens of all nations.

We anticipate offering up to 24 NHFP Fellowships this year. The Fellowships are tenable at a U.S. host institution of the fellow’s choice, subject to a maximum of two new fellows per host institution per year, and no more than five fellows at any single host institution, except for short periods of overlap. Host institutions must have verified their compliance with the NHFP employment policy. The policy and a list of those hosts can be found at https://www.stsci.edu/stsci-research/fellowships/nasa-hubble-fellowship-program/nhfp-host-institution-employment-policy/host-institutions.

The Announcement of Opportunity, which includes detailed program policies and application instructions, is available at the NHFP website: http://nhfp.stsci.edu. The application submission page will be open from September 2 until the application deadline on October 29, 2025.

Applicants should follow the instructions given in the Announcement of Opportunity and also examine the Frequently Asked Questions linked from the main NHFP page. Please send any further inquiries about the NHFP to [email protected].

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DPS Newsletter 25-22

Issue 25-22, Sep 29, 2025

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CHAIR’S REPORT TO MEMBERS: THE 57th ANNUAL DPS MEETING, HELD JOINTLY WITH EPSC
CHANGES IN DPS LEADERSHIP AND DUES

SAVE NASA SCIENCE DAY OF ACTION

RECENT AAS ACTION ALERTS: FEDERAL SCIENCE FUNDING AND STEM WORKFORCE

ASSESSING ASTRONOMICAL IMPACT OF REFLECT ORBITAL’S PROPOSED SATELLITE SYSTEM

CALL FOR DONATIONS IN SUPPORT OF DPS STUDENT TRAVEL GRANTS

REGISTRATION OPEN FOR THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF BLACK PHYSICISTS ANNUAL MEETING, JOINT WITH NATIONAL SOCIETY OF HISPANIC PHYSICISTS

SUPPORT REQUESTED FOR DPS PARTNER: THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF BLACK PHYSICISTS (NSBP)

NEW HORIZONS SCIENCE SPOTLIGHT UPCOMING WEBINARS

2026A NASA IRTF CALL FOR PROPOSALS

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WEBINAR: CAREERS IN PLANETARY SCIENCE AND ASTROBIOLOGY

ABSCICON 2026: CALL FOR SESSION & TOWN HALL PROPOSALS

APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2026 SCHWEICKART PRIZE ARE NOW OPEN!

NASA SOLAR SYSTEM SCIENCE VOLUNTEER REVIEWER FORM

INTERNATIONAL OBSERVE THE MOON NIGHT IS OCTOBER 4, 2025

SAVE THE DATE – 57TH LUNAR AND PLANETARY SCIENCE CONFERENCE

INTRODUCTION TO ARCGIS PRO FOR PLANETARY SCIENCE

SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT: ICARUS SPECIAL ISSUE – CARBON IN PLANETARY ENVIRONMENTS

MS/PHD POSITIONS FOR FALL 2026

WINNER OF THE ICARUS “BEST STUDENT-LED PAPER” AWARD

ICARUS BEST REVIEWER AWARDS 2024

INTERNATIONAL LUNAR SAMPLE RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM 2025

OPEN MEETING FOR EUROPA SPATIAL DATA INFRASTRUCTURE

NEW OCEAN WORLDS WORKING GROUP (OWWG) WEBSITE

ESA ARCHIVAL RESEARCH VISITOR PROGRAMME

46TH SCIENTIFIC ASSEMBLY OF THE COMMITTEE ON SPACE RESEARCH (COSPAR) AND ASSOCIATED EVENTS

FOSTERING WELLBEING THROUGH MENTORING: ONLINE WORKSHOP

CURRENT TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THE PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL AND ICARUS

JOBS, POSITIONS, AND OPPORTUNITIES

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CHAIR’S REPORT TO MEMBERS: THE 57th ANNUAL DPS MEETING, HELD JOINTLY WITH EPSC

It’s my pleasure to write to DPS members as the new Committee Chair, after training for a year as Vice Chair. Following a year of hard work and planning, the EPSC-DPS joint meeting was a resounding success. Registrations were historically high among the five joint meetings to date, at 1813, 92% in-person and 8% virtual. Of these, 336 were DPS members. 34 attendees were partially sponsored by DPS student and under-represented minority travel grants.

Over the week there were 168 science sessions and 30 community and special events. Among the many highlights from DPS were: Richard Cartwright’s keynote lecture on carbon oxides on the Uranian satellites; Sagan Medal awardee Lisa Kaltenegger’s keynote lecture on status of the search for rocky exoplanets; and the DPS Award Ceremony which included Kuiper Award winner Faith Vilas’s lecture on the history and prospects for planetary spectroscopy. The DPS Federal Relations Subcommittee sponsored a roundtable discussion on international collaboration in solar system exploration. The Professional Culture and Climate Subcommittee sponsored a roundtable discussion on challenges facing members of the field. The Professional Development Subcommittee sponsored a free luncheon and workshop for Women in Planetary Science focused on career development.

Two DPS business meetings were held. On Sunday September 7,the Committee met to review progress over the last year and prospects for the coming year, as well as to finalise items for the Helsinki meeting. On Wednesday September 10 the annual DPS Members Meeting was held in-person and virtually, and the Committee reported to the membership at large. We noted a DPS focus on community action over the last year, including relief fundraising for victims of the Pasadena-area fires and substantial advocacy for federal funding of planetary science through letter writing and visits with congressional representatives and NASA officials. This has contributed to bipartisan support for NASA on Capitol Hill. Louise Prockter, Director of NASA SMD’s Planetary Science Division, spoke remotely to members and addressed the overall state of the planetary science program. One note of concern at the meeting was that DPS registrations and abstract submissions, plus the usual pre-meeting spurt of new DPS memberships, are down by tens of percent over past years. The decreases are likely attributable to NASA restrictions on travel and concerns over funding, and students are the hardest-hit and experienced the largest falloff in pre-meeting membership renewals. Correspondingly, applications for travel grants were up substantially from past years to 73, and DPS was able to fund <50% of requests despite the division budget for travel grants having been augmented by nearly $10K from sponsors and individual donors. Editors of the DPS-sponsored journals Icarus (Alessandro Morbidelli) and Planetary Science Journal (Faith Vilas) reviewed journal status and publication statistics – both journals are thriving, and report median times from submission to first decision of 7 weeks or less.

For more information on membership, committees and other DPS news please visit our web site: https://dps.aas.org/

We’re off and running to plan and prepare for the next annual DPS meeting 25-30 October 2026 in Spokane, WA. Hope to see you there!

– Scott Murchie, DPS Committee Chair

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CHANGES IN DPS LEADERSHIP AND DUES

At the Members Meeting held Wednesday September 10, Athena Coustenis of the Paris Observatory transitioned from Chair to Past Chair, and Scott Murchie of JHUAPL transitioned from Vice Chair to Chair. We welcomed JA Grier of PSI as newly elected Vice Chair, as well as Ariana Piccialli of the Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy and Eddie Schwieterman of the University of California, Riverside, as newly elected Committee members. Changes in appointed Committee members include Angela Dapremont and James Robert (both of JHUAPL) starting second terms as chairs of the Federal Relations and Professional Culture and Climate subcommittees, respectively; Rosemary Killen of NASA/GSFC taking over as Chair of the Environmental Affairs Subcommittee; Nathan Roth of American University becoming the new Press Officer; and Angela Stickle of JHUAPL taking over as Chair of the Publications Subcommittee.

Three names were placed in nomination to replace the outgoing Chair of the 3-member Nominating Committee, Tim Livengood, whose 3-year term expired. Members present elected Jodi Berdis of JHUAPL as the new member. Jessica Noviello of University of Maryland Baltimore County, as the senior subcommittee member, became its chair.

In recognition of the importance of funding students, members present overwhelmingly approved an earlier Committee vote to increase dues by paying members by 10% to offset inflation since the last dues increase. Some members present further recommended another dues increase next year to further this cause.

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SAVE NASA SCIENCE DAY OF ACTION

The American Astronomical Society (AAS) is partnering with The Planetary Society, the American Geophysical Union, and nine other organizations to host a day of action in support of NASA science on 5-6 October 2025. AAS members are invited to register here for the event, which includes an afternoon of training and preparing for congressional meetings on Sunday, 5 October, and in-person meetings with your elected officials in Washington, DC, on Monday, 6 October.

The registration fee ($24.90 for standard registration, and $7.33 for student registration) includes:

Online and in-person advocacy training from space policy experts
The scheduling of meetings with your congressional representatives
Social gatherings and in-person meeting opportunities with organizational staff and fellow members

The registration fee does not include travel to and lodging in Washington, DC. Anyone with a US address is welcome to register and attend. For more details, please see this press release and the registration page.

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RECENT AAS ACTION ALERTS: FEDERAL SCIENCE FUNDING AND STEM WORKFORCE

The AAS appreciates everything its members have done so far to advocate for the astronomical community. Take a few minutes today to continue that advocacy by encouraging members of Congress to protect astronomical programs and facilities in Fiscal Year 2026, defend STEM workforce programs, and oppose harmful changes to F and J visas. After completing these action alerts, we strongly encourage you to take the next step for advocacy using our suggested advocacy actions. You can also share your story with the AAS public policy team, and we will continue to share these stories with Congressional offices.

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ASSESSING ASTRONOMICAL IMPACT OF REFLECT ORBITAL’S PROPOSED SATELLITE SYSTEM

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CALL FOR DONATIONS IN SUPPORT OF DPS STUDENT TRAVEL GRANTS

During these challenging times, many students are losing access to their funding and are unable to travel to professional meetings to present their research. The Division for Planetary Science (DPS) Hartmann Student Travel Grant and Underrepresented Minorities (URM) Travel Grant exist to support student presentations at the annual DPS meeting. The need the past year has been very great, and our ability to help the applicants was limited by the amount of money available in the Hartmann and URM grant funds.

Community donations are critical for the health of these awards and our ability to fund students. Each fund functions as an endowment. Please consider making a donation today. Give by logging into your AAS account through this link and submitting a donation to either the Hartmann Student Travel Grants or the URM Travel Grants.

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REGISTRATION OPEN FOR THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF BLACK PHYSICISTS ANNUAL MEETING, JOINT WITH NATIONAL SOCIETY OF HISPANIC PHYSICISTS

DPS has been proud to partner with the Earth and Planetary Systems Sciences (EPSS) section of the National Society of Black Physicists (NSBP), supporting a presentation from the DPS-NSBP Speaker Awardee at the DPS annual meeting as well as travel of a few planetary scientists to the NSBP annual conference. Although recent cuts to funding from traditional federal partners have negatively impacted NSBP funding for student attendees, private donations have enabled them to offer travel support for 400 students (so a student pays only the registration fee). Attendance by DPS professionals and students to this meeting is encouraged, especially as it is joint with the National Society of Hispanic Physicists (NSHP). Registration is open through Sept 30 (and student travel support is offered on a first come, first served basis), with abstract submission completed in that process. The 2025 NSBP-NSHP annual conference is November 19-23, in San Jose – for more information: https://nsbp.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=1958868.

For more on the DPS-NSBP partnership: https://dps.aas.org/leadership/nsbp_parnership

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SUPPORT REQUESTED FOR DPS PARTNER: THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF BLACK PHYSICISTS (NSBP)

DPS has been proud to partner with the Earth and Planetary Systems Sciences (EPSS) section of the National Society of Black Physicists (NSBP). Recent cuts to funding from traditional partners have drastically reduced NSBP’s ability to support students to attend their conference so they are soliciting community donations; on average, the cost to cover a student’s travel and lodging is $1500. The link to donate directly to NSBP is below; alternatively, if you prefer to donate through DPS, community contributions to the DPS URM Travel Grant fund will also be used to support travel to the NSBP meeting. Donations through either path should be U.S. tax deductible. Many thanks to all who support these future planetary scientists!

To donate directly to NSBP: https://nsbp.org/page/conferencestudentsupport

To donate to the DPS URM travel grant: https://dps.aas.org/Inclusivity/support-underrepresented-minority-communities-planetary-science

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NEW HORIZONS SCIENCE SPOTLIGHT UPCOMING WEBINARS

New Horizons continues its operation, now at 61 AU from the Sun. Since 2015 it has made ground-breaking discoveries of the Pluto-Charon system, flown past the small contact KBO binary Arrokoth, and collected phase and light curve data for some three dozen additional KBOs and the ice giants. It has also been sampling dust density throughout the solar system and studying the cosmic optical background. To raise awareness of New Horizon’s scientific impact we are beginning a new spotlight seminar series (30 min, fourth week each month) which we invite you to attend online, or watch recorded at your convenience.

Calendar for future seminars:

Monthly: https://zoom.us/meeting/tJMudu6upzwsGdKrlGdxLvb2e_I91uILetOL/ics?icsToken=DKQYiNgOUeQ7ZnbnEAAALAAAAKHmpT29vFUtl0iglJGvlt4HVGzgMeX42DGMrkJfbLsqd41sVa1Mkab0Y99qZxwmMLXyc3NSzWxXfIqpQTAwMDAwMQ

October 23 — Ralph McNutt, Pluto’s Environment: The Combined Solar-Wind and Solar-Energetic-Particles Distribution Function as Observed by New Horizons

November 20 — Oliver White, Pluto Global Map

Recordings are archived and posted at:

https://pluto.jhuapl.edu/News-Center/index.php#Spotlight-Presentations

For questions, contact New Horizons CoI Susan Benecchi.

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2026A NASA IRTF CALL FOR PROPOSALS

The due date for NASA Infrared Telescope Facility Call for Proposals for the 2026A semester (February 1, 2026 to July 31, 2026) is Wednesday, October 1, 2025.

See our online submission form Submitting the Observing Time Application Form to the IRTF, which is available for proposal submission from 12:00AM on September 01, 2025 until 5:00PM on October 01, 2025 HST. Available facility instruments include: (1) SpeX, a 0.7 – 5.3 micron cross-dispersed medium-resolution spectrograph (up to R=2,500) and imager; (2) MORIS, a 60″x60″ field-of-view, 0.12″/pixel high speed CCD camera that can be used simultaneously with SpeX; (3) iSHELL, a 1.06 – 5.3 micron cross-dispersed echelle spectrograph (up to R=80,000) and imager; (4) MIRSI/MOC, a 5-20 micron camera and optical imager (grism spectroscopy mode not available for 2026A); (5) ‘Opihi, a 17 inch telescope mounted to and aligned with IRTF with a wide-angle 32 0.94″/pixel CCD with optical filters. Information on available facility and visitor instruments and performance can be found at: Available Instruments. Exposure time calculators for SpeX and iSHELL are available on the respective instrument webpages.

Please see Call for Proposals 2026A for the full text

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WEBINAR: CAREERS IN PLANETARY SCIENCE AND ASTROBIOLOGY

Friday, October 3
3pm ET / 2pm CT / 1pm MT / 12pm PT

Join the LPI’s Science Engagement team for a webinar exploring diverse career paths within planetary science and astrobiology. This multidisciplinary session will highlight career options across academia, government, nonprofit, and commercial sectors.

Our panel of experts will discuss the differences in these career options, the varying expectations, and suggest ways to prepare for each. This session is especially designed for early-career scientists and professionals looking to navigate or transition within these multidisciplinary fields.

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ABSCICON 2026: CALL FOR SESSION & TOWN HALL PROPOSALS

The Astrobiology Science Conference (AbSciCon) brings the astrobiology community together every two years to share research, collaborate, and plan for the future. In 2026, the meeting will occur May 17-22, 2026 in beautiful Madison, WI.

You are invited to submit a session or town hall proposal for next year’s meeting!

SUBMIT A SESSION OR TOWN HALL PROPOSAL

Extended Session and Town Hall Submission Deadline: October 8, 2025 (23:59 EDT)

AbSciCon is a community-organized conference that provides a forum for reporting on new discoveries, sharing data and insights, advancing collaborative efforts and initiating new ones, planning new projects, and educating the next generation of astrobiologists.

We welcome a diverse community of scientists, students, journalists, policymakers, educators and organizations who are working toward a world where our global collaborations and partnerships can carry us into a sustainable future.

Check the Dates & Deadlines page and other information on the AbSciCon website to keep track of calls and announcements.

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APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2026 SCHWEICKART PRIZE ARE NOW OPEN!

Key Dates:

Information webinars: October 15th & 16th at 9am PDT / 12pm EDT / 6pm CEST
Application deadline: February 4, 2026

Learn more about the prize at schweickartprize.org.

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NASA SOLAR SYSTEM SCIENCE VOLUNTEER REVIEWER FORM

Are you passionate about solar system science? Interested in shaping the future of NASA research? We invite you to join our community of virtual panelists and external reviewers for the Solar System Science Program.

Why Join?

Make an Impact: Use your expertise to guide NASA’s research priorities and support breakthrough discoveries.
Flexible Involvement: Indicating interest does not obligate you—NASA will contact you if your skills match our needs.
Expand Your Network: Collaborate with top scientists and connect with peers across the solar system science community.
Professional Growth: Gain peer review experience and strengthen your CV.

How It Works

No Commitment: Signing up simply signals your interest. There is no obligation until you accept an invitation.
Eligibility: You cannot review proposals for panels you are funded on but may serve on other panels or as an external reviewer.

Quick Application

Required Fields: Answer all items marked with an asterisk*.
Share Your Expertise: Provide contact information, note conflicts of interest, and detail your background.
Fast Submission: Click the relevant buttons for other fields.
Comments Box: Highlight expertise relevant to review assignments and disclose any additional conflicts of interest.

Be Part of NASA’s Solar System Science Program!

Your insights help ensure excellence across NASA’s solar system research. Thank you for considering this chance to make a difference!

Solar System Science Volunteer Reviewer Form

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INTERNATIONAL OBSERVE THE MOON NIGHT IS OCTOBER 4, 2025

You are invited to join observers around the world in learning about lunar science and exploration, making celestial observations, and honoring cultural and personal connections to the Moon.

Last year, 1.3 million people in 127 countries and on all 7 continents participated. This year, excitement is ramping up for Artemis. Attend or host a virtual or in-person event in your community, or observe with your family, friends, neighbors, or on your own.

Register your participation to add your event, or yourself, to the map of lunar observers. Note that we offer flexible programming – you may host an event or participate in the week leading up to, and following, October 4.Tune in to the NASA broadcast and view live streams of the Moon on our Live Streams page on October 4.

Connect online to share your experience and discover how others are participating through the program Flickr group or your preferred social media platform, using the hashtag #ObserveTheMoon.

Register your participation, find tips and resources to host and evaluate events, sign up for our newsletter, and much more on the International Observe the Moon Night website: moon.nasa.gov/observe.

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SAVE THE DATE – 57TH LUNAR AND PLANETARY SCIENCE CONFERENCE

The 57th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC) will be held at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center in The Woodlands, Texas, and virtually on March 16–20, 2026. LPSC is a defining event in planetary research, bringing together a diverse group of international experts in a truly collaborative environment. For 57 years, LPSC has been convening the lunar and planetary science community to showcase the latest science, research, and discoveries in the field. To learn more, visit https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2026/.

Indication of Interest

Submit an indication of interest to receive additional information about the conference.

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INTRODUCTION TO ARCGIS PRO FOR PLANETARY SCIENCE

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SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT: ICARUS SPECIAL ISSUE – CARBON IN PLANETARY ENVIRONMENTS

Icarus is now accepting submissions of manuscripts to be published in a special issue entitled “Carbon in Planetary Environments: Sources and Evolution”. Guest editors are Dr. Kelly Miller (SwRI), Dr. Nora Hanni (Univ. of Bern), Dr. Fabian Klenner (Univ. of Washington), Prof. Brett McGuire (MIT), and Prof. Joshua Krissansen-Totton (Univ. of Washington). This cross-disciplinary issue will cover topics related to carbon in the Solar System and beyond, including exoplanet and astrochemical environments. Submissions related to space missions,

modeling and laboratory work are welcomed. The submission deadline is 30 November 2025. Manuscripts will be published online when they are accepted, and we expect the print issue to be published in the first half of 2026. Submitted manuscripts must be unpublished and should not be under consideration elsewhere. More information is available here: https://tinyurl.com/57bf32w2

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MS/PHD POSITIONS FOR FALL 2026

Prospective graduate students, please find the resulting list at: https://tinyurl.com/7hy3e4dv

Questions – Please email Sarah Horst.

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WINNER OF THE ICARUS “BEST STUDENT-LED PAPER” AWARD

We are pleased to announce the winner of the 2024 Icarus “Best Student-Led Paper” Award. Jakub Kvorka’s paper, The role of subsurface ocean dynamics and phase transitions in forming the topography of icy moons – ScienceDirect which appeared in the April 2024 issue of Icarus. The paper was selected by the independent Icarus Board of Editorial Advisors and was among four nominated for the Award.

Detailing their reason for selecting Jakub Kvorka’s paper as the winner, the board stated, “Jakub Kvorka led work on evaluating the role of mass and energy exchange between the crust and the ocean to understand heat flux through a planetary ice shell. Their model, which newly incorporated ocean circulation in the heat flow calculations, was also tested on Titan with positive results connecting observations and modeling. The committee felt the paper’s question was well posed in the framework of previous studies and had strong implications for icy bodies. The modeling was more mature and synergistic than previous work. The ability to explain the absence of a degree-2 sectoral component for Titan’s topography was highly valuable. Finally, the article was very well written and organized.”

Jakub completed his Master’s degree in Mathematical Modelling in Physics at Charles University. Afterward, he decided to continue his studies with a PhD at the Department of Geophysics, under the supervision of Prof. Ondřej Čadek. The study program is called Physics of the Earth and Planets. Jakub’s research focuses on subsurface ocean dynamics and global deformation models of icy moons. He is in the final year of his doctoral studies.

We wish to express our warmest congratulations to Jakub and his co-author Ondřej P. Čadek on winning this Award.

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ICARUS BEST REVIEWER AWARDS 2024

The role of the peer reviewer is essential to the publication process for journals such as Icarus. Without them the quality and variety of what we publish would be impossible to maintain. The editors of Icarus would like to take a moment to acknowledge with gratitude all the reviewers who completed reviews for Icarus papers between October 1, 2023 and July 31, 2024.

In particular, we’d like to highlight some of the reviewers who went above and beyond—whether by providing outstanding constructive reviews or serving as tiebreakers on challenging papers, please see the list of individuals on our webpage who served the community in an exceptional way. 2024 best reviewer awards – Icarus

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INTERNATIONAL LUNAR SAMPLE RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM 2025

November 21-24, 2025

After decades of lunar exploration since the Apollo era, lunar samples have become the largest treasure returned by human beings, as they have unlimited potential to understand the Earth-Moon system. To share the recent findings of Chang’e-5, 6, Apollo, Luna samples, lunar

meteorites, and other lunar sample related studies, to prepare for future lunar sample return analyses such as those returned by China’s and USA’s human lunar missions, and to foster international cooperation in lunar sample studies of China and their international partners, the Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the University of Hong Kong jointly propose this International Lunar Sample Research Symposium on November 21-24, 2025.

The meeting aims to present the most intriguing findings from all kinds of lunar sample studies, including but not limited to: 1) Lunar Sample Return Missions, 2) Origin of the Moon, 3) Lunar

Differentiation, 4) Lunar Magmatism, 5) Lunar Magnetism, 6) Lunar Impact Processes and Chronology, 7) Lunar Meteorites, 8) Lunar Space Weathering, 9) Lunar Volatiles, 10) Lunar Resources, 11) Lunar Analogues, 12) New Techniques. Check it out at: https://www.ilsrs.org/

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OPEN MEETING FOR EUROPA SPATIAL DATA INFRASTRUCTURE

Meeting ID: 270 652 001 137 6

Passcode: hj3Xk2pR

Direct questions or comments to: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], and [email protected]

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NEW OCEAN WORLDS WORKING GROUP (OWWG) WEBSITE

The OWWG has a new home with links to previous presentations and other documents:

Ocean Worlds Working Group (OWWG)

We also have a new mailing list hosted by PSI. You can subscribe by sending a message to [email protected]. Thank you to PSI for hosting our new webpage and mailing list! After a long hiatus, we look forward to interacting with all of you again this fall and winter.

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ESA ARCHIVAL RESEARCH VISITOR PROGRAMME

students, are particularly encouraged to apply and so are women and minorities. The anonymised evaluation process ensures equal opportunities for all applicants.

Visiting scientists will have access to archives and mission specialists for help with the retrieval, calibration, and analysis of archival data. All areas of space research covered by ESA science

missions are supported.

Applications received by 10 November 2025, 23:59 UTC, will be considered for visits in Spring/Summer 2026.

For further details see: Archival Research Visitor Programme Or write to [email protected]

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46TH SCIENTIFIC ASSEMBLY OF THE COMMITTEE ON SPACE RESEARCH (COSPAR) AND ASSOCIATED EVENTS

Date: 1 – 9 August 2026

Place: Florence, Italy

Contact: COSPAR Secretariat [email protected]

https://www.cospar-assembly.org/assembly (scientific program, abstract submission) beginning 10 November, 2025 https://www.cospar2026.org/ (registration, accommodation, etc.)

Host Organization: Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF)

Abstract Deadline: 13 February 2026

Topics: Approximately 150 meetings covering the fields of COSPAR Scientific Commissions (SC), Panels, and Task Groups:

– SC A: The Earth’s Surface, Meteorology and Climate

– SC B: The Earth-Moon System, Planets, and Small Bodies of the Solar System

– SC C: The Upper Atmospheres of the Earth and Planets Including Reference Atmospheres

– SC D: Space Plasmas in the Solar System, Including Planetary Magnetospheres

– SC E: Research in Astrophysics from Space

– SC F: Life Sciences as Related to Space

– SC G: Materials Sciences in Space

– SC H: Fundamental Physics in Space

– Panel on Satellite Dynamics (PSD)

– Panel on Scientific Ballooning (PSB)

– Panel on Potentially Environmentally Detrimental Activities in Space (PEDAS)

– Panel on Radiation Belt Environment Modelling (PRBEM)

– Panel on Space Weather (PSW)

– Panel on Planetary Protection (PPP)

– Panel on Capacity Building (PCB)

– Panel on Education (PE)

– Panel on Exploration (PEX)

– Panel on Interstellar Research (PIR)

– Panel on Innovative Solutions (PoIS)

– Panel on IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility) (PIDEA)

– Panel on Establishing a Constellation of Small Satellites (PCSS)

– Panel on Machine Learning and Data Science (PMLDS)

– Panel on Early Careers and International Space Societies (PECISS)

– Task Group on Establishing an International Geospace Systems Program (TGIGSP)

Selected papers published in Advances in Space Research and Life Sciences in Space Research, fully refereed journals with no deadlines open to all submissions in relevant fields.

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FOSTERING WELLBEING THROUGH MENTORING: ONLINE WORKSHOP

AAS and the American Physical Society (APS) are pleased to share our free online workshop, “Fostering Wellbeing through Mentoring,” on Oct 10, 2025 from 1:00–3:00pm ET.

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CURRENT TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THE PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL AND ICARUS

The current issues for both DPS-affiliated journals are here:

The Planetary Science Journal:

Issue 9 – Volume 6 – The Planetary Science Journal – IOPscience

Icarus:

Icarus | Vol 438, 15 September 2025 | ScienceDirect.com by Elsevier

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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.

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR POSITION – BROWN UNIVERSITY

To apply, you can go to this link: Assistant Professor in Planetary Sciences

NASA POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP – APPLICATION DEADLINE NOVEMBER 1

The NASA Postdoctoral Program offers US and international scientists the opportunity to advance their research while contributing to NASA’s scientific goals.

The NPP supports fundamental science; explores the undiscovered; promotes intellectual growth; and encourages scientific connections.

Search for NPP research opportunities here:

Current Fellowship Opportunities | NASA Postdoctoral Program

Applications are accepted three times each year: March 1, July 1, and November 1

For further information and to apply, visit:

Information for Applicants | NASA Postdoctoral Program

Questions: [email protected]

51 PEGASI B POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP AT PURDUE UNIVERSITY

The Heising-Simons Foundation is accepting applications for the 51 Pegasi b Postdoctoral Fellowship program in Planetary Astronomy now through October 3, 2025.

Purdue University has recently been added as a host institution. We have a wide range of professors across Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences and Physics and Astronomy who can act as fellowship mentors. Research areas include (but are not limited to): geophysics, geochemistry, surface processes, clouds and climate, thermochronology, in-situ instrumentation and planetary missions, habitability, biosignatures, origins of life, paleomagnetism, surface processes, and circumstellar disks. More information on our research and the resources

available to fellows can be found at: 51 Pegasi b Fellowship – Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences

Applicants should apply directly to the Heising-Simons Foundation, are encouraged to reach out to and work with mentors to craft a strong application. Go to: https://www.51pegasib.org

POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP IN PLANETARY SCIENCE, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

The 51 Pegasi b Postdoctoral Fellowship is accepting applications through October 3, 2025. The University of Minnesota is listed as one of the host institutions and we welcome potential early-career applicants seeking to establish independence in the field of planetary and/or exoplanetary science.

The 51 Pegasi b Fellowship is supported by the Heising-Simons Foundation. The fellowship provides successful applicants with up to $450,000 of support for independent research over three years (with the option of a fourth assuming satisfactory progress). Applicants may come from international academic institutions and U.S. citizenship is not required.

At the University of Minnesota, fellows have the opportunity to collaborate with faculty members working in theory and observation of Solar System and exoplanets science. These include Chick Woodward (exoplanet telescope observations), Ali Sulaiman (giant planet spacecraft observations), Bob Lysak (theory of giant planet magnetospheres), Marc Hirschman (planetary interiors), and Lars Hansen (planetary rheology).

Guidelines and eligibility requirements can be found at:

https://heisingsimons.app.box.com/s/y8jg5tbsbd13902ou3rn9tey8rjzan20

If you have questions about the fellowship at the University of

Minnesota, please contact Claudia Scarlata.

51 PEGASI B FELLOWSHIP IN PLANETARY ASTRONOMY AT UCLA

The Heising-Simons Foundation is accepting applications for their 51 Pegasi b Postdoctoral Fellowship program in Planetary Astronomy. UCLA is one of the host institutions. Applicants should apply directly to the Heising-Simons Foundation in order to work with UCLA faculty in one or both of UCLA’s Departments of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences and/or Physics & Astronomy. Go to: https://www.51pegasib.org

Relevant research areas at UCLA include: detection and characterization of extrasolar planets; astronomical observations of Solar-System bodies; the chemistry and physics of planetary interiors and planetary atmospheres; orbital dynamics; planet formation; cosmochemistry, and combinations thereof.

The Heising-Simons Foundation and UCLA are committed to fostering an environment that embraces and celebrates a wide range of perspectives. We therefore welcome applications from individuals whose backgrounds are underrepresented in planetary astronomy with innovative ideas that can greatly impact the field.

Applications are being accepted through October 3, 2025.

DPS Newsletter 25-21

Issue 25-21, Sep 9, 2025

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VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION AT THE DPS MEMBERS MEETING AT EPSC-DPS

EPSC-DPS EVENTS THAT ARE OPEN TO ALL DPS MEMBERS AND DO NOT REQUIRE VIRTUAL REGISTRATION

REACH OUT NOW TO COLLEAGUES YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE SERVE ON THE DPS NOMINATING COMMITTEE

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VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION AT THE DPS MEMBERS MEETING AT EPSC-DPS

Day: Wednesday 9/10
Start/end times, Helsinki 12:30-14:00 (5:30 – 7:00 am Eastern)
Event location: Saturn Room (Hall B)
Organizers: Athena Coustenis and Scott Murchie
Zoom link: Button to enter Zoom meeting will appear in the online program 15 minutes prior to the event start time (session CE7)

Description: At this annual business meeting of the DPS, the status of membership, leadership, activities in the past year, election outcomes, and finances will be reviewed. Division officers will summarize the past year’s accomplishments and goals for coming years. Votes will be taken on incoming members of the Nominating subcommittee and on Division dues for the coming year. Editors will summarize the status and publications of journals that the DPS endorses and supports.

All DPS members are encouraged to participate, either in person or virtually. You do not need to register for the meeting in order to attend the members meeting. To attend virtually without registering for the meeting, you need to have a Copernicus Meetings User ID, which you can create for free with Copernicus Meetings at https://administrator.copernicus.org/createAccount

After completing the online form, you will receive a User ID and an email with a link to create a new password for your account. After you create the new password, you will receive an email confirming the User ID and password. Please do this well in advance of the Members Meeting.

Fifteen minutes prior to the start of the event, a button will appear in the online conference program to enter the relevant Zoom session. Use the link below to search for the session CE7, which is where the link will appear.

Welcome to the EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2025 session programme

Voting during the DPS members meeting will be done using Google Forms with a link that will be shared in the chat. You will need to have a google account in order to submit your vote. If you do not have a google account, please create one before the members meeting. A DPS committee member will be monitoring the chat on the zoom window so that you will be able to ask questions and nominate individuals to serve on the nominating committee.

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EPSC-DPS EVENTS THAT ARE OPEN TO ALL DPS MEMBERS AND DO NOT REQUIRE VIRTUAL REGISTRATION

There are still several events happening this week at the EPSC-DPS joint meeting in Helsinki that are available to all DPS members and do not require a virtual meeting registration. To participate, you will need to have a Copernicus Meetings User ID.

https://administrator.copernicus.org/createAccount.

Fifteen minutes prior to the start time of each event, a button will appear in the online conference program to enter the relevant Zoom session.

Welcome to the EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2025 session programme

For each event listed below, you will find a session number that starts with a KLD or CE. To join the meeting, you can search the programme for that session number and the link to join will appear 15 minutes before the start of the meeting if you have logged into the meeting with your free Copernicus account.

The events are summarized below. Please note that due to the very packed EPSC-DPS joint meeting agenda, some DPS prize awardees will not have their traditional keynote lectures; the lectures missing from this year’s agenda will be offered at the 2026 DPS meeting in Spokane, Washington, U.S.A (October 25-30).

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EVENT 1: Sagan Award Keynote lecture

Day: Wednesday 9/10
Start/end times, Helsinki 8:55-9:20 (1:55-2:20 am Eastern)
Event location: Room Jupiter Hall A
Speaker: Lisa Kaltenegger
Zoom link: Button to enter Zoom meeting will appear in the online program 15 minutes prior to the event start time (sessions KLD5)

Keynote Title: Revealing the Secrets of Rocky Exoplanets

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EVENT 2: DPS Members Meeting

Day: Wednesday 9/10
Start/end times, Helsinki 12:30-14:00 (5:30 – 7:00 am Eastern)
Event location: Saturn Room (Hall B)
Organizers: Athena Coustenis and Scott Murchie
Zoom link: Button to enter Zoom meeting will appear in the online program 15 minutes prior to the event start time (session CE7)

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EVENT 3: Women in Planetary Sciences (WIPS) Luncheon

Day: Thursday 9/11
Start/end times, Helsinki 12:30-14:00 (5:30 – 7:00 am Eastern)
Event location: Saturn (Hall B)
Organizers: Jennifer Hanley, Kelsi Singer, Audrey Martin, Tess Marlin, Mikayla Huffman, Tracy Becker, and The Professional Development Subcommittee of the DPS
Zoom link: Button to enter Zoom meeting will appear in the online program 15 minutes prior to the event start time (session CE11)

Description: Please join us for the annual Women in Planetary Science (WiPS) lunch! This year, we’re diving into the crucial topic of building more international collaborations and finding funding opportunities across different countries. Whether you’re an early-career scientist or a seasoned professional, understanding the landscape of global partnerships is key to advancing planetary science. We’ll have an engaging discussion featuring planetary scientists with diverse international experiences. Our speakers will share insights on topics such as navigating international funding landscapes and exploring scholarship/fellowship opportunities, strategies for organizing and managing international working groups, and tips for identifying and leveraging opportunities at other international conferences. Sandwiches will be offered to participants in the room.

PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED: http://bit.ly/WiPS_2025

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Event 4: DPS Awards Ceremony

Day: Thursday 9/11
Start/end times, Helsinki (EDT+7 hrs): 14:00-14:50
Event location: Room Sun
Organizers: Athena Coustenis and Scott Murchie; speaker Faith Vilas
Zoom link: Button to enter Zoom meeting will appear in the online program 15 minutes prior to the event start time (session CE10)

Description: At this ceremony DPS honors its 2025 Prize winners: the Alexander Prize to Matthew Hedman, the Urey Prize to Xinting Yu and James Keane, the Masursky Award to Rosaly Lopes, the Sagan Medal to Lisa Kaltenegger, the Eberhart Planetary Sciences Journalism Award to Liz Kruesi, and the Kuiper Prize to Faith Vilas who will deliver a lecture on her research at 14:30 Helsinki time.

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REACH OUT NOW TO COLLEAGUES YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE SERVE ON THE DPS NOMINATING COMMITTEE

During the Members Meeting on September 10, DPS members who are present or participating virtually online will be able to nominate individuals to serve on the Nominating Subcommittee of the DPS. This committee is responsible for presenting to the DPS Secretary a list of candidates for DPS Officers and Committee members. https://dps.aas.org/leadership/nominating for serving on the DPS committee the following year.

During the business meeting we must receive nominations for at least three individuals, and then the membership will vote for one new committee member, who will serve a three-year term, and become the chair of the subcommittee during their third year of service.

Please start reaching out to colleagues now who you think would do a good job serving on this committee and ask if they would be willing to serve and if you can nominate them during the members meeting.

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DPS Newsletter 25-20

Issue 25-20, Aug 28, 2025

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AAS DIVISION FOR PLANETARY SCIENCES ANNOUNCES 2025 PRIZE WINNERS

NOT TOO LATE TO REGISTER FOR THE EPSC-DPS 2025 MEETING

DPS MEMBERS MEETING AT EPSC-DPS

REACH OUT NOW TO COLLEAGUES YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE SERVE ON THE DPS NOMINATING COMMITTEE

PLEASE ALERT THE DPS COMMITTEE ABOUT MEMBERS WHO HAVE PASSED AWAY THIS PAST YEAR SO WE CAN REMEMBER THEM AT THE ANNUAL MEMBERS MEETING

WOMEN IN PLANETARY SCIENCES (WIPS) LUNCHEON

FEDERAL RELATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE (FRS) MEETING

OPEN MIC NIGHT AT THE 2025 EPSC-DPS MEETING

DEPENDENT CARE GRANT APPLICATION FOR 2025 EPSC-DPS

CLASSROOM VISITS DURING EPSC-DPS 2025

PLEASE VOLUNTEER TO MENTOR AN EARLY-CAREER RESEARCH AT THE EPSC-DPS 2025 MEETING

JGR: PLANETS MEET & GREET AT EPSC-DPS (SM17)

AAS ACTION ALERT AND SURVEY REGARDING STEM WORKFORCE

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AAS DIVISION FOR PLANETARY SCIENCES ANNOUNCES 2025 PRIZE WINNERS

Congratulations to the DPS prize winners for 2025.

The Gerard P. Kuiper Prize is awarded to Dr Faith Villas and it honors outstanding contributions to the field of planetary science.
The Harold C. Urey Prize recognizes outstanding achievement in planetary research and is awarded this year to two extremely deserving young scientists: Dr Xinting Yu and Dr James Keane
The Harold Masursky Award acknowledges this year Dr Rosaly Lopes’ outstanding service to planetary science and exploration.
The Carl Sagan Medal is bestowed to Dr Lisa Kaltenegger and recognizes and honors outstanding communication by an active planetary scientist to the general public.
The Alexander Prize recognizes Dr Matt Hedman’s outstanding contributions that have significantly advanced our knowledge of planetary systems, including our solar system.
The Jonathan Eberhart Planetary Sciences Journalism Award recognizes and stimulates distinguished popular writing on planetary sciences and is bestowed this year to Liz Kruesi.

Please visit the DPS 2025 prize webpage to learn more about each of the winners.

“I think I can safely speak for the DPS Committee when I say that these seven awards are going to those who represent the best aspects of our community,” added DPS Press Secretary and Officer Theodore Kareta. “Congratulations again to each and every one of the winners.”

The 2025 DPS prizes will be presented at a joint meeting of the Division for Planetary Sciences and the Europlanet Society Congress (EPSC), which will take place in Helsinki, Finland and online from 7 to 12 September 2025. The prizes will be given out at a ceremony at 2:00 PM local Helsinki time on 11 September.

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NOT TOO LATE TO REGISTER FOR THE EPSC-DPS 2025 MEETING

The 2025 EPSC-DPS Joint meeting to be held at Finlandia Hall, Helsinki, Finland on 7–12 September is fast approaching. EPSC-DPS 2025 will be organized as a fully hybrid meeting and will allow virtual access to all oral and poster sessions. More specifically, EPSC-DPS 2025 offers various options for interaction, scientific discussion, and networking for virtual participants, see: https://www.epsc-dps2025.eu/attend/virtual_participation.html

You can still register to attend the EPSC-DPS meeting occurring September 7-12 in Helsinki, Finland. Please see the EPSC-DPS webpage for registration rates based on your membership status and choose to attend in person or virtually. Registration for the meeting can be paid using a credit card or PayPal.

Registration is required for all EPSC-DPS 2025 participants including presenting authors of submitted and accepted abstracts, session conveners, and solicited speakers. Registration fees cover access to all scientific events, as well as refreshments during the coffee breaks and networking events.

IMPORTANT: For US participants who face travel limitations or experience a change of plans that do not allow them to attend in person or virtually, please note that submitted papers can still be delivered by co-authors if the first author is not able to attend the meeting.

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DPS MEMBERS MEETING AT EPSC-DPS

Day: Wednesday 9/10
Start/end times, Helsinki 12:30-14:00 (5:30 – 7:00 am Eastern)
Event location: Saturn Room (Hall B)
Organizers: Athena Coustenis and Scott Murchie
Zoom link: Button to enter Zoom meeting will appear in the online program 15 minutes prior to the event start time (session CE7)

Welcome to the EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2025 session programme

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REACH OUT NOW TO COLLEAGUES YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE SERVE ON THE DPS NOMINATING COMMITTEE

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PLEASE ALERT THE DPS COMMITTEE ABOUT MEMBERS WHO HAVE PASSED AWAY THIS PAST YEAR SO WE CAN REMEMBER THEM AT THE ANNUAL MEMBERS MEETING

Each year at our annual members meeting, we take a moment to remember past members who are no longer with us. Please help us to not miss anyone by letting us know of DPS members who have passed away since the last DPS members meeting (October 2024). If possible, please also send a picture of the individual and a link to their obituary if it is still available. You can send this information to Denise Stephens, DPS secretary at [email protected]

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WOMEN IN PLANETARY SCIENCES (WIPS) LUNCHEON

Day: Thursday 9/11
Start/end times, Helsinki 12:30-14:00 (5:30-7:00 am Eastern)
Event location: Saturn (Hall B)
Organizers: Jennifer Hanley, Kelsi Singer, Audrey Martin, Tess Marlin, Mikayla Huffman, Tracy Becker, and The Professional Development Subcommittee of the DPS
Zoom link: Button to enter Zoom meeting will appear in the online program 15 minutes prior to the event start time (session CE11)

Note that DPS members attending virtually will need to make a Copernicus Meetings account. Information is given above in the announcement about the Members Meeting.

PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED: http://bit.ly/WiPS_2025

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FEDERAL RELATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE (FRS) MEETING

Day: Tuesday 9/9
Start/end times, Helsinki 12:45-13:45 (5:45-6:45 am Eastern)
Event location: Triton Room (Room 24)
Organizer: Angela Dapremont

Description: Earlier this year, Finland became the 53rd signatory to the Artemis Accords, building on the nation’s established role in space exploration and committing to a set of principles designed to promote the beneficial use of space for humanity. This FRS Splinter Session at the 2025 Joint EPSC-DPS Meeting will partially focus on the Accords, as part of a broader discussion centered on: the value of international collaboration and partnership in the space science and exploration domains, the process for establishing international partnerships related to space exploration, and how international cooperation adds value to planetary science missions to make them more impactful and successful.

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OPEN MIC NIGHT AT THE 2025 EPSC-DPS MEETING

We will be holding the 2025 EPSC/DPS open mic night on Tuesday September 9 at Rymy-Eetu, starting at 21:30. Rymy-Eetu is a 20-minute walk from Finlandia Hall and can be easily reached by trams 3 and 10. They serve food and drinks and will be open starting at 20:30.

Any registered EPSC/DPS attendee is welcome to sign up. We typically have musical acts, poetry, spoken word, etc., so don’t be shy. You can either email Joe Spitale ahead of time to reserve a slot, or you can sign up during the show for a five-minute walk-on slot, subject to availability. To reserve a slot, send me the following information by 9/2:

Name of act, if any
Names of participant(s)
Description of act (e.g., music w/ singing; opera; aerial acrobatics, Romanian bagpipes, extended bongo solo, etc.)
Contact email address
Requested duration
Requested equipment
Any equipment you are willing to share

Regarding the last point, please do not feel in any way pressured or obligated to share any of your personal equipment if you are not comfortable doing so.

Please note that I won’t be able to let you know how much time we can actually give you until after the sign-ups close, but I’ll do my best to get everyone in!

We look forward to seeing you there!

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DEPENDENT CARE GRANT APPLICATION FOR 2025 EPSC-DPS

The DPS’s Susan Niebur Professional Development Fund provides financial assistance to qualifying DPS members in order to facilitate their meeting attendance by offsetting costs for childcare, elder care, spousal care, etc. at the meeting location or at home during DPS conferences. We are now accepting applications for the EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2025 in Helsinki, Finland. The first deadline has passed, but we are still accepting and reviewing new applications, funding and eligibility permitting.

For more information and to apply for the grant, visit: https://dps.aas.org/development/dps-dependent-care-grant-application

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CLASSROOM VISITS DURING EPSC-DPS 2025

During the week of and week after the EPSC-DPS BIANNUAL JOINT conference, the Lecturers Without Borders organization (https://www.lewibo.org/) and Europlanet Society will schedule classroom visits for scientists attending the conference to local schools in and around Helsinki. The program now counts its 5th edition, and for the first time, it is joined by the American

community of planetary scientists. It gives travelling scientists from both sides of the Atlantic the opportunity to share their knowledge with the local community of schools, creating a temporary hotspot of sharing science.

If you are interested and available to participate, either in-person or virtually, please fill out the following form to indicate your availability – https://form.jotform.com/241661279538061. Contact Dr. Athanasia Nikolaou for additional information.

At the same time, schools in the US with students from 9 years old or older can declare their interest to follow online lectures in planetary science in this form:

https://form.jotform.com/240794197558674

The programme is supported by the Europlanet Society, the Division for Planetary Sciences – AAS, University of Helsinki, the Finnish Meteorological Institute, the Ursa Astronomical Association and Scientix. LUMA joins as a communication partner.

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PLEASE VOLUNTEER TO MENTOR AN EARLY-CAREER RESEARCH AT THE EPSC-DPS 2025 MEETING

International conferences can be overwhelming, especially for early-career researchers. To help them to make the most of upcoming EPSC-DPS 2025, we are organizing a mentoring program during the conference. We are mainly looking for mentors to support 1-2 early-career participants who are attending their first international conference. Mentors will be expected to answer any questions their mentees may have and help them initiate their first networking contacts. New collaborations may even emerge from this experience!

If you are interested in volunteering as a mentor, please subscribe here https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdFvDvT1BcPOcDu7b1maiSAVMg16b-j7bkwo638fXoOnu8ftg/viewform?usp=dialog

On behalf of the early-career community, we sincerely thank you for

supporting this initiative and wish you an excellent EPSC-DPS in Helsinki.”

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JGR: PLANETS MEET & GREET AT EPSC-DPS (SM17)

The editorial board of Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets will hold a meet & greet during the EPSC-DPS meeting on Tuesday, September 9, 12:45-13:35 in the Callisto room (room 5). Come meet the board members and learn about JGR:Planets, open data policies, special collections and more!

Lunch will be provided!

Hope to see you there,

Amanda Hendrix, Ph.D.

Editor-in-Chief

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AAS ACTION ALERT AND SURVEY REGARDING STEM WORKFORCE

The American Astronomical Society is partnering with the American Physical Society (APS), the American Association of Physics Teachers, and the National Society of Black Physicists to urge Congress to defend inclusion and belonging in STEM workforce programs. In a recent bipartisan appropriation report, the Senate Commerce, Justice, and Science subcommittee wrote that “ensuring individuals from underrepresented communities across the country can enter and sustain a career as part of the STEM workforce is essential to securing the workforce going forward.” On the other hand, the parallel House bill includes language that prohibits funding for offices, initiatives, and grants that expand opportunity and broaden participation, sweeping up many STEM workforce programs.

You can use our easy action alert form to urge Congress to support the Senate report language and eliminate the House provisions to help embattled workforce programs continue to broaden participation in our field.

Take Action

APS is also conducting an anonymous survey to help us understand how visa rule changes (such as the proposed elimination of Duration of Status and Optional Practical Training) impact the education and career plans of international students and postdocs. We request that international students and postdocs please take this anonymous, 9-question, 5-minute survey by 12 September.

Take the Survey

DPS Newsletter 25-19

Issue 25-19, Aug 23, 2025

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IN MEMORIAM: JING LI (1960-2025)

IN MEMORIAM : PATRICK GAULME (1978-2025)

CALL FOR DONATIONS IN SUPPORT OF DPS STUDENT TRAVEL GRANTS

AAS POLICY TEAM – ARE YOU AWAITING FY2025 FUNDS FOR AWARDED GRANTS?

SAVE NASA SCIENCE DAY OF ACTION

AAS POLICY AND EDUCATION OFFICE HOURS

ICARUS SEEKS ASSOCIATE EDITOR APPLICATIONS

REGISTRATION OPEN FOR THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF BLACK PHYSICISTS ANNUAL MEETING, JOINT WITH NATIONAL SOCIETY OF HISPANIC PHYSICISTS

SUPPORT REQUESTED FOR DPS PARTNER: THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF BLACK PHYSICISTS (NSBP)

LSSW: ARTEMIS IV LANDING SITE WORKSHOP

VIRTUAL NASA PLANETARY DATA TRAINING WORKSHOP “INTRODUCTION TO JMARS”

NASA SOLAR SYSTEM SCIENCE VOLUNTEER REVIEWER FORM

5TH MedGU, 10–13 NOVEMBER 2025, ATHENS, GREECE

SAVE THE DATE – 57TH LUNAR AND PLANETARY SCIENCE CONFERENCE

GEMINI USERS POLL

SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT: ICARUS SPECIAL ISSUE – CARBON IN PLANETARY ENVIRONMENTS

MS/PHD POSITIONS FOR FALL 2026

CURRENT TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR ICARUS AND THE PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL

JOBS, POSITIONS, AND OPPORTUNITIES

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IN MEMORIAM: JING LI (1960-2025)

Jing Li, an accomplished solar astronomer, wife, mother, and friend, passed away on June 21, 2025, at the age of 64 after a battle with cancer. Jing had been a member of UCLA’s Earth, Planetary and Space Sciences department since 2009.

Best friend and wife of 33 years to EPSS Professor David Jewitt, and the devoted mother of Xiaodong (Suu) Zhou, Jing’s life was a testament to resilience, intellectual curiosity, and an unyielding capacity for joy and kindness. She will be deeply missed.

The full obituary can be read here. In Memoriam: Jing Li (1960-2025)

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IN MEMORIAM : PATRICK GAULME (1978-2025)

A great enthusiast and expert in planetary sciences, particularly of the giant planets, Patrick Gaulme passed away on 14 July 2025.

After several years of research with different institutes, including Nice Observatory, Paris Observatory, and IAS in Orsay, he worked in the US from 2011 to 2017. Upon returning to Europe he spent six years at the Max Planck Institute in Göttingen before settling at the Tautenburg (Thüringer Landessternwarteen) Observatory in 2023. He worked extensively on Jupiter’s seismology and meteorology as well as on jovian and solar oscillations using JIVE-JOVIAL.

He will be sorely missed by his colleagues and friends.

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CALL FOR DONATIONS IN SUPPORT OF DPS STUDENT TRAVEL GRANTS

During these challenging times, many students are losing access to their funding and are unable to travel to professional meetings to present their research. The Division for Planetary Science (DPS) Hartmann Student Travel Grant and Underrepresented Minorities (URM) Travel Grant exist to support student presentations at the annual DPS meeting. The need this year has been very great, and our ability to help the applicants was limited by the amount of money available in the Hartmann and URM grant funds.

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AAS POLICY TEAM – ARE YOU AWAITING FY2025 FUNDS FOR AWARDED GRANTS?

The AAS policy team has been made aware that the Office of Management and Budget has recently released a significant portion of the FY2025 funding for the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health, as well as potentially other research agencies; however, it is unclear whether these agencies have been able to disburse these funds. We need your help to understand what is happening with this funding. It is of the utmost urgency to ensure that obligated grant funds for FY2025 are released before 30 September 2025; otherwise, these funds will be returned to the Treasury and will no longer be available. Please use this form to let us know if you have yet to receive funds for grants in FY2025. We will privately contact those who respond to help connect you with your congressional representatives and advocate for the release of those funds as soon as possible.

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SAVE NASA SCIENCE DAY OF ACTION

The registration fee ($24.90 for standard registration, and $7.33 for student registration) includes:

Online and in-person advocacy training from space policy experts
The scheduling of meetings with your congressional representatives
Social gatherings and in-person meeting opportunities with organizational staff and fellow members

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AAS POLICY AND EDUCATION OFFICE HOURS

As the landscape for our field continues to evolve, the AAS Public Policy and Education staff will be making ourselves available for discussions and to provide information as we are able through regular “office hours.” Please stop by our office hours to learn more about advocacy actions that you can take, student support programs, and any other questions that you have for us regarding AAS public policy and education programs. This page will be updated regularly with information about office hours over the next few weeks.

Use this link and sign in with your AAS membership to register in advance for office hours and receive a zoom link.

AAS Policy and Education Office Hours

Current Office Hours Schedule:

Wednesday, 27 August: 2-3 pm ET
Friday, 5 September: 11 am-12 pm ET

You can follow this link to access tips and tricks in our suggested action items. In addition to emailing, we strongly encourage you to call your members of Congress and schedule in-district or Zoom meetings with your congressional offices. Please reach out to [email protected] if there’s anything we can do to facilitate your advocacy.

The Planetary Society has put together a website where you can download a one-pager specific to your district and share with your representative how NASA funding benefits your state and congressional district. NASA Science Spending Across the U.S.

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ICARUS SEEKS ASSOCIATE EDITOR APPLICATIONS

The Associate Editor role entails:

Responsibility for the scientific content of the Journal within a specific area relating to 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 in publishing 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. This includes coordinating an objective and unbiased peer-review process for submitted articles, obtaining a minimum of (2) reviews for each article, and rejecting or returning 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

Alongside the review process, the Associate Editors are asked to periodically participate in discussions with Elsevier about the journal’s development and potential new initiatives. The team of Editors 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 applicants:

Must have a PhD in a field of study relevant to the scope of this journal
Must have demonstrated broad expertise in impact cratering and planetary surfaces.
Be knowledgeable in research publishing, managing a journal publication, the peer review process, and 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 Associate Editor position by September 5, 2025. Please include up to three references.

Applications and relevant supporting documents must be sent to Christina Gifford, Publisher, [email protected].

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REGISTRATION OPEN FOR THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF BLACK PHYSICISTS ANNUAL MEETING, JOINT WITH NATIONAL SOCIETY OF HISPANIC PHYSICISTS

For more on the DPS-NSBP partnership: https://dps.aas.org/leadership/nsbp_parnership

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SUPPORT REQUESTED FOR DPS PARTNER: THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF BLACK PHYSICISTS (NSBP)

DPS has been proud to partner with the Earth and Planetary Systems Sciences (EPSS) section of the National Society of Black Physicists (NSBP), supporting a presentation from the DPS-NSBP Speaker Awardee at the DPS annual meeting as well as travel of a few planetary scientists to the DPS or NSBP annual meeting. For the latter, DPS has generally focused on sending postdocs and early career scientists to the NSBP meeting as, historically, NSBP has been able fully support the travel for most of the students who attend the conference. However, recent cuts to funding from traditional partners have drastically reduced NSBP’s ability to support students to attend their conference so they are soliciting community donations; on average, the cost to cover a student’s travel and lodging is $1500. The link to donate directly to NSBP is below; alternatively, if you prefer to donate through DPS, community contributions to the DPS URM Travel Grant fund will also be used to support travel to the NSBP meeting. Donations through either path should be U.S. tax deductible. Many thanks to all who support these future planetary scientists!

To donate directly to NSBP: https://nsbp.org/page/conferencestudentsupport

To donate to the DPS URM travel grant: https://dps.aas.org/Inclusivity/support-underrepresented-minority-communities-planetary-science

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LSSW: ARTEMIS IV LANDING SITE WORKSHOP

Date: September 10, 2025

Time: 11 am ET – 5 pm ET

Co-Chairs: Barbara Cohen (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center); Jennifer Heldmann (NASA Ames Research Center); Sam Lawrence (NASA Johnson Space Center)

This Lunar Surface Science Workshop (LSSW) will focus on how to optimize the Artemis IV landing site to address the science objectives of the mission. Key science focus areas include South Pole-Aitken Basin’s unique geochronology, geochemistry, and geophysics as well as other high priority science objectives (e.g., volatiles, planetary evolution, regolith processes, Heliophysics, Biological and Physical Sciences).

Abstract submission now open!

https://sservi.nasa.gov/lssw/artemis-iv-landing-site-workshop

Call for Abstracts:
Abstracts are due by August 22, 2025. Abstracts should focus on providing criteria that can be used for landing site evaluations to optimize the scientific return from the Artemis IV mission, NOT on the identification of specific landing sites. Abstracts that consider data analysis that is required to develop and/or assess figures of merit are also welcome.

Call for Volunteers:

If you are interested in volunteering to facilitate breakout sessions, take notes during a discussion session for use by NASA and for generating a workshop report, and/or contributing directly to the report document, please contact Barbara Cohen or Jennifer Heldmann.

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VIRTUAL NASA PLANETARY DATA TRAINING WORKSHOP “INTRODUCTION TO JMARS”

The NASA Planetary Data Training Workshops project will host a Virtual-only training, “Introduction to JMARS”, online on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, 9am-1pm MST. This is intended for New Users interested in learning the basics of the JMARS software. Please sign up to participate at this link:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfHJkpV5zhdjuDFdGh150R2anRsQog6dldEuR5N3d9lck0gaw/viewform

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NASA SOLAR SYSTEM SCIENCE VOLUNTEER REVIEWER FORM

Why Join?

Make an Impact: Use your expertise to guide NASA’s research priorities and support breakthrough discoveries.
Flexible Involvement: Indicating interest does not obligate you—NASA will contact you if your skills match our needs.
Expand Your Network: Collaborate with top scientists and connect with peers across the solar system science community.
Professional Growth: Gain peer review experience and strengthen your CV.

How It Works

No Commitment: Signing up simply signals your interest. There is no obligation until you accept an invitation.
Eligibility: You cannot review proposals for panels you are funded on but may serve on other panels or as an external reviewer.

Quick Application

Required Fields: Answer all items marked with an asterisk*.
Share Your Expertise: Provide contact information, note conflicts of interest, and detail your background.
Fast Submission: Click the relevant buttons for other fields.
Comments Box: Highlight expertise relevant to review assignments and disclose any additional conflicts of interest.

Be Part of NASA’s Solar System Science Program!

Your insights help ensure excellence across NASA’s solar system research. Thank you for considering this chance to make a difference!

Solar System Science Volunteer Reviewer Form

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5TH MedGU, 10–13 NOVEMBER 2025, ATHENS, GREECE

The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens in Greece will host the 2025 MedGU Annual Meeting.You are invited to participate and share your most recent research contributions.

Abstract submission deadline: 25 August 2025

Website: MedGU 2025

Scopus-indexed Proceedings: MedGU | SpringerLink

MedGU 2024 YouTube: MedGU-2024 YouTube

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SAVE THE DATE – 57TH LUNAR AND PLANETARY SCIENCE CONFERENCE

Indication of Interest

Submit an indication of interest to receive additional information about the conference.

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GEMINI USERS POLL

We would like to request your participation in a community survey being conducted in advance of a Users’ Committee for Gemini (UCG) meeting to be held on September 23-24, 2025. The UCG meetings include comprehensive discussions on Gemini science priorities, current and future instrumentation, strategic planning, communication strategies, and more. This questionnaire is meant to specifically inform how Gemini communicates with its user communities in the future, so your responses are vital to guiding these discussions. To allow time to incorporate your responses and generate discussion points, responses are requested by Friday, August 15th, 2025, but the submission form is still open if you would like to respond. As the representatives of the Solar system community on the UCG, we would like to particularly encourage participation from our community (and the planetary community at large) to help ensure our unique needs and priorities are captured by the survey. Please note that you do not have to be a regular Gemini user (or a user at all) to fill out the survey. Feedback from all is welcome! The form can be accessed at https://forms.gle/xDi5o7AyuysTkUm18 .

Regards,

Henry Hsieh & Charles Schambeau

Users’ Committee for Gemini (UCG)

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SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT: ICARUS SPECIAL ISSUE – CARBON IN PLANETARY ENVIRONMENTS

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MS/PHD POSITIONS FOR FALL 2026

Prospective graduate students, please find the resulting list at: https://tinyurl.com/7hy3e4dv

Questions – Please email Sarah Horst.

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CURRENT TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR ICARUS AND THE PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL

The current issues for both DPS-affiliated journals are here:

Icarus:

Icarus | Vol 436, In progress (August 2025) | ScienceDirect.com by Elsevier

The Planetary Science Journal:

Issue 8 – Volume 6 – 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 are listed below.

Faculty Administrator or Professor and Director, Florida Space Institute

The Florida Space Institute (FSI) at the University of Central Florida (UCF) is on a mission to propel space research, innovation, and education to new heights. We are seeking a visionary leader to serve as the Director of FSI, a multidisciplinary center devoted to facilitating and conducting leading-edge applied and basic research and education programs in space-related fields. UCF is seeking applications for a 12-month, non-tenure earning faculty administrator or tenured professor and director of the FSI.

FSI’s charter is to support space research, development, and education activities within UCF and in the state of Florida, and secondarily to support the development of Florida’s space economy, including civil, defense, and commercial. As Director, you’ll have the opportunity to help drive collaborations across academia, industry, and government to expand Florida’s space research.

UCF is committed to becoming a premier institution in space science, engineering, and education and is seeking a dynamic individual to implement that vision by growing FSI into a nationally recognized space research institute that supports UCF’s recognition as a top research institution for space.

The Director will work with faculty from the College of Sciences, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the College of Optics and Photonics, and others interested in space-related research at UCF to achieve these goals.

Reporting directly to UCF’s Associate Vice President for Research and Scholarship, you’ll be at the forefront of a bold new era in shaping the institution’s trajectory and influencing the future of the field.

Minimum Qualifications:

Ph.D. from an accredited institution in Space Science or Engineering or another relevant discipline, or equivalent experience is required.
Strong spoken and written communications and interpersonal skills.
Demonstrated leadership and managerial effectiveness.
A record of winning competitive space funding and managing funded programs.
To be eligible for appointment as a tenured professor upon hire, the selected candidate must have a Ph.D. from an accredited institution and demonstrated teaching, research, and service commensurate with a tenured faculty rank in a department/school related to the candidate’s area of expertise.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience in creating, developing, and growing strategic partnerships with companies in the space industry from both an academic and a commercial perspective.
A proven track record of building, motivating, mentoring, and coaching high-performance teams.
An entrepreneurial mindset for building up an organization and experience in growing and managing a center, institute, NASA flight project, or large research group.
A creative problem solver that can bring multiple and diverse disciplines together.
Experience in academic programs.
Experience within NASA or receiving and executing large NASA-funded programs.

Additional Application Materials Required:

UCF requires all applications and supporting documents be submitted electronically through the Human Resources employment opportunities website, https://www.ucf.edu/jobs/. In addition to the online application, candidates should upload a cover letter, a current curriculum vitae, and a list with contact information for three (3) professional references.

The selected candidate will be required to submit official transcripts (and, as applicable, U.S. degree equivalency evaluations) documenting the conferral of their qualifying academic credentials.

NOTE: Please have all documents ready when applying so they can be simultaneously uploaded. Once the online submission process is finalized, the system does not allow applicants to submit additional documents later.

Questions regarding this search should be directed to: Jennifer McKay.

Special Instructions to the Applicants:

This is a full-time, 12-month appointment. Consideration of the position being tenured is possible with demonstrated teaching, research, and service commensurate with a tenured faculty rank in a department/school related to the candidate’s area of expertise.

Job Close Date: Open until filled.

Postdoctoral Position in Moon-Magnetosphere Interaction at DIAS

A new postdoctoral position is available within the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS) Planetary Magnetospheres Group: https://dias.ie/planetary

The position is available for 2 years in the first instance, with scope for extension, starting as soon as possible. The position has the broad theme of moon-magnetosphere interactions at Jupiter. Closing date 12pm Monday, September 15, 2025.

The details can be accessed through this link: https://tinyurl.com/6b3mvkyk

Prospective applicants are encouraged to directly contact and discuss scientific opportunities with Dr. Mika Holmberg and Prof Caitriona Jackman.

At DIAS, we are committed to building an inclusive scientific community, distinguished by scientific excellence, gender balance, and diversity. Proposals for flexitime will be considered. Applicants are welcome to include in their CV (if applicable) any career breaks, and a short statement on any impact the Covid-19 pandemic had on their scientific productivity.

Postdoctoral Position in Planetary Sciences and Astrobiology at University of Washington

The Department of Earth and Space Sciences at the University of Washington (UW) seeks a Postdoctoral Scholar to work on numerical simulations and data analysis to inform the search for life on exoplanets. The position will be supervised by Professors David Catling and Joshua Krissansen-Totton. This theory project is funded by the Sloan Foundation and does not depend on federal grants.

The postdoc will collaborate with supervisors and other scientists to study how biospheres alter planetary processes in ways that are remotely detectable:

Using biogeochemical evolutionary and photochemical models to simulate lifeless and inhabited worlds;
Developing disequilibrium-, redox-, and information-based metrics to understand and quantify the influence of life on planetary environments.

There will also be opportunities to collaborate with personnel in the Virtual Planetary Laboratory (based in UW Astronomy) to examine the detectability of such signs of life with future telescopes. Other opportunities for collaboration and career development also exist.

The position runs for one year initially, renewable for up to 3 years. The position is available immediately, but the exact start date is negotiable.

More details and how to apply at: https://apply.interfolio.com/171537

Postdoctoral Fellow Position at University of Alberta / AMII (Canada)

The Azari Research Group (ARG) is hiring a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Alberta and the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii) for the advancement of machine learning to further understand Mars’ space environment. The researcher will be expected to work on the

development and application of uncertainty-aware (probabilistic) machine learning with NASA MAVEN spacecraft observations and/or relevant physics-based models for solar wind estimation.

The University of Alberta is committed to an equitable, diverse, and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from all qualified persons. We encourage women; First Nations, Metis and Inuit persons; members of visible minority groups; persons with disabilities; persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity and expression; and all those who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas and the University to apply.

Details and application directions can be found online at:https://bit.ly/Mars-ML-PostDoc

Contact Abigail Azari for questions.

STFC-Funded Postdoctoral Research Associate Position at University of Leicester

The role is to analyse data from the James Webb Space Telescope and Hubble Space Telescope of Jupiter’s H3+ and FUV auroral emissions, and to develop ionospheric models. This combined dataset provides an exciting new window into the behaviour of Jupiter’s auroral ionosphere. In addition to the existing data, we have further HST and JWST observations which will take place over the next observing cycle, and you will take the principal role in reducing and analysing these new data. These observations will specifically target the morphology of the Io footprint and the dusk active region of intense H3+ emission. You will investigate these novel auroral observations in conjunction with a model of auroral precipitation in order to generate novel scientific insights into giant planet auroral processes.

For details see: https://jobs.le.ac.uk/vacancies/11812/research-associate.html

For informal enquiries please contact Jonathan Nichols.

Lawrence Fellowship at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

We are pleased to solicit applications for the Lawrence Postdoctoral Fellowship at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). Please help us spread the word by encouraging talented students and collaborators to apply to these positions.

The Lawrence Fellowship is a highly competitive postdoctoral position at LLNL that is open to all technical disciplines. Fellowships are awarded to candidates with exceptional talent, scientific track records, and potential for significant achievements. Fellows are free to pursue their own independent research agenda within an environment of subject matter experts who provide guidance and mentorship.

Salary: $146,820
Term: 3 years
Application Deadline: October 1, 2025
Reference Letter Deadline: October 15, 2025
LLNL Posting: not up yet
Contact: Michelle Perez-Robles, [email protected]

For more information, please visit: https://tinyurl.com/yfu7xnyf

High Energy Density Science Center Fellowship at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

We are pleased to solicit applications for the High Energy Density Science Center Postdoctoral Fellowship at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). Please help us spread the word by encouraging talented students and collaborators to apply to these positions.

High Energy Density Science is the study of matter and energy under extreme conditions, and we are looking for candidates with expertise ranging from atomic, plasma, nuclear, planetary, stellar, high pressure, and condensed matter physics to high performance computing, diagnostics, and instrumentation. Applications need to include a CV, research proposal, summary slide, transcripts, and three references.

Salary: $145,980
Term: Two years with the possibility of extension to a maximum of three years
Application Deadline: October 6, 2025
Reference Letter Deadline: October 13, 2025
Contact: Jessica Karlton, [email protected]

LLNL Posting: https://tinyurl.com/ydx73vrx

HEDS Center Website: https://heds-center.llnl.gov/

HEDS Research Areas: https://heds-center.llnl.gov/research/research-areas

Tenure Track Assistant Professor in Astronomy at Mount Holyoke College

The Mount Holyoke College Physics & Astronomy Department invites applications for an Assistant Professor in Astronomy (tenure track) to begin in Fall 2026. We seek a candidate with a strong commitment to undergraduate teaching in a liberal arts environment, who will establish a vigorous research program involving undergraduates. A PhD in astronomy or a related field is required. Mount Holyoke College is an active member of the Five College Astronomy Department (FCAD), which provides multiple opportunities for research collaborations including at nearby UMass Amherst, the flagship campus of the state university system.

The candidate will teach across our core astronomy curriculum, which spans general-education to upper level astrophysics. With the recent merging of physics and astronomy, there is the opportunity to revamp the astronomy major sequence in collaboration with the FCAD.

Submit statements concerning (1) teaching philosophy with illustrative examples, (2) research plan, and (3) a statement about mentoring a diverse student body, as well as a cover letter addressing your interest in Mount Holyoke and CV. To apply, submit materials here:

https://tinyurl.com/2wj4pb86

For further information please contact Prof. Spencer Smith at [email protected]. Review of applications will begin October 1.

Postdoc Opportunity at University of Leicester, UK

The University of Leicester was recently awarded an STFC Large Grant on the topic of “Planet Mercury: Origins, Evolution, and Interactions” with Emma Bunce as PI. The main aim is preparation for, and analysis of, the first data back from the ESA/JAXA BepiColombo mission to

Mercury, which we are well-positioned for here at Leicester given our leadership of the Mercury Imaging X-ray Spectrometer (MIXS). MIXS will revolutionise our understand of Mercury’s surface geochemistry as a nadir pointing instrument capable of global mapping at X-ray

wavelengths.

This grant spans five years and has four post-doc positions associated with it. Two will be hosted at the University of Leicester, one at Imperial College, and one at the Open University. This represents the first of these exciting positions to be advertised, and the role is focused on planetary geochemistry. Further posts will be advertised next year.

The successful candidate will join the BepiColombo MIXS team at Space Park Leicester and will to analyse the first data back from Mercury’s surface.

Please see the advert for further details:

https://tinyurl.com/5ea9jjfw

For any informal enquiries please get in touch directly with Emma Bunce

via email ([email protected]).

Tenure-Track Faculty Position at University of Iowa

The School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability (SEES) at The University of Iowa seeks a tenure-track appointment at the rank of assistant or associate professor with expertise in solid Earth geology, focused on structural geology, tectonics, geochronology, thermochronology, critical minerals, or geodynamics. Required teaching duties will include structural geology, field courses, tectonics, and other courses within the successful applicant’s expertise. We will consider all areas of research but encourage candidates with strong field-based programs and interest in Earth and planetary processes as well as in the interplay between solid earth dynamics and environmental conditions in the hydrosphere, biosphere, or atmosphere.

Apply online at: https://jobs.uiowa.edu/ Refer to requisition #75645.

Deadline for full consideration is September 15, 2025. Screening of applications will begin in early September. The application window will remain open until the position is satisfactorily filled.

Direct questions regarding this position to Dr. Emily Finzel.

DPS Newsletter 25-18

Issue 25-18, Aug 21, 2025

DPS MEMBERS REMOTE ATTENDANCE FOR DPS ACTIVITIES AT JOINT EPSC-DPS MEETING – PLEASE READ!

Dear DPS members,

This year’s joint EPSC-DPS meeting promises to be one of the most vibrant and impactful to date. With over 1,900 abstracts submitted—approximately 20% originating from our DPS community—the conference offers an outstanding platform to present recent scientific advances and foster meaningful connections that can spark future international collaborations.

Below, we highlight several DPS-focused sessions and events that we warmly encourage you to engage with—whether through contributions or active participation.

We look forward to seeing you in Helsinki this September, or connecting with you virtually.

The DPS committee

========================================================================

Six DPS-related events (3 meetings, 3 lectures) at the EPSC-DPS joint meeting in Helsinki Sept. 7-12 will be made available to DPS members without requiring virtual meeting registration.

One splinter event, the Federal Relations Subcommittee meeting, already has a Zoom link which is given in the description for Event 2. For the other five events, you will need to already have a Copernicus Meetings User ID or to create a free account with Copernicus Meetings at https://administrator.copernicus.org/createAccount.

Fifteen minutes prior to the start time of each event, a button will appear in the online conference program to enter the relevant Zoom session.

Welcome to the EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2025 session programme

+——————– DPS MEMBER EVENTS AT THE EPSC-DPS MEETING ————————+

EVENT 1: DIVERSITY KEYNOTE LECTURE WITH ANNE LIJESTRÖM (USRA ASTRONOMICAL ASSOCIATION)

EVENT 2: FEDERAL RELATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE (FRS) MEETING

EVENT 3: SAGAN AWARD KEYNOTE LECTURE

EVENT 4: DPS MEMBERS MEETING

EVENT 5: WOMEN IN PLANETARY (WIPS) LUNCHEON

EVENT 6: DPS AWARDS CEREMONY

+——————————————————————————————–+

EVENT 1: Diversity keynote lecture with Anne Liljeström (Ursa Astronomical Association)

Day: Sunday 9/7
Start/end times, Helsinki (EDT+7 hrs): 17:00-18:00
Event location: Helsinki Hall
Organizers: Solmaz Adeli, Arianna Piccialli
Zoom link: Button to enter Zoom meeting will appear in the online program 15 minutes prior to the event start time (session KLD1)

Description: Finland has a long history of communicating astronomy to the public. Finland also (allegedly!) has the largest number of amateur astronomers per capita in the world. Ursa Astronomical Association, the oldest and largest of its kind in Finland, is currently the most active and versatile it’s ever been. The speaker has been the press officer and outreach astronomer for Ursa Astronomical Association since 2011. This talk offers some personal musings and insights into communicating astronomy in a small, northern country.”

+——————————————————————————————–+

EVENT 2: Federal Relations Subcommittee (FRS) Meeting

Day: Tuesday 9/9
Start/end times, Helsinki (EDT+7 hrs): 12:45-13:45
Event location: Triton Room (Room 24)
Organizer: Angela Dapremont

Description: Earlier this year, Finland became the 53rd signatory to the Artemis Accords, building on the nation’s established role in space exploration and committing to a set of principles designed to promote the beneficial use of space for humanity. This FRS Splinter Session at the 2025 Joint EPSC-DPS Meeting will focus, in part, on the Accords, as part of a broader discussion centered on: the value of international collaboration and partnership in the space science and exploration domains, the process for establishing international partnerships related to space exploration, and how international cooperation adds value to planetary science missions to make them more impactful and successful.

+——————————————————————————————–+

EVENT 3: Sagan Award Keynote lecture

Day: Wednesday 9/10
Start/end times, Helsinki (EDT+7 hrs): 8:55-9:20
Event location: Helsinki Hall
Speaker: Lisa Kaltenegger
Zoom link: Button to enter Zoom meeting will appear in the online program 15 minutes prior to the event start time (sessions KLD5)

Preliminary title: Revealing the Secrets of Rocky Exoplanets

+——————————————————————————————–+

EVENT 4: DPS Members Meeting

Day: Wednesday 9/10
Start/end times, Helsinki (EDT+7 hrs): 12:30-14:00
Event location: Saturn Room (Hall B)
Organizers: Athena Coustenis and Scott Murchie
Zoom link: Button to enter Zoom meeting will appear in the online program 15 minutes prior to the event start time (session CE7)

Description: At this annual business meeting of the DPS, the status of membership, leadership, activities in the past year, election outcomes, and finances will be reviewed. Division officers will summarize the past year’s accomplishments and goals for coming years. Votes will be taken on incoming members of the Nominating subcommittee and on Division dues for the the coming year. Editors will summarize the status and publications of journals that the DPS endorses and supports.

+——————————————————————————————–+

EVENT 5: Women in Planetary Sciences (WIPS) Luncheon

Day: Thursday 9/11
Start/end times, Helsinki (EDT+7 hrs): 12:30-14:00
Event location: Saturn (Hall B)
Organizers: Jennifer Hanley, Kelsi Singer, Audrey Martin, Tess Marlin, Mikayla Huffman, Tracy Becker, and The Professional Development Subcommittee of the DPS
Zoom link: Button to enter Zoom meeting will appear in the online program 15 minutes prior to the event start time (session CE11)

PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED: http://bit.ly/WiPS_2025

+——————————————————————————————–+

Event 6: DPS Awards Ceremony

Day: Thursday 9/11
Start/end times, Helsinki (EDT+7 hrs): 14:00-14:50
Event location: Room Sun
Organizers: Athena Coustenis and Scott Murchie; speaker Faith Vilas
Zoom link: Button to enter Zoom meeting will appear in the online program 15 minutes prior to the event start time (session CE10)

AAS Division For Planetary Sciences Announces 2025 Prize Winners

The Division for Planetary Sciences (DPS) of the American Astronomical Society (AAS)
has named its prize winners for 2025.

Dr. Faith Vilas looks at the camera. She wears a red blazer with a black collar.

Dr. Faith Vilas is the recipient of the 2025 Gerard P. Kuiper Prize honoring outstanding contributions to the field of planetary science. Dr. Vilas has had a distinguished career of groundbreaking research and wide-ranging innovations. She has made outstanding contributions to our field across a range of diverse topics. She has pioneered remote sensing of the solar system, pushing its capabilities through instrument design and expert observations of a variety of targets. Dr. Vilas designed the coronagraph used to acquire the first image of a circumstellar disk around another star and made the first asteroid survey using a CCD spectrograph. She made pioneering observations of aqueous alteration on primitive asteroids, the mineralogy of Mercury, and hydration on the Moon. Her service to and leadership of the community have been extraordinary, including Program Director for Planetary Astronomy at the NSF; Chief Scientist of the NASA Planetary Data System; inaugural NASA Small Bodies Assessment Group (SBAG) Chair; Chair of the American Astronomical Society Division for Planetary Sciences; NASA Discovery Program Scientist; and Vice-Chair and Chair of the Detection and Characterization Sub-Committee on National Academies’ 2010 study on NEO detection, characterization, mitigation. Furthermore, she currently serves as the inaugural Editor of the AAS Planetary Science Journal. The impact of exceptional planetary science contributions enabled by Dr. Vilas’ work in these areas cannot be overstated.

Dr. Matt Headman looks at the camera. He wears glasses and a gray collared shirt.

Prof. Matthew Hedman is awarded the 2025 DPS Alexander Prize in recognition of his scientific, leadership, and collaborative contributions to Planetary Science. Dr. Hedman’s career has been one of field-changing scientific discoveries, contributions to missions, and mentorship of early-career researchers. Dr. Hedman has made pivotal discoveries in studies of the rings of Saturn, developing the tools required to use ring seismology to probe giant planet interiors. He was first to document periodic variations in Enceladus’s plumes related to tidal stresses. Recently, Prof. Hedman has also published observations and analysis of the Saturnian system from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), which is an entirely complementary set of observations and data analysis methods. Prof. Hedman’s service work includes a term as Secretary for the Division of Dynamical Astronomy of the AAS, as well as serving as a regular contributing member of OPAG. He served as a member of the Giant Planet Systems Panel for the Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey 2023-2032. Artistically, he was part of a team that designed a public exhibit of eighty Cassini images shown at the American Museum of Natural History, the National Air and Space Museum, and a dozen smaller museums.

Dr. Xinting Yu wears a black blazer over a gray shirt and glasses at the Johns Hopkins University.

Dr. Xinting Yu is awarded one of two 2025 Harold C. Urey Prizes as a recognition for her broad and impactful work in both planetary and exoplanet science, on both planetary surfaces and atmospheres. Although an exoplanet scientist, she is involved in the solar system science community and has fostered new collaborations. She is learning new skills in geochemistry and thinks of her labwork in the context of theory and observations. Her distinctive expertise in both laboratory experiments and theoretical analysis positions her to play a critical and unique role in the field. Her work is applicable to Cassini, Dragonfly, and JWST and she also studies meteorites to learn about secondary atmospheres and outgassing. She has performed groundbreaking work on particles on Titan that informs on surface conditions applicable to the Dragonfly mission. Xinting has also been very active in mentorship and professional development.

Dr. James Keane wears a blue shirt under a blue suit and glasses, posing in front of an office building at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory with a multi-story Inclusive Pride Flag hanging from the size.

Dr. James Keane is awarded the 2025 Harold C. Urey Prize because he has distinguished himself with his broad and impactful research portfolio studying the geophysics of worlds across the Solar System, including the Moon, Io, Arrokoth, Pluto, and Enceladus. James has worked to combine gravity, topography, and imaging data to expand the science return of several planetary missions, including GRAIL, New Horizons, and Juno. He is a well-known science communicator whose prolific science illustrations have improved the accessibility of planetary science to the broader community and the lay public. Dr. Keane served on the Mercury and Moon panel of the Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey (PSADS). He has a strong record of community service and outreach including as a DPS member, a member of the AAS Committee on the Status of Women, co-lead of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Sketch your Science workshop, science advisor of AGU’s Eos, convenor of several Keck Institute for Space Science workshops, and science mentor for the NASA Planetary Science Summer School (PSSS). Dr. Keane collaborates widely and is currently mentoring graduate students at Caltech, University of Arizona, and Purdue. Dr. Keane is also the recipient of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) and NASA Early Career Achievement Medal. As a graduate student, James received the Pellas-Graham Ryder Award and the Eugene M. Shoemaker Impact Cratering Award from the Geological Society of America’s Planetary Science Division, and AGU’s Outstanding Student Paper Award.

Dr. Rosaly Lopes wears a dark blue blouse and looks at the camera.

Dr. Rosaly Lopes is the winner of the 2025 Harold Masursky Award. Dr Lopes has demonstrated deep and broad dedication to the advancement and health of planetary science in countless ways that extend beyond her duties as a JPL scientist. She has done work with the State Department to further planetary science and space studies in other nations. Her comparative studies of volcanology on Earth, Io, Titan and other bodies have allowed her to make an indelible imprint on the field. She has been in leadership positions in various national and international planetary science/geology professional organizations since the mid-2000s, including as DPS Chair and AGU Planetary Section President. Dr. Lopes served on the Space Studies Board of the National Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine and participated in the study “Assessing the Health and Vitality of the NASA Science Mission Directorate’s Research Communities”. She was awarded an AGU Ambassador Award and Fellowship.

Dr. Lisa Kaltenegger wears a black blazer over a blue blouse in front of a Hubble Space Telescope image at TEDNext, October 22 - 24, 2024, Atlanta, GA. Photo: Erin Lubin / TED

Dr Lisa Kaltenegger is awarded the 2025 Carl Sagan medal which recognizes and honors outstanding communication by an active planetary scientist to the general public. It is awarded to Lisa whose efforts have significantly contributed to a public understanding of, and enthusiasm for, planetary science. Dr Kaltenegger has, throughout her career, made communication and engagement a priority. She is the Founding Director of the Carl Sagan Institute at Cornell University (11 years ago, as an early career scientist) and a gifted communicator. Under her direction, the Carl Sagan Institute has built a YouTube channel with over 26,000 subscribers that showcases technical and popular science talks, and also has established a strong presence on major social media platforms. She has made outstanding contributions to the fields of planetary and exoplanetary science that she has associated with extensive, multi-faceted, and impactful communication of these fields to audiences that range from the general public to those in the critical pipelines of early career talent from the national and international educational systems. Lisa has appeared on high-profile podcasts and has recently published a critically acclaimed popular science book, “Alien Earths”, which has already been translated into 10 languages and has garnered widespread praise. Lisa’s TED Next talk associated with this book accumulated nearly half-a-million views just two months after being posted. Hundreds of stories and media quotations have resulted from her intriguing and accessible science publications. She has performed community service to the profession as a member of the Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory Committee (AAAC) of the National Academy of Science (NAS), among many other roles.

Liz Kruesi wears a blue blouse and glasses, has purple hair, and looks at the camera.

Ms. Liz Kruesi is awarded the 2025 Jonathan Eberhart Planetary Sciences Journalism award, which recognizes distinguished popular writing on planetary sciences, for her piece entitled, “What has Perseverance found in two years on Mars?” published in February 2023 in Science News. The article provides an up-to-date assessment of the exploration of Jezero Crater by Perseverance and its place within NASA’s larger Mars Program while also making effective arguments for the importance of both. The piece’s description of the different kinds of geology encountered on the crater floor, the explanation of surprise of scientists to new results found by the rover, and the excellent pairing of images with the text all came together to evoke the exploration and excitement that comes with any ongoing mission. In between headlines, these missions are still treading further into the unknown. Through avoiding a focus on a particular result and instead describing the Mars Program as a kind of journey towards deeper understanding of the Red Planet, Ms. Kruesi’s piece successfully wove together multiple ongoing lines of research into a coherent story, which makes the case for not just why these scientists study Mars but why we all ought to care about what they find. Depicting an unfolding scientific understanding — in this case about the broad history of Jezero Crater and what it means for the samples that Perseverance is caching — before there is a clear consensus requires a deft hand as well as an attention to detail and pacing, and Ms. Kruesi’s piece achieved this, and much more, admirably.

Contacts:
Dr. Theodore Kareta
DPS Press Officer (outgoing)
[email protected]

Dr. Athena Coustenis
DPS Chair
[email protected]

More information about DPS prizes:
https://dps.aas.org/prizes

EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2025, Helsinki, Finland, 7-12 September 2025:
https://epsc-dps2025.eu/

The Division for Planetary Sciences (DPS), founded in 1968, is the largest special-interest Division of the American Astronomical Society (AAS). Members of the DPS study the bodies of our own solar system, from planets and moons to comets and asteroids, and all other solar-system objects and processes. With the discovery that planets exist around other stars, the DPS has expanded its scope to include the study of extrasolar planetary systems as well.

The American Astronomical Society (AAS), established in 1899, is the major organization of professional astronomers in North America. The mission of the AAS is to enhance and share humanity’s scientific understanding of the universe as a diverse and inclusive astronomical community, which it achieves through publishing, meeting organization, science advocacy, education and outreach, and training and professional development.

DPS Newsletter 25-17

Issue 25-17, Jul 29, 2025

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MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR: CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2025 DPS COMMITTEE NEW MEMBERS AND DPS PRIZE AWARDEES

EARLY REGISTRATION ENDING SOON FOR THE EPSC-DPS 2025 MEETING

DPS MEMBERS MEETING AT THE EPSC-DPS 2025 MEETING

OPEN MIC NIGHT AT THE 2025 EPSC-DPS MEETING

MENTORING AT EPSC-DPS 2025

DEPENDENT CARE GRANT APPLICATION FOR 2025 EPSC-DPS

CLASSROOM VISITS DURING EPSC-DPS 2025

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MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR: CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2025 DPS COMMITTEE NEW MEMBERS AND DPS PRIZE AWARDEES

It is with great pleasure that I would like to welcome to our DPS committee the newly elected members:

My sincere congratulations to Dr JA Grier, the incoming Vice-Chair and to Drs Arianna Piccialli and Eddie Schwieterman who are the incoming Committee members.

My heartfelt thanks to all who ran in these elections and were prepared to serve our community. The Division for Planetary Sciences relies on volunteers for its leadership positions and we thank all members who were willing to run for these elected positions. A special thanks to our Nominating Subcommittee, Tim Livengood, Jessica Noviello and Therese Encrenaz for assembling the 2025 slate of candidates and Diane Frendak for her technical support running the elections.

We are also announcing at this time the DPS 2025 Prize and Awards winners. Indeed, as every year the DPS recognizes exceptional achievement in our field with the following Awards and Prizes:

The Gerard P. Kuiper Prize is awarded to Dr Faith Villas and it honors outstanding contributions to the field of planetary science.
The Harold C. Urey Prize recognizes outstanding achievement in planetary research and is awarded this year to two extremely deserving young scientists: Dr Xinting Yu and Dr James Keane
The Harold Masursky Award acknowledges this year Dr Rosaly Lopes’ outstanding service to planetary science and exploration.
The Carl Sagan Medal is bestowed to Dr Lisa Kaltenegger and recognizes and honors outstanding communication by an active planetary scientist to the general public.
The Alexander Prize recognizes Dr Matt Hedman’s outstanding contributions that have significantly advanced our knowledge of planetary systems, including our solar system.
The Jonathan Eberhart Planetary Sciences Journalism Award recognizes and stimulates distinguished popular writing on planetary sciences and is bestowed this year to Liz Kruesi.

Detailed descriptions of each of the prizes and the criteria for nominees for each can be found at http://dps.aas.org/prizes. The prizes will be presented at the 2025 EPSC-DPS Joint meeting at 2 pm on Thursday Sept 11 in Helsinki Finland, which will be 7 am Eastern Time.

We gratefully thank the DPS Prize Subcommittee who worked with the nominations this year (Chair: Carol Raymond) and encourage everyone to make nominations in the coming years.

The DPS committee joins me in warmly congratulating our colleagues for their achievements and service to the community! In these challenging times for planetary sciences it is always appreciated to have a chance to recognize the activities and great results of people in our field that bring merit and pride to our community.

Athena Coustenis

DPS Chair

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EARLY REGISTRATION ENDING SOON FOR THE EPSC-DPS 2025 MEETING

Early registration for the EPSC-DPS Joint 2025 Meeting in Finlandia Hall, Helsinki, Finland will close on July 31, 2025 at 5:59 pm ET. The early registration payment can be made by bank transfer, credit card (Mastercard, VISA, JCB or American Express), or PayPal. As of 1 August 2025, the late registration rates will be applied and payment of your registration will only be possible by credit card or PayPal. Bank transfer payments of registrations will not be possible in case of registering after 31 July 2025, 5:59 pm ET. Please consider that a registration at the early registration rate requires the payment of the registration amount within the deadline indicated on the invoice (14 days after receipt of invoice). Unpaid early registrations after the payment deadline will be cancelled and the late registration rates will be applied.

Please use the following link to access the registration page where you can find more information about the rates and the in person or virtual registration process.

https://www.epsc-dps2025.eu/attend/registration.html

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DPS MEMBERS MEETING AT THE EPSC-DPS 2025 MEETING

The DPS Members meeting will be held in Helsinki, Finland at the Joint EPSC-DPS Meeting on Wednesday Sept 10 at 12:30 pm, which will be 5:30 am Eastern Time. A link will be provided in the future for all DPS members who wish to attend remotely.

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OPEN MIC NIGHT AT THE 2025 EPSC-DPS MEETING

We will be holding the 2025 EPSC/DPS open mic night on Tuesday Sept 9 at a bar called Storyville, across the street from Finlandia Hall. The exact start time is TBD, but will be late evening. Storyville serves food and drinks and will be open prior to the event. Entry is free.

Any registered DPS attendee is welcome to sign up to perform. We typically have musical acts, poetry, spoken word, etc., so don’t be shy. You can either email Joe Spitale ([email protected]) ahead of time to reserve a slot, or you can sign up during the show for a five-minute walk-on slot, subject to availability. To reserve a slot, send the following information by Sept 2 to [email protected]

Name of act, if any
Names of participant(s)
Description of act (e.g., music w/ singing, opera, aerial acrobatics, Romanian bagpipes, extended bongo solo, etc.)
Contact email address
Requested duration
Requested equipment
Any equipment you are willing to share

Regarding sharing equipment, please do not feel in any way pressured or obligated to share any of your personal equipment if you are not comfortable doing so.

Please note that we won’t be able to let you know how much time we can actually give you until after the sign-ups close, but we’ll do our best to get everyone in!

We look forward to seeing you there!

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MENTORING AT EPSC-DPS 2025

The Europlanet Early Career (EPEC) network invites you to participate in the 7th edition of the Mentoring@EPSC program. The mentoring will provide one-on-one meetings between students, PhD candidates, postdocs, and established researchers for informal conversation and

exchange of experiences. All of this with the goal of offering early-career scientists a better experience at EPSC 2025 and a unique networking opportunity! Information about the program can be found here – https://www.europlanet.org/early-careers-network/epec-epsc-dps-2025-helsinki/.

If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].

Prospective mentors should fill out this form – https://forms.gle/sX6JAzdBxoiRuBcp8.

Prospective mentees should fill out this form – https://forms.gle/RVpwZ6qNo3LhWwEq8.

The deadline for sign-up is Aug 15.

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DEPENDENT CARE GRANT APPLICATION FOR 2025 EPSC-DPS

The DPS’s Susan Niebur Professional Development Fund provides financial assistance to qualifying DPS members in order to facilitate their meeting attendance by offsetting costs for childcare, elder care, spousal care, etc. at the meeting location or at home during DPS conferences. We are now accepting applications for the EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2025 in Helsinki, Finland. First Deadline: Tuesday, August 5, 2025. Review of submissions will begin on the first deadline; further requests will be accepted and reviewed, funding and eligibility permitting. For more information and to apply for the grant, visit: https://dps.aas.org/development/dps-dependent-care-grant-application

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CLASSROOM VISITS DURING EPSC-DPS 2025

community of Planetary scientists. It gives travelling scientists from both sides of the Atlantic the opportunity to share their knowledge with the local community of schools, creating a temporary hotspot of sharing science.

At the same time, schools in the US with students from 9 years old or older can declare their interest to follow online lectures in planetary science in this form:

The programme is supported by Europlanet Society, the Division for Planetary Sciences – AAS, University of Helsinki, the Finnish Meteorological Institute, Ursa Astronomical Association and Scientix. LUMA joins a communication partner.

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Send submissions to: Denise Stephens, DPS Secretary, at this address [email protected]

You’re receiving this email because you are a DPS member. To unsubscribe or update your information, please send your request to [email protected]. The more general AAS privacy policy is available online at https://aas.org/about/policies/privacy-policy. Current and back issues of the DPS Newsletter can be found at https://dps.aas.org/newsletters

DPS Newsletter 25-16

Issue 25-16, Jul 23, 2025

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EARLY REGISTRATION ENDING SOON FOR THE EPSC-DPS 2025 MEETING

EPSC-DPS WOMEN IN PLANETARY SCIENCE LUNCH – SAVE THE DATE

OPEN MIC NIGHT AT THE 2025 EPSC-DPS MEETING

MENTORING AT EPSC-DPS 2025

DEPENDENT CARE GRANT APPLICATION FOR 2025 EPSC-DPS

AN UPDATE ON RECENT AAS ADVOCACY BY THE DPS LIAISON TO CAPP

SUGGESTED ADVOCACY ACTIONS FROM AAS

ROSES ROLL OUT WEBINAR FOR PLANETARY SCIENCE DIVISION JULY 29

CALL FOR DONATIONS IN SUPPORT OF DPS STUDENT TRAVEL GRANTS

SUPPORT REQUESTED FOR DPS PARTNER: THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF BLACK PHYSICISTS (NSBP)

DPS COMMITTEE SEEKS APPLICANTS FOR PUBLICATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR TO BEGIN TERM IN FALL 2025

SUBMIT LUNAR EXPLORATION ABSTRACTS TO THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA (GSA) CONNECTS 2025 MEETING

EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE LEADERSHIP: A NEW WORKSHOP ON STRATEGIES FOR UNLOCKING INDIVIDUAL POTENTIAL

SAVE-THE-DATE: ORIGINS 2026 JULY 5-10, PARIS

JOVIAN ICY MOONS WORKSHOP: ABSTRACT SUBMISSION & TRAVEL GRANT DEADLINE

5TH MedGU, 10–13 NOVEMBER 2025, ATHENS, GREECE

[AGU 2025, NEW ORLEANS, 15-19 DEC] SESSION P044 – TITAN AT EQUINOX: SEASONAL CHANGES ON AN OCEAN WORLD

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS – AGU 2025 SESSION ON VOLATILES AND PLANETARY HABITABILITY

AGU SESSION: THE NEXUS FOR EXOPLANET SYSTEM SCIENCE (NExSS) – BUILDING A COMMUNITY FOR INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH ACROSS NASA SCIENCE DIVISIONS (SESSION NUMBER P042)

AGU 2025 SPECIAL SESSION: AERIAL EXPLORATION OF MARS

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS – AGU 2025 SESSION P045 – TITAN: ATMOSPHERE, IONOSPHERE, SPACE ENVIRONMENT AND THEIR INTERACTIONS

AGU SESSION P006: CLOSE ENCOUNTERS IN THE EARTH-MOON SYSTEM: APOPHIS, 2024 YR4, AND THE FUTURE OF PLANETARY DEFENSE

AGU SESSION P025 – PLANETARY ANALOG FIELD WORK TO SUPPORT AND ENABLE CREWED AND ROBOTIC EXPLORATION OF OUR SOLAR SYSTEM

AGU SESSION P035 – SMALL SOLAR SYSTEM BODIES: SAMPLE RETURNS, JWST, GROUND-BASED ASTRONOMY AND MORE

AGU 2025 SESSION P010 – ENCELADUS: AN OCEAN WORLD ODYSSEY

AGU 2025 SESSION NH029 – LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN PLANETARY DEFENSE

CURRENT TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THE PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL AND ICARUS

JOBS, POSITIONS, AND OPPORTUNITIES

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EARLY REGISTRATION ENDING SOON FOR THE EPSC-DPS 2025 MEETING

Please use the following link to access the registration page where you can find more information about the rates and the in person or virtual registration process.

https://www.epsc-dps2025.eu/attend/registration.html

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EPSC-DPS WOMEN IN PLANETARY SCIENCE LUNCH – SAVE THE DATE

The DPS will be hosting the Women in Planetary Science Lunch at the EPSC-DPS meeting in the Saturn room of Finlandia Hall on Thursday September 11 at 12:30 pm. Bagged lunches and drinks will be provided. Additional details about the event will be sent in future DPS newsletters.

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OPEN MIC NIGHT AT THE 2025 EPSC-DPS MEETING

Name of act, if any
Names of participant(s)
Description of act (e.g., music w/ singing, opera, aerial acrobatics, Romanian bagpipes, extended bongo solo, etc.)
Contact email address
Requested duration
Requested equipment
Any equipment you are willing to share

Regarding sharing equipment, please do not feel in any way pressured or obligated to share any of your personal equipment if you are not comfortable doing so.

Please note that we won’t be able to let you know how much time we can actually give you until after the sign-ups close, but we’ll do our best to get everyone in!

We look forward to seeing you there!

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MENTORING AT EPSC-DPS 2025

If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].

Prospective mentors should fill out this form – https://forms.gle/RVpwZ6qNo3LhWwEq8. Prospective mentees should fill out this form – https://forms.gle/sX6JAzdBxoiRuBcp8.

The deadline for sign-up is Aug 15.

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DEPENDENT CARE GRANT APPLICATION FOR 2025 EPSC-DPS

The DPS’s Susan Niebur Professional Development Fund provides financial assistance to qualifying DPS members in order to facilitate their meeting attendance by offsetting costs for childcare, elder care, spousal care, etc. at the meeting location or at home during DPS conferences. We are now accepting applications for the EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2025 in Helsinki, Finland. First Deadline: Tuesday, August 5, 2025. Review of submissions will begin on the first deadline; further requests will be accepted and reviewed, funding and eligibility permitting. For more information and to apply for the grant, visit: https://dps.aas.org/development/dps-dependent-care-grant-application

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AN UPDATE ON RECENT AAS ADVOCACY BY THE DPS LIAISON TO CAPP

Most AAS/DPS members are aware of the great work that the DPS Committee and the Federal Relations Subcommittee (FRS) have done and are doing in terms of advocacy during the present time of extreme political challenges. The DPS FRS subcommittee is made up of volunteers and led by FRS Officer Dr. Angela Dapremont (https://dps.aas.org/leadership/frs). Moreover, the AAS office and leadership also has several folks on staff working hard on policy topics (Bahcall Fellow Colin Hamill, Dep. Director of Policy Roohi Dahl, and Joel Parriott in his role as Director of External Affairs and Public Policy), as you read about periodically in AAS and DPS newsletters. But did you know that the AAS has another volunteer group at the top level? It is called the Committee on Astronomy and Public Policy (CAPP). https://aas.org/comms/committee-astronomy-and-public-policy-capp

I’ve served as the DPS Liaison to CAPP in the past few years, starting after my time as FRS Officer/Chair. Other planetary folks such as Dr. Britney Schmidt (and previously Dr. Makenzie Lystrup) have been appointed to CAPP by the AAS President. The Solar Physics Division (SPD) similarly has a liaison to CAPP. We’ve been quite busy in service to our community and here is a brief summary of recent advocacy activities beyond what you’ve likely already read about in the newsletters and calls for action (e.g., https://aas.org/action-alert-protecting-astronomical-programs-fiscal-year-2026 and “timeline” of public policy updates):

Outside Witness Testimony to the Senate CJS subcommittee regarding FY26 Appropriations.
Our group advises the AAS President (currently Dr. Dara Norman) while deliberating a variety of topics beyond NASA funding, including NSF and their large facilities, FCC-related radio spectrum threats, light-pollution from satellite constellations, and more.
Representatives from CAPP join the annual AAS Congressional Visits Day (CVD) groups, which always includes representation by DPS folks.
AAS recently joined several professional societies in submitting Amicus Brief Nos. 25-1677, 25-2637 regarding the suit filed against the office of personnel in response to copious terminations at federal science agencies (Am. Fed’n of Gov’t Employees, AFL-CIO v. United States Office of Personnel Mgmt., 25-1677, (9th Cir.), March 13, 2025).
We review, edit, and comment on numerous such co-signed letters to Congress, OMB, etc., usually in collaboration with the American Physical Society, the Coalition for Aerospace and Science, AGU, Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF), Energy Sciences Coalition (ESC), and increasingly with the Planetary Society.
Good examples of CAPP’s involvement include helping with the letter to Congress that our AAS Policy Team sent in support of NASA Science in late April. In late May, we also authored a letter to Congress (co-signed by over 50 other organizations) in support of NSF, where we voiced concern over the reorganization plans and urged Congress to exercise their oversight authority.

By working together across professional societies our voices are amplified inside the government with these formal letters. I share this bit of information about AAS/CAPP to encourage your continued support of AAS/DPS and to go ahead and participate in the present and future action alerts (if you haven’t already): https://aas.org/planetary-action-alert. Continue to speak up in social media as well. Contact the DPS/FRS Officer if interested in joining the FRS. We make a difference by standing together.

Contact Kurt Retherford at [email protected],Angela Dapremont ([email protected]) and AAS Bahcall Fellow (and former FRS member) Colin Hamill [email protected] with further questions or ideas.

Dr. Kurt D. Retherford

AAS CAPP – DPS Liaison

Federal Relations Subcommittee member

[email protected]

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SUGGESTED ADVOCACY ACTIONS FROM AAS

There are many ways to make your voice heard in support of scientific funding and programs. From sending a quick email to holding an in-person meeting with your representatives and/or staff, every action counts. The following webpage from the AAS provides ideas and tools to assist you in your advocacy efforts: https://aas.org/advocacy/suggested-advocacy-actions

Recent reports indicate that the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is directing NASA, NSF, and other science agencies to prepare to operate at the deeply cut levels in the President’s Budget Request for FY2026. If ultimately implemented during a FY2026 Continuing Resolution (CR), the agencies would execute a budget plan at levels dramatically lower than FY2025 CR levels without regard for the CR appropriation that Congress ultimately provides. We need to act now to protect our scientific agencies from premature and wasteful project cancellations. You can learn more about this action alert at the following website.

https://aas.org/action-alert-protecting-astronomical-programs-fiscal-year-2026

During August, Congress will be taking a month-long recess. This is a great time to set up in-district meetings with your members of Congress and/or their staff to talk about the importance of science funding. Please reach out to [email protected] if there is anything we can do to help facilitate your advocacy.

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ROSES ROLL OUT WEBINAR FOR PLANETARY SCIENCE DIVISION JULY 29

On July 29, 2025, at 12:30 PM Eastern Time, NASA’s Planetary Science Division (PSD) Research and Analysis (R&A) Programs will host a webinar to discuss the recently released Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Science (ROSES) relevant to the Planetary Science Community.

NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD) announced the release of its annual omnibus solicitation for basic and applied research, ROSES-2025 as NNH25ZDA001N on July 10, 2025, at https://solicitation.nasaprs.com/ROSES2025. This webinar is an opportunity for the PSD to discuss program elements available for the planetary science community to propose to.

In advance of and during the webinar, questions may be submitted and upvoted on at:

https://nasa.cnf.io/sessions/ss4t/#!/dashboard

Questions regarding this announcement may be directed to Dr. Kathleen Vander Kaaden, Director of Planetary Research Programs, at [email protected].

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CALL FOR DONATIONS IN SUPPORT OF DPS STUDENT TRAVEL GRANTS

During these challenging times, many students are losing access to their funding and are unable to travel to professional meetings to present their research. The Division for Planetary Science (DPS) Hartmann Student Travel Grant and Underrepresented Minorities (URM) Travel Grant exist to support student presentations at the annual DPS meeting. The need this year has been very great, and our ability to help the applicants was limited by the amount of money available in the Hartmann and URM grant funds.

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SUPPORT REQUESTED FOR DPS PARTNER: THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF BLACK PHYSICISTS (NSBP)

DPS has been proud to partner with the Earth and Planetary Systems Sciences (EPSS) section of the National Society of Black Physicists (NSBP), supporting a presentation from the DPS-NSBP Speaker Awardee at the DPS annual meeting as well as travel of a few planetary scientists to the NSBP annual meeting. For the latter, DPS has generally focused on sending postdocs and early career scientists to the NSBP meeting as, historically, NSBP has been able fully support the travel for most of the students who attend the conference. However, recent cuts to funding from traditional partners have drastically reduced NSBP’s ability to support most of the students to attend their conference so they are soliciting community donations; on average, the cost to cover a student’s travel and lodging is $1500. The link to donate directly to NSBP is below; alternatively, if you prefer to donate through DPS, community contributions to the DPS URM Travel Grant fund will also be used to support travel to the NSBP meeting. Donations through either path should be U.S. tax deductible. Many thanks to all who support these future planetary scientists!

To donate directly to NSBP: https://nsbp.org/page/conferencestudentsupport

To donate to the DPS URM travel grant: https://dps.aas.org/Inclusivity/support-underrepresented-minority-communities-planetary-science

For more on the DPS-NSBP partnership: https://dps.aas.org/leadership/nsbp_parnership

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DPS COMMITTEE SEEKS APPLICANTS FOR PUBLICATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR TO BEGIN TERM IN FALL 2025

The Publications Subcommittee Chair will serve a three-year term starting with the EPSC-DPS meeting in September 2025. The Publications Subcommittee is responsible for managing the relationship between DPS and its designated publications, Icarus and the Planetary Science Journal, and also stays aware of issues in planetary science publications more generally. The Publications Subcommittee regularly reviews the publication policies of journals that the DPS endorses and supports.

If you’re interested, please send a CV and a brief statement of interest to [email protected]

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SUBMIT LUNAR EXPLORATION ABSTRACTS TO THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA (GSA) CONNECTS 2025 MEETING

The GSA Connects 2025 meeting will be hosted in San Antonio, TX on 19–22 October 2025. One of the three themes for this meeting is “From Earth to the Cosmos: Geoscience Beyond Our Planet”. We encourage those with active scientific studies of the Moon, involvement in lunar missions, and those developing goals, concepts, or instrumentation for future lunar exploration to submit abstracts to the GSA session: T168. Lunar Science and Exploration in the Artemis Era.

For questions about this session, email Tracy Becker ([email protected]) or Akbar Whizin ([email protected]).

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EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE LEADERSHIP: A NEW WORKSHOP ON STRATEGIES FOR UNLOCKING INDIVIDUAL POTENTIAL

August 18-20, 2025, 4 hours daily, 11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm EST (entirely virtual)

We invite planetary scientists to join us for our reinvigorated workshop. We offer best-practices to meet current challenges while uplifting potential in ourselves and that of our professional partners. If you are seeking expanded approaches to engage with colleagues, groups, teams, committees, etc. with understanding and ethics, this is your workshop. The content also includes specific strategies to meet present challenges, including additional resources, staying motivated, and avoiding burnout. Participants at all career stages and experience levels are welcome, as well as those who have previously attended past workshops. This offering (~25 people or less, to encourage interaction) provides the basic tools needed to enact positive change in personal and professional spheres. Entirely on-line. Visit website (below) for more details and to fill out the indication of interest form.

“Well organized and well-facilitated, great breadth and depth of topics, and good novel interactive components as well. The content was expertly curated and extremely well presented …” Participant, Nov. 2022

Facilitators: Drs. Julie Rathbun (she/her/hers) and JA Grier (ee/em/eir)

Website: https://workforce.psi.edu/leadership/

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SAVE-THE-DATE: ORIGINS 2026 JULY 5-10, PARIS

We are pleased to announce Origins 2026, jointly organized by the International Society for the Study of the Origins of Life – The International Astrobiology Society (ISSOL) and the Astrobiology Commission of the International Astronomical Union (IAU). The meeting will take place from 5 to 10 July 2026 in Paris, France.

This event will bring together experts from diverse fields, including chemistry, biology, planetary science, and astrophysics, to explore the origins of life and habitability on Earth and beyond. Hosted at the prestigious Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle and Sorbonne University, the conference will highlight interdisciplinary research on the transition from non-living to living systems, focusing on early Earth environments, evolutionary processes, and the search for biosignatures in the universe.

The program will feature the latest discoveries in prebiotic chemistry, the evolution of early life, and habitability across the Solar System and exoplanets, as well as philosophical and historical perspectives. Special emphasis will be placed on the contributions of early-career researchers. This landmark event aims to strengthen international collaborations and advance our understanding of the emergence of life.

Registration and abstract submission will open in October 2025, but you can already sign up here (https://forms.gle/5MQj1RroTqD5hrMX8) to receive up-to-date information.

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JOVIAN ICY MOONS WORKSHOP: ABSTRACT SUBMISSION & TRAVEL GRANT DEADLINE

This is a friendly reminder that the deadline for abstract submissions and travel grant applications for the Jovian Icy Moons Workshop is approaching: July 28, 2025 at 23:59 CET.

The workshop will take place from November 3-7, 2025, at ESA/ESAC in Madrid, Spain, and will bring together researchers to explore the surface-environment interactions of Jupiter’s icy moons.

We are also thrilled to welcome a distinguished lineup of invited speakers, including:

– Scott Bolton (Southwest Research Institute)

– Oliver King (University of Leicester)

– Haje Korth (Johns Hopkins University)

– Alice Lucchetti (INAF – Astronomical Observatory of Padova)

– Tom Nordheim (Johns Hopkins University)

– Fuminori Tsuchiya (Tohoku University)

– Claire Vallat (ESA/ESAC)

– Audrey Vorburger (University of Bern)

– Zhonghua Yao (University of Hong Kong)

Submit your abstract: https://tinyurl.com/mrr9wcba

Apply for a travel grant (early-career researchers): https://tinyurl.com/5n7f2mw5

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us:

Rozenn Robidel: [email protected]
Guillaume Cruz-Mermy: [email protected]

We look forward to your contributions and to welcoming you to the workshop!

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5TH MedGU, 10–13 NOVEMBER 2025, ATHENS, GREECE

The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens in Greece will host the 2025 MedGU Annual Meeting.You are invited to participate and share your most recent research contributions.

Abstract submission deadline: 25 August 2025

Website: MedGU 2025

Scopus-indexed Proceedings: MedGU | SpringerLink

MedGU 2024 YouTube: MedGU-2024 YouTube

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[AGU 2025, NEW ORLEANS, 15-19 DEC] SESSION P044 – TITAN AT EQUINOX: SEASONAL CHANGES ON AN OCEAN WORLD

On May 6th 2025 the Saturn system passed through Northern Fall Equinox, and the peak sunlight moved from Titan’s northern to southern hemisphere. Thus commenced a period of expected upheaval and change, when Titan’s atmospheric circulation will slowly begin to reverse direction and may be accompanied by intense methane rainstorms as seen soon after the last equinoctial passage in 2009. This year also marks another major milestone: the 20th year since the Huygens landing on Titan and the return to Earth of its incredible in situ dataset. This topical Titan session solicits novel presentations on all aspects of Titan science, including recent observations, new modeling and laboratory work, and related analog and field work.

To submit an abstract, please visit: https://agu.confex.com/agu/agu25/prelim.cgi/Session/248910

Conveners: Conor Nixon, Kathleen Mandt, Kendra Farnsworth, Samuel Birch

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CALL FOR ABSTRACTS – AGU 2025 SESSION ON VOLATILES AND PLANETARY HABITABILITY

We invite submissions to our AGU 2025 session: Fate of Volatiles During Magmatic Processes in Planetary Interiors: Implications on the Origins of Habitability

Session Link : https://agu.confex.com/agu/agu25/prelim.cgi/Session/251607

Abstract Deadline: 30 July 2025 23:59 EDT/03:59 +1 GMT

This session focuses on how life-enabling elements (e.g., C, S, N, O, H) are acquired, mobilized, and retained within terrestrial planets through magmatic processes such as core formation, magma ocean convection and crystallization, volcanic outgassing, and subduction. These processes are key to understanding the internal distribution of volatiles and how they shape planetary habitability.

We welcome interdisciplinary contributions from fields including:

Cosmochemistry and experimental petrology
Thermodynamic, molecular, and fluid dynamics modeling
Smoothed-particle hydrodynamics simulations
Machine learning or AI-based approaches in planetary research

Early-career researchers and those working at the intersection of multiple disciplines are especially encouraged to contribute.

For questions or more information, feel free to contact the conveners:

Ekanshu Mallick – [email protected]
Leila Honarbakhsh – [email protected]
Abin Shakya – [email protected]
Damanveer Grewal – [email protected]

Please share with colleagues who may be interested. We look forward to your submissions!

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AGU SESSION: THE NEXUS FOR EXOPLANET SYSTEM SCIENCE (NExSS) – BUILDING A COMMUNITY FOR INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH ACROSS NASA SCIENCE DIVISIONS (SESSION NUMBER P042)

Exoplanet research has provided unique opportunities to promote multidisciplinary work, as it requires expertise from the fields of Earth Science, Planetary Science, Heliophysics, and Astrophysics. NExSS was created to bring together teams that are associated with these corresponding divisions of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. NExSS’s goal is to make interdisciplinary connections possible, promoting activities that increase communication and collaboration between research teams and individuals, and streamline research objectives across its science community. The session will cover both NExSS activities as well as general topics on interdisciplinary research. In the spirit of broadening connections, we encourage submissions not only about unique NExSS activities or NExSS-related projects, but also non-NExSS projects that demonstrate the unique value of highly interdisciplinary research; effective means to create and encourage interdisciplinary research within the AGU community; the value of interdisciplinary research in public outreach; or the benefits of interdisciplinary research for science education.

More information: https://agu.confex.com/agu/agu25/prelim.cgi/Session/250198

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AGU 2025 SPECIAL SESSION: AERIAL EXPLORATION OF MARS

Semi-autonomous rotorcraft have revolutionized terrestrial geological and atmospheric science. Their ability to explore high and low, far and wide allows them to deploy instrumentation and collect remote-sensing data in regions and from perspectives otherwise difficult or impossible to access. The success of the Ingenuity Mars helicopter similarly opens prospects for transforming the study of Mars. Rotorcraft on Mars can facilitate geological and geophysical investigations, enable atmospheric measurements, and assist human exploration. Future missions to Mars could involve these aircraft as complements to ground-bound assets, such as rovers or fixed stations, or as stand-alone vehicles. This session welcomes presentations that consider how small rotorcraft may advance our understanding of Mars, both past and present. Submissions on aircraft-enabled Mars science, missions, and human exploration are all welcome. For details of additional activities, including a social, see http://boi.st/AGU-2025-Mars-UAS or e-mail Brian Jackson at [email protected].

Abstracts may be submitted here –

https://agu.confex.com/agu/agu25/prelim.cgi/Session/250381.

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CALL FOR ABSTRACTS – AGU 2025 SESSION P045 – TITAN: ATMOSPHERE, IONOSPHERE, SPACE ENVIRONMENT AND THEIR INTERACTIONS

We invite submissions to our AGU 2025 session “Titan: Atmosphere, Ionosphere, Space Environment and their Interactions”

Session link: https://agu.confex.com/agu/agu25/prelim.cgi/Session/250591

Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, is unique among the other moons in the solar system. It possesses a thick atmosphere composed of several hydrocarbon species and is home to some of the most complex organic chemistry known. The atmosphere in many ways is analogous to Earth’s with methane forming clouds, rain and surface lakes. One of the major objectives of the Cassini mission was to study Titan’s atmosphere and its interaction with the space environment. New discoveries and insights continue to be made 8 years after the end of the Cassini mission. This session brings together researchers studying Titan’s atmosphere, ionosphere and space environment to present their latest results. Presentations highlighting data analysis, theory, modeling, and any combination thereof that furthers our understanding of the various regions of Titan and the interactions between them are welcome.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Best regards,

Matt Fillingim, Steve Ledvina, Jared Bell, Niklas Edberg, and Konstantin Kim

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AGU SESSION P006: CLOSE ENCOUNTERS IN THE EARTH-MOON SYSTEM: APOPHIS, 2024 YR4, AND THE FUTURE OF PLANETARY DEFENSE

On 27 January 2025, near-Earth asteroid (NEA) 2024 YR4 reached a record Torino Scale impact rating of 3 before additional observations ruled out an Earth impact in 2032. A >1% impact probability remains, though, with the Moon. On 13 April 2029, (99942) Apophis will pass within geosynchronous orbit, offering a once-in-7kyr opportunity for investigations into Earth’s gravitational influence on asteroid properties and collaborative observations with ground and space assets, including NASA’s Apophis Explorer, ESA’s RAMSES, and JAXA’s DESTINY+. These encounters highlight growing public interest in asteroid hazards and scientific opportunities that will be amplified by next-generation asteroid surveys. This session invites abstracts focused on NEA observations, modeling of dynamical or physical evolution, mission concepts, and planetary defense applications. We especially welcome interdisciplinary contributions that bridge science, engineering, and policy to address the evolving landscape of planetary defense in the context of increasing detection rates and upcoming close encounters.

Please submit your abstract here by Wednesday, 30 July 2025, at 23:59 EDT/03:59 UTC, to join us!

https://agu.confex.com/agu/agu25/prelim.cgi/Session/248431

Co-Convenors: Ron Ballouz, Ed Rivera-Valentín, Dawn Graninger, Andy Rivkin

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P025 – PLANETARY ANALOG FIELD WORK TO SUPPORT AND ENABLE CREWED AND ROBOTIC EXPLORATION OF OUR SOLAR SYSTEM

New science and exploration questions have emerged from recent exploration of terrestrial Solar System bodies. Terrestrial analogs provide a unique opportunity to investigate these bodies and inform future crewed and robotic missions to the Moon and Mars, and beyond. Research is encouraged in areas such as surface modification processes—including impact, erosion, glacial activity, tectonism, and volcanism—as well as astrobiology, field sampling methods, and lab-based simulant experiments. Studies that explore emerging technologies and capabilities for exploration, instrument development using analog environments, and analog fieldwork to validate remote sensing data are also of interest. Additionally, contributions focusing on field safety, operational field experiences, community collaboration, and outreach efforts are welcomed. These studies not only enhance scientific understanding but also contribute to the planning and success of upcoming missions, supporting the development of expertise in practical strategies and tools for exploration in challenging planetary environments.

To submit an abstract, please visit:

https://agu.confex.com/agu/agu25/prelim.cgi/Session/249564

Conveners: Alexandra Matiella Novak, Emileigh Shoemaker, Lizeth Magaña

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AGU SESSION P035 – SMALL SOLAR SYSTEM BODIES: SAMPLE RETURNS, JWST, GROUND-BASED ASTRONOMY AND MORE

Recent and upcoming space missions (e.g., OSIRIS-REx, Hayabusa 2, New Horizons, Psyche, Lucy, Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt) and powerful telescopic facilities (e.g., JWST, adaptive optics, next-generation ground-based observatories) continue to expand our understanding of the diversity and complexity of small solar system bodies. These planetesimals and dwarf planets preserve essential clues about the early solar system, including accretional processes and thermal evolution. Sample return missions are providing ground truth to remote observations, helping decode planetary formation and evolution. At the same time, national and private space programs are entering the arena and private companies are pushing forward with asteroid prospecting missions. Together, these efforts signal a new era in the study of small bodies—one that is increasingly collaborative, diverse in methods, and rich in discovery potential. We invite abstracts including, but not limited to, space mission data, ground-based observations, modeling, sample returns, planetary defense, and private-sector initiatives.

We invite abstract submissions by Wednesday, July 30, at this link:

https://agu.confex.com/agu/agu25/prelim.cgi/Session/247514

Conveners: Bryan Holler, Julie Castillo-Rogez, Franck Marchis

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AGU 2025 SESSION P010 – ENCELADUS: AN OCEAN WORLD ODYSSEY

Saturn’s moon Enceladus is a geologically active and habitable ocean world. Enceladus offers fresh opportunities for advancing our understanding of planetary processes and searching for signatures of potential life. The most accessible ocean material beyond Earth erupts from the internal plumbing system of Enceladus, forming a plume that modifies the space environment at Saturn. This is the 20th consecutive year of this session, attesting to the phenomenal enthusiasm of our community. You won’t want to miss this one! We welcome the community to submit contributions diving into diverse ranges of phenomena including but not limited to: cryovolcanism, ice fracturing and other tectonic processes, ocean circulation, water-rock reactions, tidal heating, organic chemistry, life detection approaches, Enceladus’s formation, history, and internal structure, and cross comparisons with other ocean worlds including Earth and Europa. Observational, theoretical, laboratory, and field analogue investigations are all welcome.

To submit an abstract, please visit:

https://agu.confex.com/agu/agu25/prelim.cgi/Session/249971

Abstract deadline: Wednesday, 30 July 2025 at 23:59 EDT

Conveners: Christopher Glein (SwRI), Cynthia Phillips (JPL), Fabian Klenner (UW Seattle)

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AGU 2025 SESSION NH029 – LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN PLANETARY DEFENSE

We want to invite all that are interested to please submit an abstract for the AGU25 annual meeting session NH029: Latest Developments in Planetary Defense!
The link to submit your abstract can be found here! (https://agu.confex.com/agu/agu25/prelim.cgi/Session/250688)

The deadline to submit is July 30th 2025 at 23:59 EDT/03:59 UTC

NH029: Latest Developments in Planetary Defense
Planetary defense is the effort to detect and mitigate threats from objects like asteroids and comets, with the goal of preventing or minimizing potential impacts with Earth. This session will delve into the asteroid impact hazard and any recent developments in the field of planetary defense. Topics will include deflection simulations and experiments, characterization of asteroid physical and structural properties, surface morphology, the dynamics of small bodies, and the effects of impacts into Earth. By leveraging simulation models and characterization data, the session aims to inform mission design and optimize the effectiveness of mitigation approaches. We welcome contributions from diverse research perspectives to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and advance global planetary defense efforts.

Please feel free to forward this to anyone you think might be interested, and we look forward to having a productive session with all that can make it!

Sincerely,

Sean Wiggins, LLNL

Jessie Dotson, NASA Ames
Catherine Plesko, LANL
Kathryn Kumamoto, LLNL

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CURRENT TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THE PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL AND ICARUS

The current issues for both DPS-affiliated journals are here:

The Planetary Science Journal:

Issue 7 – Volume 6 – The Planetary Science Journal – IOPscience

Icarus:

Icarus | Vol 435, In progress (15 July 2025) | ScienceDirect.com by Elsevier

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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 are listed below.

Tenure Track Assistant Professor in Astronomy at Mount Holyoke College

https://tinyurl.com/2wj4pb86

For further information please contact Prof. Spencer Smith at [email protected]. Review of applications will begin October 1.

Postdoc Opportunity at University of Leicester, UK

wavelengths.

The successful candidate will join the BepiColombo MIXS team at Space Park Leicester and will to analyse the first data back from Mercury’s surface.

Please see the advert for further details:

https://tinyurl.com/5ea9jjfw

For any informal enquiries please get in touch directly with Emma Bunce

via email ([email protected]).

NEO Surveyor Moving Object Scientist at IPAC

IPAC at Caltech invites applications for the position of Moving Object Scientist for the NEO Surveyor Survey Data System (NSDS). IPAC is building and will operate the NSDS for NASA’s NEO Surveyor (NEOS) mission. The NSDS ingests imaging and engineering data from the flight system, processes those data into calibrated image and source detection products, performs automated searches for moving Solar System objects, assesses the quality of the survey data, and distributes data products to NASA archives and the user community, including sending moving object tracklets to the Minor Planet Center. A key part of the NSDS is the Moving Object Detection Pipeline (MODP), a software subsystem that is in an advanced state of development and currently undergoing regular performance testing and analysis.

For more information visit: https://phf.tbe.taleo.net/phf03/ats/careers/v2/viewRequisition?org=CALTECH&cws=37&rid=10473

Tenure-Track Faculty Position at University of Iowa

Apply online at: https://jobs.uiowa.edu/ Refer to requisition #75645.

Deadline for full consideration is September 15, 2025. Screening of applications will begin in early September. The application window will remain open until the position is satisfactorily filled.

Direct questions regarding this position to Dr. Emily Finzel, [email protected].

Post-doc Position at University of Central Florida

The McKeown Group in the University of Central Florida (UCF) Department of Physics in the College of Sciences seeks to hire a Postdoctoral Scholar to help set up the new FROSTIE lab, aimed at investigating icy planetary surface processes under simulated planetary conditions. The postdoctoral scholar will have the opportunity to research icy geomorphological signatures of seasonal processes on Mars and transient liquid water activity relevant for icy airless worlds. The successful candidate will lead design, integration and testing of cryo-vacuum regulation and data acquisition systems. Experience working with cryogenic thermal-vacuum systems is necessary. The scholar’s technical expertise will be integral to the successful completion of cutting-edge experiments investigating the roles of ice sublimation and endogenic liquid water activity in modifying the surfaces of Mars, Europa and small bodies. The scholar would begin the position as soon as possible and serve for 24 months, extendable upon the availability of funds and mutual agreement of the scholar and the supervisor.

https://tinyurl.com/4h8dzb9f

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Send submissions to: Denise Stephens, DPS Secretary, at this address [email protected]

DPS 2025 Election Results

From DPS chair Athena Coustenis: It is with great pleasure that I would like to welcome to our DPS committee the newly elected members:

My sincere congratulations to Dr JA Grier, the incoming Vice-Chair and to Drs Arianna Piccialli and Eddie Schwieterman who are the incoming Committee members.