Date: Tue, 05 Mar 2002 15:51:53 -0500
Subject: DPS Mailing #02-06: IRFT Proposals; NASA grant news

Greetings with the latest DPS news! 

       +------------------CONTENTS:------------------------------+
       |1) STATUS OF NASA GRANT NOTIFICATIONS                    |
       |2) NASA IRTF OBSERVING PROPOSALS DUE APRIL 1, 2002       |
       +---------------------------------------------------------+

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STATUS OF NASA GRANT NOTIFICATIONS

In response to concerns about grant funding from the DPS membership,
DPS Vice-Chair Richard Binzel was tasked to make inquiries to NASA HQ
about the current status of notifications which have been significantly
delayed for the second year in a row.  The DPS inquiry of February 21
resulted in the following response received on February 26.  We note
that people are reporting receiving Planetary Astronomy notifications,
with no word yet regarding Planetary Atmospheres.

Concerns remain about the overall funding levels within the NASA
Planetary Astronomy and Planetary Atmospheres programs. These are also
being investigated and will be reported on in the future.

   [This message is in response to the DPS inquiry] about the status of
   notifications to proposers for last year's Planetary Atmospheres and
   Planetary Astronomy programs.  As of today, Tuesday, Feb. 26, the
   decision-making process has been completed, and the notification
   letters to proposers are almost complete.   I have been assured that
   notifications to all proposers will be mailed this Friday, March 1.
   That means that  depending on the discipline  proposers will receive
   their notifications four to seven weeks prior to the due date for
   "Notices of Intent" for this year's proposal cycle.

   Why are we so late  again  in making announcements?  There are two 
   reasons. First, the panel reviews for the two programs, which were 
   scheduled for Sept. 12-14 and Sept. 18-21, had to be conducted 
   between Oct. 17 and Nov. 19. The reasons for these delay should be 
   obvious to everybody.  Secondly, after receiving the panel 
   assessments, we at NASA Headquarters took 3 months for a decision-
   making process which normally should take 6 weeks to 2 months.

   What can the DPS do to help?  In contrast to last year, nothing at 
   this time! Since this is my second "mea culpa" letter, you can rest 
   assured that I will do my best not to have to write a third one.  
   I will oversee this year's selection process and will work with 
   all involved to make sure that appropriate numbers of experienced 
   persons will be available for the review, decision-making, and 
   notification processes.

   Guenter Riegler
   Executive Director for Science
   Office of Space Science
   NASA Headquarters

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NASA IRTF OBSERVING PROPOSALS DUE APRIL 1, 2002

The NASA Infrared Telescope Facility is accepting observing proposals
for the 1 Aug. 2002 - 31 January 2003 semester.  Instructions for
applications and information can be found at the web site below.  If
you have questions, please contact Alan Tokunaga at
[email protected]

http://irtf.ifa.hawaii.edu/userSupport/indexota.html

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                             Melissa McGrath, DPS Secretary-Treasurer
                                    submissions to: [email protected]