DPS 2008, Ithaca, NY
Currently Scheduled Events, including Workshops
So many events, workshops, and activities are occuring during DPS
that we decided to set up a Master Schedule
that lists everything scheduled so far. Note that several of the
events are by invitation only.
All events are in the Statler
Hotel at Cornell University unless otherwise noted. All events
listed below are open to all unless otherwise noted.
For lunchtime workshops, a carry-out lunch will be available from both the Terrace Cafe in the Statler or from the Lunch Box line in Barton Hall.
- Friday, October 10, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Taylor Room - Proposal
Writing Workshop - This NASA workshop is open to all
interested planetary scientists from senior graduate students to
senior scientists. There will be no charge for the workshop. The
workshop will focus on understanding NASA's research programs and will
include information on how to write a research proposal, where to
apply for funding, and what kind of feedback one can expect. Other
opportunities for funding, such as participating scientist programs
and education/public outreach add-on awards, will also be discussed.
To register, send an e-mail with your name, affiliation, and current
position to curt.niebur@nasa.gov.
- Friday, October 10, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Amphitheatre -
Observing
Planets (wherever they may be) with the James Webb Space
Telescope - In this workshop, we will discuss the science of
planetary observations with the James Webb Space Telescope, the
premier space observatory of the next decade. We will focus on both
planets within our Solar System and planets beyond, as well as objects
relevant to planetary system formation (small solar system bodies,
exoplanetary disks). The workshop goals are to: engage the broader
planetary community in the exciting science that JWST will enable,
educate the community about JWST's capabilities, and elicit from the
community new ideas for planetary observations with JWST.
For more information, contact Jonathan Lunine.
- Friday, October 10, 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Rowe Room -
Small Bodies Assessment Group Review of inaugural SBAG
meeting and request for community input. For more information, contact Faith Vilas
- Friday, October 10, 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Duffield Hall Atrium -
DPS08 Opening Reception with music, drinks, munchies, and welcoming
remarks from the Local Organizing Committee, Cornell President David Skorton,
and Dan Roth from the Cornell Sustainability Center. Welcoming remarks
scheduled for around 7:00 p.m.
- Saturday, October 11 - Wednesday October 15, Taylor B Room -
Breakfast with
the DPS Chair This is an opportunity for students to meet the
DPS Chair and learn the ropes. Contact Rick Binzel to register.
- Saturday, October 11 11:00 am to 1:00 pm - Ask an
Astronomer Event at the Johnson Museum of Art
related to the Spectacular Saturn
exhibit. This is an opportunity for the public to talk to astronomers
in the exhibit hall about the Saturn system images. There will also
be Saturn-related art activites for children.
- Saturday, October 11 Noon-1:30, Yale/Princeton Rooms -
Meet the IAU A
lunch meeting aimed at promoting membership and participation in the
activities of the IAU. For more information, contact Regis Courtin. A carry-out lunch will be available from both the Terrace Cafein the Statler and the Lunch Box line in Barton. Please pick up your lunch before the workshop.
- Saturday, October 11 5:00-6:30 pm, Pennsylvania Room -
Small Radioisotope Power Systems NASA is considering
developing new radioisotope power systems that could enable or enhance
smaller, complex, challenging, and scientifically exciting missions to
planets and their moons, asteroids, comets, and other solar system
destinations. The Radioisotope Power System (RPS) program seeks to
engage interested scientific investigators and mission managers to
capture the expectations and requirements of the community. Since
1961 forty-five RPS units have been used on twenty-six U.S. Space
missions. Radioisotope power systems enable exploration of
destinations throughout and beyond the edge of our solar system where
insolation is too infrequent or too dim to support photovoltaic power.
New radioisotope power systems are envisioned which are smaller,
lighter, and produce less power than the Multi-Mission Radioisotope
Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG) and Advanced Stirling Radioisotope
Generator (ASRG). This presentation will summarize current
capabilities and define the potential for future developments. We
will also outline the context for possible future missions. Through
this forum, the community will be invited to actively participate in
defining the requirements for potential future radioisotope power
systems. Contacts: Leonard A. Dudzinski, NASA Headquarters,
202-358-2553, Thomas J. Sutliff, NASA Glenn Research Center,
216-433-3887.
- Saturday, October 11, 8:00 to 10:00 pm -
DPS Public Concert at
Bailey Hall.
The Cornell Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Chris Younghoon Kim, and
the Ithaca College Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Jeffery Meyer,
will perform together in a free "astronomy themed" public concert
featuring two works: The Planets by Gustav Holst, and
the world premiere of Anillos (Rings) by Cornell composer
Roberto Sierra and featuring percussionist Tim Feeney. The concert will
be accompanied by video presentations of the planets put together by a
team of Cornell Astronomy Department students, staff, and faculty.
- Sunday, October 12 Noon-1:30, Yale/Princeton Rooms -
NSF Town Hall Issues of importance to the National
Science Foundation, and you. For more information, contact Vernon Pankonin A carry-out lunch will be available from both the Terrace Cafein the Statler and the Lunch Box line in Barton. Please pick up your lunch before the workshop.
- Sunday, October 12 Noon-1:30, Pennsylvania - Venus
Science and Technology Definition For more information,
contact Mark Bullock
- Sunday, October 12 5:00-6:30 pm, Pennsylvania -
Frost-Transport Models: Pluto & Triton Existing
models for seasonal frost transport on Pluto and Triton make several
simplifying assumptions. For example, the atmosphere is treated as a
superconductor of sorts, transmitting mass from sublimating regions to
areas of deposition with negligible pressure gradients. The real
atmospheres will involve circulation patterns that may influence frost
transport, rather than simply responding to it. Energy balance (both
radiative and latent heat) is assumed to apply at the surface, even
though it is likely to involve a layer of significant depth. We will
discuss what physical processes could be included in frost transport
models to improve their fidelity. Also of interest are observables
(spectra, maps, occultation measurements, etc.) and/or lab data that
could be used to provide new constraints on the models. Please contact
John Stansberry if you
are interested.
- Sunday, October 12 5:00-6:30 pm, Auditorium - The Next
Decadal Study for Planetary Science The Space Studies Board
of the National Research Council has been requested to carry out a
Decadal Study for planetary science for 2010-2020 decade. This
session will provide an update on current planning for this activity
which is scheduled to begin in January 2009 and outline some of its
major goals. A particular focus will be to seek ideas and suggestions
on how to maximize effective inputs from the science community.
Please contact Joe
Veverka for more information.
- Sunday, October 12 7:30-9:30 pm, Bailey Hall - DPS
Public Lecture Night The 40th DPS Sagan Medal
prize talk is free and open to the Public.
Presenter G. Jeff Taylor, from the University of Hawaii and winner of
the prize, will speak about "Lunar Settlements, Lunar Science".
Emmy-award winning television host and science educator Bill Nye will
emcee the event.
According to Jeff: The talk will discuss the reasons why scientists and
explorers want to return to Earth's neighbor and the value of humans
settling it. Humans living and working on the Moon will pave the way for
a broader human presence on other planetary bodies, while providing
scientific insight into the Moon and its unexplored mysteries. In many
ways, the Moon is the eighth continent. Its settlement will enable us to
use all the space near the Earth and Moon, for both science and
commerce. The Moon contains vital evidence about planet formation,
melting, and early impact bombardment of the inner solar system, and a
permanent presence on the Moon will allow us to decipher that complex
record.
Please contact Jim Bell for
more information.
- Monday, October 13 Noon-1:30, Yale/Princeton Rooms - DPS
Women The
topic of this year's session is "Gender-Based Differences in
Communication," featuring guest speaker Mary Munter from
Dartmouth. Dr. Munter is the author of several highly-regarded and
widely-used books about communication skills and she teaches several
courses at Dartmouth in the area of effective communication. Lunch
will be provided to participants. All are welcome, but
pre-registration is required for this event due to space limitations.
Please contact Dr. Amy Simon-Miller to
pre-register. If openings are still available, there will be a
sign-up list at the main DPS meeting registration area, as well. This
event is sponsored by NASA and the DPS Committee.
- Monday, October 13 Noon-1:30,
Pursuing the
Heavens: Five Hundred Years of Planetary Sciences.
Carl A. Kroch Library.
Dr. David W. Corson, Curator of the History of Science Collections of the
Cornell University Division of
Rare and Manuscript Collections has organized a special 2-day lunchtime
showing of rare astronomy and planetary science-related historic books and
manuscripts from the Cornell collection. Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo,
Huygens, Newton, Halley, Herschel, Laplace, Maxwell... You know the names;
have you seen the originals? Even if you have, come and see them again,
up close and personal. The Cornell Library's Division of Rare and Manuscript
Collections will host this special exhibition for DPS conference attendees
only on Monday and Tuesday of DPS 2008. Come meet David and some of the
staff who curate and actively do research on some of these amazing documents.
This event is made possible by the generous donation of time and effort by
Dr. David W. Corson and the staff of the Cornell University Division of Rare
and Manuscript Collections.
- Monday, October 13 5:00-6:30 pm, Taylor A/B Rooms -
Observing with SOFIA For more information, contact Dana Backman.
- Monday, October 13 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. - The 2008 DPS
Dinner/Dance (formerly known as a "banquet"). Come enjoy the
rocks, soils, flora, and fauna at Ithaca's
Museum of the Earth for
a fun evening of food and entertainment. Mingle around the Museum and
fill your plate at one of the several food stations (including vegetarian!)
featuring yummy offerings from
Hope's Way catering. Enjoy some local upstate NY wines and cider.
Dance under the whale to the rockin' sound of local Ithaca favorites
the Sim Redmond Band. Take an
"insider" staff-led tour of the spectacular fossil and rock collections
of the Museum and the associated Paleontological Research Institution. Buses
will take meeting participants from the Statler Hotel to the Museum after
the poster session ends, and will be available to return attendees to their
hotels afterwards. Come let loose with the LOC at the DPS08 Dinner/Dance!
- Tuesday, October 14 Noon-1:30, Yale/Princeton Rooms - Green
Conferencing How can we, the DPS, effectively "green" our
meetings? - This discussion is open to all. If you have knowledge, or
ideas, please come and help us formulate a workable plan for future
meetings. For more information, contact Beth Clark or John Spencer. A carry-out lunch will be available from both the Terrace Cafein the Statler and the Lunch Box line in Barton. Please pick up your lunch before the workshop.
- Tuesday, October 14 Noon-2:30, Pennsylvania Room -
International Outer Planet Watch The International
Outer Planet Watch meeting will be devoted to discuss last year's
observations (from ground-based and space) of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus
and Neptune atmospheres. We will also discuss future observing plans
and possible targets of special interest in these atmospheres. Please
send any proposed contribution to Augustin Sanchez-Lavega to
prepare the Agenda.
- Tuesday, October 14 Noon-1:30,
Pursuing the
Heavens: Five Hundred Years of Planetary Sciences.
Carl A. Kroch Library.
Dr. David W. Corson, Curator of the History of Science Collections of the
Cornell University Division of
Rare and Manuscript Collections has organized a special 2-day lunchtime
showing of rare astronomy and planetary science-related historic books and
manuscripts from the Cornell collection. Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo,
Huygens, Newton, Halley, Herschel, Laplace, Maxwell... You know the names;
have you seen the originals? Even if you have, come and see them again,
up close and personal. The Cornell Library's Division of Rare and Manuscript
Collections will host this special exhibition for DPS conference attendees
only on Monday and Tuesday of DPS 2008. Come meet David and some of the
staff who curate and actively do research on some of these amazing documents.
This event is made possible by the generous donation of time and effort by
Dr. David W. Corson and the staff of the Cornell University Division of Rare
and Manuscript Collections.
- Wednesday, October 15, 1:00 to 6:30 PM - Field Trip to
Wineries We have arranged two different field trips to give
you a Taste
of the Finger Lakes with Experience
the finger lakes tour guides
- Thursday/Friday October 16/17 - Astronomy Educator Workshop
at Ithaca College for college-level astronomy educators, based on previous
"Astro 101" workshops and the SCALE-UP performance based physics program at IC.
For details, contact L. Keller (lkeller@ithaca.edu), or G. Brissenden (gbrissenden@as.arizona.edu).
A list of events by date and room is available in pdf format.
Also check out the Local Guides for
information on other things to do in town, including family activities.
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