Issue 12-20, August 20, 2012
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1) CHAIR UPDATE
2) DPS 44TH MEETING IN RENO – PROGRAMME IS ON LINE
3) DUE DATE DELAYED FOR OUTER PLANETS RESEARCH (OPR) PROGRAM
4) PROPOSALS SOLICITED FOR USE OF KECK TELESCOPES
5) MATURATION OF INSTRUMENTS FOR SOLAR SYSTEM EXPLORATION (MATISSE) PROGRAM
6) 2013 ONLINE RENEWALS BEGIN IN SEPTEMBER
7) JOB/POSITION OPPORTUNITIES
8) UPCOMING MEETINGS
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CHAIRS UPDATE
Although it is the Dog Days of Summer several notable events have enlivened August. First is the highly successful landing of the Curiosity rover on Mars. Any planetary exploration is fraught with risk; but the cost, technical challenges, and potential science return of the Mars Science Laboratory made this a nail-biter. And it worked great! Curiosity is returning awesome images of an alien world and the mission is off to a great start. Congratulations are due from all of us at DPS to the MSL team including the science teams, JPL, Lockheed-Martin, Boeing, and the NASA Headquarters Mars Program!
The other major event of August was the DPS elections.
I want to congratulate Heidi Hammel (DPS vice-chair elect), Paul Withers and Ross Beyer (DPS committee members elect). The quality and impact of DPS depends on the quality and drive of our members who donate their time organization. We are fortunate to have such outstanding people willing to devote their time to the DPS and our joint efforts to make a real difference in the course of planetary exploration. Congratulations and welcome! The DPS committee and officers names can be found at : leadership
Dan Britt,
DPS Chair
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DPS 44TH MEETING IN RENO – PROGRAMME IS ON LINE
The 44th annual meeting of the Division for Planetary Sciences of the American Astronomical Society will take place from Sunday October 14 to Friday October 19, 2012 in Reno, NV
The science program is now on line at :
http://www.abstractsonline.com/plan/start.aspx?mkey={C752C15A-58ED-4FA6-9B4A-725245476867}
Among other special events, please join us for Tuesday’s special events:
– The DPS Members Meeting on Tuesday, Oct 16, 2012, 10:30 AM -12:00 PM in the Tahoe Room
And
– The Agency Night on Tuesday, Oct 16, 2012, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM in the Reno Ballroom
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DUE DATE DELAYED FOR OUTER PLANETS RESEARCH (OPR) PROGRAM
ROSES
Amendment 13 delays the due date for proposals to the Outer
Planets Research Program to November 2, 2012, so as not to overlap with
the 44th Annual Meeting of the Division for Planetary Sciences of the
American Astronomical Society. Notices of intent to propose are still
requested by August 24, 2012.
This Amendment to the NASA Research Announcement NNH12ZDA001N will be
posted on the NASA research opportunity homepage at:
http://nspires.nasaprs.com/
(select “Solicitations” then “Open Solicitations” then “NNH12ZDA001N”).
RSS feed at:
http://nasascience.nasa.gov/researchers/sara/grant-solicitations/
roses-2012
Questions concerning OPR may be addressed to:
Terry Hurford at (202) 358-0780 or
[email protected]
[From the PEN]
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PROPOSALS SOLICITED FOR USE OF KECK TELESCOPES
NASA is soliciting proposals to use the Keck Telescopes for the 2013A
observing semester (February 2013 – July 2013).
Use of the Keck telescopes will be highly strategic in support of on-
going space missions and/or high priority, long term science goals.
NASA Keck time is open to a wide range of disciplines including
exoplanets and solar system topics, galactic, and extragalactic topics,
cosmology and high energy astrophysics.
There is limited time for observations based on public Kepler data or
data obtained through the Kepler Guest Observer programs. Proposals
are also sought in: (1) investigations in support of EXOPLANET
EXPLORATION science goals and missions; (2) investigations of our own
SOLAR SYSTEM; (3) investigations in support of COSMIC ORIGINS science
goals and missions; (4) investigations in support of PHYSICS OF THE
COSMOS science goals and missions; and (5) direct MISSION SUPPORT.
The proposal process is being handled by the NASA Exoplanet Science
Institute (NExScI) at Caltech and all proposals are due on 13
September 2012 at 4 pm PDT. For further information and proposal
submission, please see:
http://nexsci.caltech.edu/missions/KeckSolicitation/index.shtml
Questions not answered on the web pages can be directed to
[email protected]
[Edited for length]
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MATURATION OF INSTRUMENTS FOR SOLAR SYSTEM EXPLORATION (MATISSE) PROGRAM
The MatISSE Program supports the advanced development of
spacecraft-based instruments that show promise for use in future
planetary missions. The goal of the program is to develop and
demonstrate planetary and astrobiology science instruments to the point
where they may be proposed in response to future announcements of
flight opportunity without additional extensive technology development
(approximately TRL 6). The proposed instrument must address specific
scientific objectives of likely future planetary science missions.
The name of this program was formerly Astrobiology Science and
Technology for Instrument Development (ASTID).
Notices of intent are requested by August 31, 2012, and proposals are
due by October 31, 2012.
Go to:
http://nspires.nasaprs.com/
On a related note, we regret to inform potential proposers that
Planetary Instrument Concepts for the Advancement of Solar System
Observations (PICASSO) and Astrobiology Science and Technology for
Exploring Planets (ASTEP) will not be solicited this year. However, we
anticipate that they will be solicited in ROSES 2013 and draft text
for PICASSO is presented in ROSES 2012.
Questions concerning either PICASSO or MatISSE, may be addressed to:
Janice L. Buckner
202-358-0183
[email protected]
[From the PEN]
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2013 ONLINE RENEWALS BEGIN IN SEPTEMBER
You can renew your membership and pay your 2013 DPS dues online beginning
the first week of September, 2012. Please help the AAS save
substantial costs by renewing online at aas.org.
Paper renewals will be mailed in late October so please take a moment
and log in to your member record and opt out of receiving your renewal
notice by US mail. You will need your member login ID and password. If
you have not used this before, give the membership department a call
and they will provide you with that information or, you can reset your
password online. Any address changes can be made directly on that
page. If you need assistance, please contact membership at aas.org, or
call 202-328-2010 x101.
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JOB/POSITION OPPORTUNITIES
A) PERMANENT FACULTY POSITION IN ASTRONOMY/ASTROPHYSICS
The Department of Physics and Space Sciences at the Florida Institute of Technology invites applications for a permanent faculty position that will begin in January 2013 (preferred) or August 2013. This position may be at any rank, assistant through full professor. Preference will be given to candidates with observational or theoretical expertise in stellar, exoplanet and/or planetary astronomy/astrophysics. The successful candidate will have guaranteed access to the Ortega telescope in Florida and the SARA facilities at Kitt Peak in Arizona and Cerro Tololo in Chile. Candidates with experience in astronomical instrumentation are particularly encouraged. Florida Tech is located on the eastern coast of central Florida, just south of the Kennedy Space Center. Information about the Department and current research activity in astronomy/astrophysics can be found at http://cos.fit.edu/pss/ and http://astro.fit.edu, respectively. To apply, please send a cover letter, CV, statement of research and teaching experience and interests, and the names of at least three references to [email protected] or via regular mail to Faculty Search Committee, Dept. of Physics and Space Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology, 150 W. University Blvd., Melbourne FL 32901, USA. The review of applications will begin on August 1st, however applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Florida Tech is an equal opportunity employer
B) TWO POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS: The OSSOS Survey.
The Outer Solar Systems Origins Survey (OSSOS) is an approved Large Program for four years on the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (see http://www.cfht.hawaii.edu/en/science/LP_13_16/), to detect a large sample of outer Solar System moving objects.
Two postdoctoral fellows are sought to begin in 2013 to be involved in discovery/tracking observations, detected object exploitation, and scientific analysis/modelling of the survey’s results. Previous work in the field of outer Solar System small-body science is needed. Depending on the postdoctoral fellow’s interests and the eligibility for various funding sources, the work might be undertaken at either the University of British Columbia (Vancouver), the National Research Council of Canada (Victoria), or the Universite de Franche-Compte (Besancon, France). Enquiries should be made via email, with a statement of interests and CV enclosed, to B. Gladman
([email protected]) by September 14, 2012.
C) POST-DOC ON EXOPLANETS IN PALERMO
INAF- Osservatorio Astronomico di Palermo is offering a post-doc fellowship in “Stellar Activity effects on the study of exoplanetary atmospheres”
Application details in http://www.astropa.unipa.it/indice_generale/opplavoro.html.
Deadline : 7 September 2012
Any questions can be addressed to [email protected]
D) VISITING ASSISTANT PROFESSOR POSITION IN PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES
A two-year visiting assistant professor position is available in the research group of planetary atmospheres in the department of physics at the University of Houston. It is expected that a successful candidate will join in the laboratory of comparative planetary atmospheres at the University of Houston. The applicant should have a Ph.D degree in planetary sciences, atmospheric sciences, or a related field. The position involves analysis of remote-sensing data sets of planetary objects in our solar system (e.g., Giant planets, Titan, Venus, Mars, and Earth). In addition, research will include the use and development of numerical models to investigate the large-scale atmospheric phenomena on different planetary objects. Applications will be considered starting on September 1, and the search will remain open until filled. Interested applicants should send a statement summarizing their research interests, a curriculum vitae, and the names and contact information of three references to Dr. Liming Li ([email protected]). The University of Houston is an Equal Opportunity Employer and invites applications from women and under-represented minorities.
E) NASA CONTRACTOR SEEKS SCIENTIST FOR ROSES PROGRAM MANAGEMENT/TECHNICAL SUPPORT
SDSE, the contractor to NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD) that
supports peer review, is seeking a (preferably PhD) Scientist to
conduct the day-to-day management of PSD ROSES programs. Subjects
include Planetary Atmospheres, Chemistry, Geology and Spectroscopy,
especially but not limited to the Saturnian System, as well as
laboratory, observational and theoretical studies of the formation of
our Solar System and other planetary systems. For more information see:
http://sj.tbe.taleo.net/SJ6/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=SDSE&cws=1&r…
and
http://www.sdsellc.com/
F) UWINGU TO LAUNCH NEW FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPACE RESEARCHERS AND EDUCATORS
As described recently by the AAAS, Uwingu (which means sky in Swahili) is a small start-up company consisting of astronomers, planetary scientists, former space program executives, and educators. You can learn more about Uwingu on Facebook and can follow on Twitter, or by Googling recent articles and blogs about it.
We plan to create new ways for space research and education to be funded in addition to existing sources from NASA and other government agencies is the US and abroad. Our target is to generate millions to tens of millions of dollars per year for this purpose, and to then create grants programs to disburse these funds. We are at present raising funds for our first product rollout. For more information and an opportunity to participate, go to:
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/180221?c=comments&a=904032
Alan Stern, Mark Sykes, Henry Throop
Founders, Uwingu LLC
G) POST-DOCS IN ASTROBIOLOGY
There are several astrobiology postdoc funding opportunities now open, with due dates in November. See the Sagan Fellowship announcement
http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/careers/
and the NASA Astrobiology Postdoctoral Fellowship announcement
http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/funding/
[Forwarded by Mark Allen]
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UPCOMING MEETINGS
a) 2nd Exobiology Workshop
November 11-14, 2013
Frejus, France
http://www.exobiologie.fr/index.php/actualites/evenements/rencontres-sfe…
b) Lessons Learned in Decadal Planning in Space Science: A Workshop
November 12-13, 2012
Irvine, CA
http://sites.nationalacademies.org/SSB/CurrentProjects/SSB_070954
c) 10th Meeting of the Venus Exploration and Analysis Group (VEXAG)
November 13-15, 2012
Washington, DC
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/vexag
d) NASA Advisory Council Meeting
November 28-30, 2012
Huntsville, AL
http://www.nasa.gov/offices/nac/meetings/index.html
e) Magnetic Fields in the Universe IV: From Laboratory and Stars to the
Primordial Structures
February 4-8, 2013
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
http://www.nucleares.unam.mx/mfu4
f) Transformational Science with ALMA: From Dust to Rocks to Planets
Formation and Evolution of Planetary Systems
April 8-12, 2013
Waikoloa, HI
http://www.cv.nrao.edu/rocks/index.html
g) International Young Astronomer School on Exploiting the Herschel and
Planck data (2013)
April 15-19, 2013
Meudon, France
http://ufe.obspm.fr/rubrique344.html
h) UK Astrobiology Conference
April 17-19, 2013
Edinburgh, Scotland
http://www.astrobiology.ac.uk/astrobiology-conference-2013
i) 2nd International Congress of Astrobiology
September 24-28, 2013
Medellin, Columbia
http://www.astrobiologia.org/2-congreso-internacional-de-astrobiologia.html