Newsletter 17-12

Issue 17-12, March 11, 2017

 

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  1. MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR: THE MARCH FOR SCIENCE, THE AAS/DPS AND YOU
  2. RELEASE OF OSIRIS-REX PARTICIPATING SCIENTIST PROGRAM ELEMENT DRAFT TEXT FOR COMMUNITY COMMENT
  3. ALMA CALL FOR STUDY PROPOSALS
  4. ASTROPHYSICS DATA ANALYSIS PROGRAM LETTERS OF INTENT DUE
  5. UPCOMING WORKSHOPS AND MEETINGS
  6. JOBS, POSITIONS, OPPORTUNITIES

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MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR: THE MARCH FOR SCIENCE, THE AAS/DPS, AND YOU

 

The importance of science to the advancement of humanity is clear to our 

DPS membership, yet its ability to inform governmental policy appears to 

be imperiled.  The AAS will support our members who plan to participate 

in the March for Science on April 22 (www.marchforscience.com), as 

described in this detailed post by AAS Executive Officer Kevin Marvel:   

https://aas.org/posts/news/2017/02/march-science-aas-and-you

 

Core principles of the march as presently defined are: science that serves 

the common good; cutting-edge science education; open and honest science 

communication and inclusive public outreach; evidence-based policy and 

regulations in the public interest; and funding for scientific research and its 

applications.  Related goals for the march are to: humanize science; partner

with the public; advocate for open, inclusive, and accessible science; support

scientists; and affirm science as a democratic value.

 

The AAS office at 1667 K Street NW (very near the White House) will open 

its doors on the morning of the march and serve refreshments.  Our leadership 

participates in weekly information-sharing phone calls (but, as for AGU and 

other science organizations, does not control the messaging).  We will provide 

logistical support and report any late breaking developments.  Additional

assistance provided by the AAS includes web tools for a roommate and housing 

search and/or carpool search.  For more information or questions feel free to 

contact the DPS FRS Chair at [email protected] or the AAS policy 

experts listed on Marvel’s website post.  If you are actively involved in the 

organization of a local march please let us know ([email protected],

[email protected]).

 

Lucy McFadden and Kurt Retherford

DPS Chair and FRS Chair

 

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RELEASE OF OSIRIS-REX PARTICIPATING SCIENTIST PROGRAM 

ELEMENT DRAFT TEXT FOR COMMUNITY COMMENT

 

The objective of the OSIRIS-REx Participating Scientist Program (OREx-PSP) 

is to enhance the scientific return during the asteroid-operational phase of the

OSIRIS-REx mission by expanding participation in the mission through new

investigations that broaden and/or complement existing principal investigator

(PI) and co-investigator (Co-I)-led investigations.

 

This amendment releases a draft version of C.22, the OSIRIS-REx participating

scientist program element for community comment. Questions and comments 

on this draft program element should be directed to Jeffrey Grossman at 

[email protected] and Christina Richey at [email protected] by

March 16, 2017.

 

On or about March 2, 2017, this Amendment to the NASA Research 

Announcement “Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences 

(ROSES) 2017″ (NNH17ZDA001N) will be posted on the NASA research 

opportunity homepage at: http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ and will appear on the 

RSS feed at:

https://science.nasa.gov/researchers/sara/grant-solicitations/roses-2017/

 

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ALMA CALL FOR STUDY PROPOSALS

 

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory and the National Science

Foundation  are pleased to announce a Call for Study Proposals for the

North American  ALMA Cycle 5 Development program:        
https://go.nrao.edu/ALMA_Cycle5_Development 

 

This Call is open to the community of scientists from North American

ALMA partner countries. The primary objectives of the Cycle 5 Development

Program Studies are to:

(a) enable groups in North America to propose ALMA upgrade studies

that may later be implemented via the ALMA Development Plan;

(b) support the development of conceptual and detailed designs for ALMA

upgrades; and

(c) encourage relevant long-term research and development in areas

important for ALMA.

 

Two categories of proposals are being sought via this Call:

(a) General Studies (funded for 1 year and up to $200,000 USD per award); and

(b) Strategic Studies (funded for 2 years and up to $400,000 USD per award). 

 

Strategic Studies is a new ALMA Development proposal category intended

to support in-depth studies aligned with the development priorities identified

by the ALMA Science Advisory Committee in the ‘A Roadmap for

Developing ALMA’ document: https://go.nrao.edu/Roadmap_for_ALMA

 

The proposal submission deadline for this Call for Studies is 1 May 2017

at 23:59 EDT. Prospective Principal Investigators are encouraged, but not

required, to submit Notices of Intent by 20 March 2017.  Questions should

be directed to [email protected]

 

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ASTROPHYSICS DATA ANALYSIS PROGRAM LETTERS OF INTENT DUE

 

The deadline for ROSES ADAP 2017 letters of intent is March 28, 2017.

Scientists with approved Priority 1 GO observations involving < 200 hours

of Spitzer time are eligible to propose for data analysis support under ADAP

2017. The solicitation also includes archival funding opportunities. Spitzer

investigators with observations in our solar system that are not eligible for

support through ADAP should consult the Solar System Observations 2017

(SSO17) solicitation in the ROSES-2017. The deadline for SSO17 Step 1

proposals is April 6, 2017.  Please see

http://ssc.spitzer.caltech.edu/warmmission/propkit/ar/  for more information

on these funding opportunities.

 

Spitzer Science User Support

 

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UPCOMING WORKSHOPS AND MEETINGS

 

A) SPRING 2017 GBT OBSERVER TRAINING WORKSHOP

     May 15-17, 2017, Green Bank Observatory

 

Registration is now open for the May 2017 Green Bank Telescope (GBT)

Observer Training Workshop

 

The workshop will povide the essential skills and knowledge needed to use

the GBT and maximize its scientific output. In addition, after completing the 

workshop, an attendee will be certified to use the GBT as a remote observer.

The workshop will consist of classroom lectures that provide background on

observing techniques with the GBT and single dish radio telescopes more 

generally, as well as hands-on use of the GBT under the guidance of observatory

staff. Topics to be covered include radio telescope fundamentals, observing

and calibration techniques, the impact of weather, the GBT observing procedures

and software, data reduction, telescope scheduling, and remote observing.

 

For more information and to register, please visit the Observer Training 

Workshop page: http://greenbankobservatory.org/science/observer-training-workshops/

 

B) RADIO EXPLORATION OF PLANETARY HABITABILITY

     AAS TOPICAL CONFERENCE SERIES 5 (AASTCS 5)

     7-12 May 2017

     Palm Springs, California

 

Abstract Deadline 15 March 2017 9:00pm EDT

Travel Grant Application Deadline 17 March 2017

 

https://aas.org/meetings/aastcs/radiohab

 

Radio astronomy provides means that allow the most direct investigation of 

the processes driving stellar activity. It also offers the best chance to detect 

and characterize exoplanetary magnetic fields over a wide range of planet 

masses and ages. The idea of this meeting has grown out of the need to better 

understand star-planet interaction and its impact on habitability of planetary 

companions, especially those in close orbits around low-mass stars. The 

meeting will address a wide range of the related topics, broadly divided into 

the following three categories: (i) stellar activity and planetary habitability, 

(ii) detection of planets and planetary magnetic fields, and (iii) the relevant 

theoretical considerations, emphasizing a potential impact of radio astronomy, 

especially the existing and the planned, large radio telescopes, in this area 

of research.

 

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JOBS, POSITIONS, OPPORTUNITIES

A) POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOW

     University of Michigan

     Ann Arbor, Michigan

 

The University of Michigan astrophysics group invites applications for a 

postdoctoral research fellow in observational Solar System astronomy, 

under the supervision of Profs. David Gerdes and Fred Adams. The 

successful candidate will help lead our ongoing efforts to search for, 

discover, and characterize new objects in the trans-Neptunian Solar 

System (including the hypothesized Planet 9) using data collected by 

the Dark Energy Survey and related projects in which we are participants.

 

The University of Michigan is one of the world’s leading public research 

universities. Astrophysics research areas include, in addition to Solar 

System science, observational and theoretical cosmology, CMB studies, 

star and planet formation, gravitational waves, and direct dark matter 

searches. The Michigan Astronomy Department has shared time on the 

Magellan, MDM, and NOEMA telescope facilities. 

 

We seek an outstanding and motivated scientist with leadership potential,

a strong research background in optical astronomy and analysis of large 

data sets, as well as an ability to interpret data in the context of dynamical 

models of Solar System evolution. The candidate will be encouraged to 

mentor graduate and undergraduate students.

 

Candidates should have a Ph.D. in physics, astrophysics, or astronomy. 

This NASA-funded position is for an initial period of one year beginning 

in summer or fall 2017, with expectation of renewal for up to two additional 

years contingent upon satisfactory performance and continued funding. 

To apply, please send a single pdf containing a research statement and 

curriculum vitae to Ms. Beth Demkowski, [email protected].

Candidates should also arrange to have three letters of reference sent to 

the same address. 

 

Review of applications will begin on April 15, 2017 and will continue 

until the position is filled. The University of Michigan is an equal 

opportunity/affirmative action employer.

 

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Send submissions to:

Anne Verbiscer, DPS Secretary ([email protected]

 

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