Issue 24-02, January 20, 2024
+————————————CONTENTS—————————————-+
- SUBMIT AN ABSTRACT FOR APOPHIS T-5 YEARS WORKSHOP
- CALL FOR COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN HABITABLE WORLDS OBSERVATORY MISSION CONCEPT MATURATION
- CALL FOR DPS PRIZE NOMINATIONS
- 30TH MEETING OF THE SMALL BODIES ASSESSMENT GROUP (SBAG)
- CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENT: DIRECT IMAGING & CHARACTERIZATION OF EXOPLANETS IN THE ELT ERA
- EXOPLANETS IN OUR BACKYARD III MEETING
- OPENINGS ON THE OPAG STEERING COMMITTEE
- ABSTRACT SUBMISSION FOR “TNO2024: THE TRANS-NEPTUNIAN SOLAR SYSTEM” IS NOW OPEN.
- DPS PROFESSIONAL CLIMATE AND CULTURE SUBCOMMITTEE (PCCS) SEEKING NEW MEMBERS
- ANNOUNCEMENT OF INTERNATIONAL SMALL-BODIES MEETING: AUGUST 6 & 8, 2024, CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA
- CONGRATULATIONS TO TENG EE (TONY) YAP, WINNER OF ICARUS “BEST STUDENT-LED PAPER” AWARD
- CURRENT TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR ICARUS AND THE PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL
- JOBS, POSITIONS, AND OPPORTUNITIES
+——————————————————————————————–+
1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1——-
SUBMIT AN ABSTRACT FOR APOPHIS T-5 YEARS WORKSHOP
The Apophis T-5 Years: Knowledge Opportunity for the Science of Planetary Defense workshop will be held April 22–23, 2024, at the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) in Noordwijk, The Netherlands.
This workshop will focus on international collaboration opportunities, as recommended by the Small Bodies Assessment Group (SBAG), for both Earth-based observations and potential in situ investigations, optimally supporting the science return from the OSIRIS-APEX spacecraft making a post-Earth-encounter rendezvous with Apophis.
The abstract deadline is February 12, 2024. For Workshop information and abstract submission, the website link is https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/apophis2024/
2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2——-
CALL FOR COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN HABITABLE WORLDS OBSERVATORY MISSION CONCEPT MATURATION
The Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) is NASA’s next astrophysics flagship mission concept recommended by the 2020 Decadal Survey on Astronomy and Astrophysics. Two community groups are guiding the early mission concept maturation activities for HWO: a Science, Technology, Architecture Review Team (START) and a Technical Assessment Group (TAG).
Working Groups being organized under the START and TAG will be exploring the HWO mission concept’s fundamental science goals and how best to pursue them. Several of these Working Groups are focused specifically on planetary science, including solar system observations.
Participation in HWO Working Groups is open to the community, and while there is no deadline for expressing interest in participating, activities are anticipated to begin around the end of January 2024 and last throughout the calendar year. Please express interest in joining an HWO Working Group here: https://forms.gle/jwdexDLAfnKAt1eK6.
More information on the Habitable Worlds Observatory and START/TAG activities can be found on the NASA website: https://science.nasa.gov/astrophysics/programs/habitable-worlds-observatory/start-tag/. Questions can be sent to the HWO Program Scientist, Megan Ansdell ([email protected]).
3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3——-
CALL FOR DPS PRIZE NOMINATIONS
Deadline: April 15, 2024
Every year the DPS recognizes exceptional achievement in our field. Please consider nominating a respected colleague for one of the annual DPS prizes.
The DPS sponsors six prizes:
The Gerard P. Kuiper Prize [https://dps.aas.org/prizes/kuiper] recognizes and honors outstanding contributors to the field of planetary science.
The Claudia J. Alexander Prize [https://dps.aas.org/prizes/alexander] recognizes excellence and achievements by a mid-career scientist.
The Harold C. Urey Prize [https://dps.aas.org/prizes/urey] recognizes and encourages outstanding achievements in planetary research by an early-career scientist.
The Harold Masursky Award [https://dps.aas.org/prizes/masursky] recognizes and honors individuals who have rendered outstanding service to planetary science and exploration through – but not limited to – engineering, managerial, programmatic, editorial, or public service activities.
The Carl Sagan Medal [https://dps.aas.org/prizes/sagan] recognizes and honors outstanding communication by an active planetary scientist to the general public.
The Jonathan Eberhart Planetary Sciences Journalism Award [https://dps.aas.org/prizes/eberhart] recognizes and stimulates distinguished popular writing on planetary sciences.
DPS members and the planetary science community-at-large are encouraged to submit nominations for DPS prizes.
A complete nomination submitted by the deadline will be considered by the DPS Prize subcommittee for 3 years (i.e. for this year’s award, next year’s award, and the year after that), or for the duration of a candidate’s eligibility, whichever is less. Please fill out the nomination form [https://dps.aas.org/prizes/nomination-form], and it will be submitted to the prize subcommittee. The Eberhart Award has different rules and procedures than the other DPS Prizes, please see its page [https://dps.aas.org/prizes/eberhart-nomination-form] for more information.
Scroll to the bottom of https://dps.aas.org/prizes for rules and procedures.
Questions: Email [email protected]
4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4——-
30TH MEETING OF THE SMALL BODIES ASSESSMENT GROUP (SBAG)
SBAG 30 – Jan. 30 – Feb. 1, 2024
The 30th Meeting of the Small Bodies Assessment Group (SBAG) will take place Tuesday through Thursday, January 30 – February 1, 2024. The meeting is hybrid with the in-person portion being held in Tucson, AZ at University of Arizona facilities. Registration information, early career opportunities, hotel block, and other logistical information will be posted when the details become available at
https://www.lpi.usra.edu/sbag/meetings/
5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5——-
CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENT: DIRECT IMAGING & CHARACTERIZATION OF EXOPLANETS IN THE ELT ERA
April 11-13, 2024 – Tucson, Arizona
The emerging generation of Extremely Large Telescopes (ELTs) will transform the study of exoplanets. While the high angular resolution of ELTs allows imaging of planets at small separations, deep, precise spectroscopy will allow characterization of fundamental planet properties. The Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) provides an edge-to-edge separation of 23 m, and when used as an interferometer (LBTI), it already functions as an ELT. In this conference, we will discuss new ELT-era exoplanet science with LBT, as well as more general exoplanet science for the upcoming ELT landscape.
Full details available at the conference website, https://www.lbto.org/exo24/
Sponsored by the Large Binocular Telescope Observatory
6———6———6———6———6———6———6———6———6——-
EXOPLANETS IN OUR BACKYARD III MEETING
Save The Date
Exoplanets in our Backyard III, November 13-15, 2024, Louisville, KY USA, #EioB3
Conference Location and Dates
We are happy to announce the Exoplanets in our Backyard III workshop scheduled for
November 13-15, 2024 at the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, KY USA. The workshop
format will be in-person only.
Purpose and Scope
Exoplanets in Our Backyard focuses on the collaborative exploration of exoplanets, uniting
researchers from various scientific disciplines to share knowledge and expertise, particularly in
the detection and characterization of exoplanet atmospheres. Emphasizing discussion and
cross-disciplinary research, this workshop aims to inspire and educate participants of all
experience levels in the collective effort to understand distant worlds and their formation
processes.
The science program will feature invited talks related to four major themes and multiple
breakout sessions aimed towards creating new collaborations among scientists from various
fields.
- Star-Exoplanet Interactions Using Our Heliosphere as a Rosetta Stone
- Leveraging the History of the Inner Solar System to Inform the Search for Habitable and
Inhabited Exoplanets
- Cross-Domain Machine Learning Methods for Applications to Exoplanetary Atmospheric
Retrieval
- Theory and Experiments Collide to Tackle Exoplanet Research Challenges
Important: To be added to the mailing list to receive additional information about this
conference, submit an indication of interest.
For more information contact [email protected]
7———7———7———7———7———7———7———7———7——-
OPENINGS ON THE OPAG STEERING COMMITTEE
The Outer Planets Assessment Group (OPAG) Steering Committee (SC) announces several upcoming openings on the OPAG Steering Committee. We invite the community to review the current Steering Committee membership and the membership guidelines at this link: https://www.lpi.usra.edu/opag/committee/
We welcome applications from candidates who are interested in supporting OPAG’s strategic mission), and who have a desire to support the community, as well as those who fill any topic area gaps. Through the search process, we will strive to ensure representation across multiple axes to foster an interdisciplinary, diverse, equitable, inclusive and accessible community. All interested candidates, at any career stage, are encouraged to apply. People who submitted applications during the last selection cycle are encouraged to re-submit. Applications include a one-page letter addressing the applicant’s interest in the OPAG SC and how the applicant feels they will contribute based on their expertise and experience, and a two-page NASA proposal-style CV. In your letter, please discuss your leadership, project and organizational experiences, and your past or current involvement in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, and Accessibility (EDIA) activities. Applicants may voluntarily self-identify by providing demographic information in their letter.
We intend to accept applications November 30, 2023 through January 30 2024; selected new members should plan to start their service in time for the OPAG Spring 2024 meeting (the exact timing of which is to be confirmed).
Please send your nominations, with the letter of interest and CV together in a single PDF file, to: [email protected]. For the file name, please use the format Lastname-FirstName-OPAG_CV and Lastname-FirstName-OPAG_Letter.
Inquiries about the OPAG Steering Committee membership should be directed to the OPAG committee [email protected] or Amanda Hendrix [email protected]
https://www.lpi.usra.edu/opag/reports/goals-08-28-19.pdf https://www.lpi.usra.edu/opag/reports/OPAG-Whitepaper-2020-08-12_%20UPDATED.pdf
8———8———8———8———8———8———8———8———8——-
ABSTRACT SUBMISSION FOR “TNO2024: THE TRANS-NEPTUNIAN SOLAR SYSTEM” IS NOW OPEN.
Abstract submission for TNO2024: The Trans-Neptunian Solar System conference is now open. Abstracts can be submitted at the conference website, https://tno2024.org. The conference will focus on a number of topics, including:
- Physical and dynamical properties
- Dwarf planets
- Binaries and multiple systems
- Relationships with other small body populations (Centaurs, Trojans, comets, inner Oort Cloud objects, interstellar objects)
- Distant TNOs
- Formation and evolutionary processes
- Current and future surveys
- Laboratory studies
- Current and future space missions
- Occultations
The conference will take place at the Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics in Taipei, Taiwan 24–28 June 2024.
9———9———9———9———9———9———9———9———9——-
DPS PROFESSIONAL CLIMATE AND CULTURE SUBCOMMITTEE (PCCS) SEEKING NEW MEMBERS
Are you interested in making the planetary science community more diverse and inclusive? If so, please contact [email protected] to volunteer to be part of the DPS Professional Culture and Climate subcommittee (PCCS). A list of our charge, duties, and expectations can be found at: https://dps.aas.org/leadership/climate
You also can speak with any current PCCS members (listed at above site) and, in particular, you are welcome to contact Chair James Roberts ([email protected]).
To express interest in becoming a PCCS member, please send an email to [email protected], including:
(1) why you are interested,
(2) a brief description of any EDIA work you’ve already done, and
(3) a brief statement on what you might hope to accomplish with the
PCCS. Comments about past or potential future work by PCCS are also
welcomed, as always.
10——–10——–10——–10——–10——–10——–10——–10——–10——-
ANNOUNCEMENT OF INTERNATIONAL SMALL-BODIES MEETING: AUGUST 6 & 8, 2024, CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA
Focus Meeting 3: Follow-up Observations of Small Bodies in the Solar System in the Era of Large Discovery Surveys (as part of the IAU General Assembly, which runs 6-15 August 2024)
Website: https://sbss2024.saao.ac.za/
Motivation: A significant increase in the rate of discoveries of small bodies in the Solar System is expected, given ongoing and anticipated data-intensive surveys. This 2-day Focus Meeting will address multiple aspects of the international response to small-body detections from surveys and their follow-up characterizations.
Important dates:
31 Oct. 2023 – Early registration opens
30 Nov. 2023 – Abstract submissions open
01 March 2024 – Deadline for abstracts and early registration
31 May 2024 – Deadline for normal registration
Contacts: SOC Chairs Amanda Sickafoose ([email protected]); Nic Erasmus ([email protected])
11——–11——–11——–11——–11——–11——–11——–11——–11——-
CONGRATULATIONS TO TENG EE (TONY) YAP, WINNER OF ICARUS “BEST STUDENT-LED PAPER” AWARD
We are pleased to announce the winner of the 2023 Icarus “Best Student-Led Paper” Award. Teng Ee (Tony) Yap’s paper, ” The NC-CC dichotomy explained by significant addition of CAI-like dust to the Bulk Molecular Cloud (BMC) composition” https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2023.115680 which appeared in the November 15, 2023 issue of Icarus. The paper was selected by the independent Icarus Board of Advisory Editors and was among five nominated for the Award.
Detailing their reason for selecting Tony Yap’s paper as the winner, the board stated, “The paper presents a model for the formation of isotope anomalies in solar system materials based on mixing among primordial reservoirs. In contrast to other recent studies, the authors demonstrate that mixing between CAI-like and bulk-molecular cloud reservoirs can explain observed isotope trends without a third reservoir representing CI chondrites and asteroid Ryugu. This work advances the field by providing a self-consistent model of early solar system formation that can be tested with further data on Fe isotopes in CC achondrites.”.”
The lead author obtained his B.A. in Astrogeophysics from Colgate University and is currently a second-year graduate student pursuing a PhD in Planetary Science at Caltech. His research lies at the intersection of isotope cosmochemistry and planetary astrophysics, and aims to offer new insights into early Solar System evolution and the planet formation process.
We wish to express our warmest congratulations to Tony and his co-author Francois Tissot on winning this Award.
12——–12——–12——–12——–12——–12——–12——–12——–12——-
CURRENT TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR ICARUS AND THE PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL
The current issues for both DPS-affiliated journals are here:
Icarus:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/icarus/vol/408/suppl/C
The Planetary Science Journal:
https://iopscience.iop.org/issue/2632-3338/5/1
13——–13——–13——–13——–13——–13——–13——–13——–13——-
JOBS, POSITIONS, AND OPPORTUNITIES
Job seekers and employers are encouraged to browse DPS’s job listings and advertise open positions **for free**.
Recent openings and opportunities are listed below and more are at the link above.
- Steve Fossett Postdoctoral Fellowship
The Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences at Washington University in Saint Louis invites applications for the Steve Fossett Postdoctoral Fellowship. The Department seeks outstanding candidates who will strengthen and complement existing areas of study, including terrestrial and planetary geology, geochemistry, geophysics, geobiology, and climate science. Candidates will be encouraged to collaborate directly with faculty and students within the Department, and will be invited to lead a seminar in their area of expertise.
This competitive postdoc is awarded for a one-year period, which may be extended to a second year. The annual salary is $70,000 with additional research funds of $6,000 per year. The appointment is anticipated to begin on or around July 1, 2024.
Qualifications
Candidates must have a Ph.D. in Earth, planetary, or climate science or a related field at the time of appointment, and have a record of excellent scholarship. The ideal candidate will have trans-disciplinary interests, and will interact scientifically with a broad spectrum of the Department’s members.
Application Instructions
Applicants should include a cover letter, a current curriculum vitae (including full publication list), a two- to four-page statement of research interests, and the names and contact information for three professional references. Inquiries about the position should be directed to Prof. William McKinnon ([email protected]). Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and the position will remain open until filled. Priority will be given to applications received by Febuary 7, 2024. Please see:
https://apply.interfolio.com/138677
- Two Associate Editor Openings with Icarus
The role of Associate Editor, along with the Editor-in-Chief and other members of the Editorial Board of the Journal and Elsevier, is to manage the peer review process for manuscripts submitted to the journal using the online journal system. The Associate Editor is empowered to make decisions autonomously on manuscripts but is also welcome (and expected) to seek the opinion of the wider editorial team.
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 will reject, or return 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
- Two positions for applicants who must have demonstrated broad expertise in either: terrestrial/super-Earth atmospheres, global circulation and climate models OR giant planet atmospheres and interior models
- Be knowledgeable in research publishing, managing a journal publication, the peer review process and in 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 February 28, 2024. Please include up to three references.
Applications and relevant supporting documents must be sent to Christina Gifford, Publisher, [email protected].
- Postdoctoral Position, UC Santa Cruz, Planetary Thermal Evolution Modeling
The Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics and Other Worlds Laboratory at the University of California, Santa Cruz, invites applications for a Postdoctoral Scholar position in planetary evolution modeling. We are particularly interested in candidates who have experience working on theory and modeling of planetary or stellar interiors or atmospheres.
Successful candidates will work in the research group of Professor Jonathan Fortney, which focuses on the physics and chemistry of the atmospheres and interiors of substellar objects, from terrestrial planets to giant planets to brown dwarfs, for objects in and out of the solar system. Potential projects for the Scholar include the thermal evolution and internal structure of strongly irradiated giant planets, solar system giant planets, brown dwarfs, and sub-Neptunes. Projects will require code development in Python and potentially include work with the open-source MESA code.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS: All documents and materials must be submitted as a single PDF and should be forwarded to Jonathan Fortney ([email protected]). Applications must include:
- a cover letter
- a curriculum vitae with list of publications
- a research statement (up to 3 pages) that includes a discussion of relevant experience in addition to future research interests
- names of three references who will be submitting letters
Please have each of the three references e-mail their recommendation letters to [email protected] by the application deadline for full consideration. Please refer to “Evolution Postdoc” in all correspondence.
RECRUITMENT PERIOD: Full consideration will be given to applications completed by Monday January 22, 2024. Applications received after this date will be considered if the position has not been filled.
+———————————
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
To unsubscribe from this list please go to https://lists.aas.org/confirm/?u=WumMgxrgIYvmfnfPIPRxfPgLc6qriC4R