Issue 25-12, June 23, 2025
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- EARLY REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN FOR THE EPSC-DPS 2025 MEETING
- TAKE ACTION NOW IN RESPONSE TO THE FY2026 PRESIDENT’S BUDGET REQUEST
- UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT OF THE FY26 PRESIDENT’S BUDGET REQUEST AND MATERIALS TO SUPPORT YOUR LOBBYING EFFORTS
- INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE COUNCIL (ISC) STATEMENT ON INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATION: VITAL YET VULNERABLE
- SOLICITING DONATIONS FOR STUDENT TRAVEL GRANTS TO THE EPSC-DPS JOINT MEETING IN FALL 2025
- SUPPORT REQUESTED FOR DPS PARTNER: THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF BLACK PHYSICISTS (NSBP)
- 2025 DPS TRAVEL GRANT APPLICATION FORM IS OPEN
- DPS COMMITTEE SEEKS APPLICANTS FOR PUBLICATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR TO BEGIN TERM IN FALL 2025
- DEPENDENT CARE GRANT APPLICATION FOR 2025 EPSC-DPS
- PROGRAM AND REGISTRATION: PROGRESS IN UNDERSTANDING THE PLUTO SYSTEM: 10 YEARS AFTER FLYBY
- NASA SMALL BODIES ASSESSMENT GROUP (SBAG) STEERING COMMITTEE SOLICITATION
- 20 YEARS OF CELEBRATION OF THE HUYGENS LANDING AND THE CASSINI MISSION’S SUCCESS
- DPS PCCS STATEMENT ON MENTAL HEALTH
- PLANETARY MISSION SENIOR REVIEW
- REGISTRATION OPEN FOR INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON INSTRUMENTATION FOR PLANETARY MISSIONS (IPM-2025)
- PLANETARY DATA TRAINING WORKSHOP, AUGUST 12-15, 2025, ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
- SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT: JUICE SCHOOL AT LES HOUCHES (FRANCE), 25-30 JANUARY 2026
- THE SOLAR SYSTEM IN CONTEXT – CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
- [AGU 2025, NEW ORLEANS, 15-19 DEC] SESSION P008 – CREATING SUSTAINABLE HABITATS AND ECOSYSTEMS BEYOND EARTH
- [AGU 2025] P049: URANUS ORBITER AND PROBE MISSION DESIGN: ADVANCES SINCE THE DECADAL SURVEY
- MERCURY LABORATORY WORKSHOP 2025: CALL FOR ABSTRACT
- CURRENT TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THE PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL AND ICARUS
- JOBS, POSITIONS, AND OPPORTUNITIES
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REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN FOR THE EPSC-DPS 2025 MEETING
Registration is now open for the EPSC-DPS Joint 2025 Meeting in Finlandia Hall Helsinki, Finland from September 7-12, 2025. Registration is required for all EPSC-DPS 2025 participants including presenting authors of submitted and accepted abstracts, session conveners, and solicited speakers. Registration fees cover access to all scientific events, as well as refreshments during the coffee breaks and networking events.
Registration at early registration rates will be possible through July 31, 2025. The early registration payment can be made by bank transfer, credit card (Mastercard, VISA, JCB or American Express), or PayPal. As of 1 August 2025, the late registration rates will be applied and payment of your registration will only be possible by credit card or PayPal.
Please use the following link to access the registration page where you can find more information about the rates and the in person or virtual registration process.
https://www.epsc-dps2025.eu/attend/registration.html
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TAKE ACTION NOW IN RESPONSE TO THE FY2026 PRESIDENT’S BUDGET REQUEST
With the details of the FY2026 President’s Budget Request (PBR) now released, grass roots advocacy is more important than ever. Proposed budgetary levels for the planetary sciences represent an existential threat to our field. If the requested budget is enacted, the U.S. will cede space exploration leadership and reliable partnership to other spacefaring nations, curtail substantial economic activity across the country, and undermine the broader U.S. workforce of students and researchers in all 50 states and territories across academic, industry, government, and nonprofit sectors. Furthermore, if the U.S. is to achieve our current aspirational objectives of returning to the Moon with human and robotic assets, putting the first human on Mars, and exploring beyond the inner solar system, we cannot afford to adopt the funding levels proposed in the PBR. During these uncertain and unprecedented times of social and economic crisis, YOU can still raise your voice and TAKE ACTION to protect NASA, NSF, and DOE planetary science funding.
Below is an example email and phone script to help craft your message when reaching out to Congressional offices. There is also space to share a “personal message” about your federally funded planetary science research and the impacts of proposed budget cuts on you personally. It is most effective to both email and call your members of Congress; however, a phone call is more likely to have an immediate impact. When you use the Call button below, the system will call the phone number you entered to connect you with all three of your members of Congress in succession, so please end each call with the star (*) button instead of the end-call button to be automatically directed to the next office.
Please email the AAS Public Policy Office ([email protected]) if you have any questions prior to reaching out to your Senators and Representatives. The AAS Public Policy Office can also provide email addresses of the relevant Congressional staffers who cover NASA, NSF, and DOE Science. The AAS DPS FRS is also available as an advocacy resource and can be reached at: [email protected]. Please note that any messages with crude or inflammatory language will not be passed on, and please be respectful during any communications with Congressional offices (messages should align with the AAS Mission and Vision Statement and AAS Code of Ethics).
Thank you for advocating for the U.S. planetary science community!
Email Message (also converted into phone call talking points):
I am reaching out to express my grave concern about the deep cuts to federal funding for the planetary sciences that are proposed in the FY2026 President’s Budget Request. As a research scientist, my work depends on consistent and stable funding of the federal science agencies, including NASA, NSF, and DOE, which is also crucial for my personal economic stability and that of my fellow Americans in individual districts and states across the country.
I urge you to not to accept the proposed funding levels for the planetary sciences in the FY2026 PBR. Stable funding for planetary science ensures that the U.S. can maintain an extensive national foundation for leadership in space exploration, which is of strategic importance to our nation, and investments in space agencies can continue to deliver scientific and technological breakthroughs that benefit our society.
If the budget cuts proposed in the PBR are enacted, American leadership in space and space exploration will be jeopardized and conceded to our global competitors. These cuts will create long-lasting setbacks to our space program and irreparably damage the reputation of the U.S. in the space exploration community. As a representative of the planetary science community, I am also troubled by the ongoing loss of crucial talent from the U.S., to other nations around the world, which we need to retain here at home to maintain leadership in science and technology.
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UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT OF THE FY26 PRESIDENT’S BUDGET REQUEST AND MATERIALS TO SUPPORT YOUR LOBBYING EFFORTS
On 30 May, NASA and the National Science Foundation (NSF) released detailed budget requests for Fiscal Year 2026, providing additional information beyond the overview given in the FY26 “skinny” President’s Budget Request (PBR). This link provides more detail for both NASA and NSF, highlighting the most significant impacts to astronomy.
The Planetary Society has produced a helpful supplement to the NASA FY23 economic report that you can use to highlight the benefits of NASA science in your state and district as you reach out to your representatives. https://dashboards.planetary.org/nasa-science.html
Lindsay DeMarchi has published a white paper entitled, “A Comprehensive Guide to the U.S. Civil Space Budget” that provides an overview of the U.S federal civil space budget between FY23 and proposed spending in FY25.
The House Science Committee Minority Staff is seeking information from scientists whose grants have been cancelled. If you would like to share information about your cancelled grants, you can do so here.
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INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE COUNCIL (ISC) STATEMENT ON INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATION: VITAL YET VULNERABLE
As global challenges grow more complex, the foundations of international scientific collaboration are increasingly under threat. In a statement issued 20 June, the International Science Council’s Governing Board underscores the urgent need to protect and strengthen global cooperation in science – essential not only for advancing knowledge and innovation, but for safeguarding the wellbeing of people and planet alike.
Science is a special form of globally shared knowledge which the world needs more than ever in addressing the challenges that all face. The international collaboration that is at its heart has been created over many decades, but is now vulnerable and fragile. Given the enormous importance of science to national and global wellbeing, the International Science Council appeals to all decision makers to ensure that the principles of science and its institutions are protected, and that international scientific cooperation is maintained and ideally strengthened.
The full statement can be found at : https://council.science/statements/international-scientific-collaboration-vital-yet-vulnerable/
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SOLICITING DONATIONS FOR STUDENT TRAVEL GRANTS TO THE EPSC-DPS JOINT MEETING IN FALL 2025
Division for Planetary Science (DPS) Hartmann Student Travel Grants support student presentations at the annual DPS meeting (postdoctoral scholars may also be eligible, but students are prioritized). Underrepresented Minority (URM) Communities in Planetary Science Travel Grants support attendance by students and professionals who are members of groups that have had inadequate access to the planetary science community, such as students and professionals hailing from colleges and non-R1 academic or research institutions that have not traditionally benefited from connections to the planetary science community, and/or students and professionals with degrees in broader STEM disciplines (e.g., chemistry, physics, engineering, mathematics) who are new to the planetary science community.
Community donations are critical to support these awards. To donate, please log in to your AAS account, and select the grant you wish to support. Thank you VERY MUCH in advance!
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SUPPORT REQUESTED FOR DPS PARTNER: THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF BLACK PHYSICISTS (NSBP)
DPS has been proud to partner with the Earth and Planetary Systems Sciences (EPSS) section of the National Society of Black Physicists (NSBP), supporting a presentation from the DPS-NSBP Speaker Awardee at the DPS annual meeting as well as travel of a few planetary scientists to the NSBP annual meeting. For the latter, DPS has generally focused on sending postdocs and early career scientists to the NSBP meeting as, historically, NSBP has been able fully support the travel for most of the students who attend the conference. However, recent cuts to funding from traditional federal partners have drastically reduced NSBP’s ability to support most of the students to attend their conference so they are soliciting for community donations; on average, the cost to cover a student’s travel and lodging is $1500. The link to donate directly to NSBP is below; alternatively, if you prefer to donate through DPS, community contributions, the DPS URM Travel Grant fund will also be used to support travel to the NSBP meeting. Donations through either path should be U.S. tax deductible. Many thanks to all who support these future planetary scientists!
To donate directly to NSBP: https://nsbp.org/page/conferencestudentsupport
To donate to the DPS URM travel grant: https://dps.aas.org/Inclusivity/support-underrepresented-minority-communities-planetary-science
For more on the DPS-NSBP partnership: https://dps.aas.org/leadership/nsbp_parnership
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2025 DPS TRAVEL GRANT APPLICATION FORM IS OPEN
The DPS Travel Grant application form is open to support participation in the joint meeting of the Europlanet Science Congress and DPS (EPSC-DPS 2025) in Helsinki, Finland 7-12 September 2025, or the National Society of Black Physicists-National Society of Hispanics Physicists annual meeting, via the Hartmann and the Under-Represented Minority (URM) Travel grants.
The Hartmann Student Travel Grant supports student presentations at the annual DPS-EPSC meeting. (Postdoctoral scholars may also be eligible, but students are prioritized.)
The Underrepresented Minority (URM) Communities in Planetary Science Travel Grant supports attendance by students and professionals who are members of groups that have had inadequate access to the planetary science community, in an effort to ensure broad engagement and access to planetary science. Applications are especially encouraged from members of group(s) whose contributions to STEM may have been overlooked, students and professionals hailing from colleges and non-R1 academic or research institutions* that have not traditionally benefited from connections to the planetary science community, and/or students and professionals with degrees in broader STEM disciplines (e.g., chemistry, physics, engineering, mathematics) who are new to the planetary science community — to support in-person or virtual attendance at the joint DPS-EPSC or joint NSBP-NSHP meetings.
* Relevant institutions include small colleges and universities, primarily undergraduate institutions, and minority serving institutions (MSIs), including but not limited to Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Native American-Serving Non-Tribal Institutions, and Tribal Colleges and Universities.“
Apply here to both/either type of DPS grant: https://dps.aas.org/news/dps-travel-grants-application/ The deadline is July 3.
Note: Members of Europlanet should apply for Europlanet awards through the abstract submission form.
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DPS COMMITTEE SEEKS APPLICANTS FOR PUBLICATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR TO BEGIN TERM IN FALL 2025
The Publications Subcommittee Chair will serve a three-year term starting with the EPSC-DPS meeting in September 2025. The Publications Subcommittee is responsible for managing the relationship between DPS and its designated publications, Icarus and the Planetary Science Journal, and also stays aware of issues in planetary science publications more generally. The Publications Subcommittee regularly reviews the publication policies of journals that the DPS endorses and supports.
If you’re interested, please send a CV and a brief statement of interest to [email protected]
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DEPENDENT CARE GRANT APPLICATION FOR 2025 EPSC-DPS
The DPS’s Susan Niebur Professional Development Fund provides financial assistance to qualifying DPS members in order to facilitate their meeting attendance by offsetting costs for childcare, elder care, spousal care, etc. at the meeting location or at home during DPS conferences. We are now accepting applications for the EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2025 in Helsinki, Finland. First Deadline: Tuesday, August 5, 2025. Review of submissions will begin on the first deadline; further requests will be accepted and reviewed, funding and eligibility permitting. For more information and to apply for the grant, visit: https://dps.aas.org/development/dps-dependent-care-grant-application
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PROGRAM AND REGISTRATION: PROGRESS IN UNDERSTANDING THE PLUTO SYSTEM: 10 YEARS AFTER FLYBY
The Progress in Understanding the Pluto System: 10 Years After Flyby meeting is scheduled for July 14–18, 2025, at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU APL), in Laurel, Maryland, with virtual participation available (https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/plutosystem2025/).
Detailed information about the program is available by viewing the program and abstracts. Authors should review the author index for abstracts accepted for presentation to see where they have been scheduled. If authors’ names in the index need to be updated, email [email protected]. Authors should also review all presenter information for oral and/or poster presentations.
In-person and virtual registration is open on the relevant page at the meeting website. Before the meeting, all registrants will receive an email from Houston Meeting Info with virtual connection information.
Optional events are available for meeting attendees.
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NASA SMALL BODIES ASSESSMENT GROUP (SBAG) STEERING COMMITTEE SOLICITATION
SBAG facilitates and mediates the relationship between the small bodies and planetary defense science and technology communities; identifies, collects, and represents the priorities of these communities; and acts as a bridge between the small bodies community and NASA. SBAG is led by its Steering Committee (SC). Historically, the SC organizes two SBAG meetings per year, writes official SBAG findings, and takes a leadership role in activities requiring community input.
The SBAG SC is currently soliciting two new general members and a Planetary Defense Lead. Members of the small bodies community from any career stage, including international members, are welcome to apply. The nominal term of service is three years, starting in August 2025.
All applications require: 1) a two-page CV, including a description of participation in SBAG, other small bodies organizations, or related work, and 2) a short (300 words maximum) statement of interest. Criteria for selection are participation in small bodies community organizations/commissions/committees/etc., demonstrated leadership experience, and relevant research or mission experience.
Additionally, the Planetary Defense Lead serves as the lead representative for the interface between small bodies science and planetary defense activities and leads SC activities related to the joint concerns of these topics. The application should (i) meet the requirements of the general member application, (ii) indicate a preference for the Planetary Defense Lead position, and (iii) include relevant planetary defense experience.
Send application packages to Lori Feaga ([email protected]) by July 11, 2025, 8:00 PM EDT. The new SC members will be announced in August.
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20 YEARS OF CELEBRATION OF THE HUYGENS LANDING AND THE CASSINI MISSION’S SUCCESS
PLEASE JOIN US !
20 years celebration of the Huygens landing and the Cassini mission’s success
16-18 September 2025, Paris Observatory, France
RATIONALE :
Twenty years ago, on 14 January 2005, the Huygens probe, carried into the Saturnian system by the Cassini probe, landed on the surface of Titan, its largest satellite, after a 2.5-hour parachute descent. Launched in 1997, after 7.5 years of interplanetary travel, the Cassini-Huygens space mission delivered 13 years of exploration of an extremely complex planet-satellites-ring system with unique dynamic processes and couplings. Huygens demonstrates the exceptional capabilities of the European Space Agency and European laboratories in the exploration of the solar system, in association with many partners around the world. The results of this mission are numerous, rich and continue to provide us with new information to this day.
We propose to take advantage of the 20th anniversary of the Huygens landing to look back on this remarkable event, which marked the history of space exploration, review the information obtained during this exceptional exploration and discuss the future projects of space agencies at the dawn of programs such as ESA’s Voyage 2050 or NASA’s Decadal Survey (Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey 2023-2032). During this three-day symposium, we will discuss the origins and discoveries of this international mission (ESA, NASA, ASI) in terms of science and technological processes, but we also look to the future with the increasingly ambitious programs of the space agencies, for a return to Titan and also to Enceladus, Saturn’s other satellite with extraordinary characteristics.
Indeed, in the decades to come, our knowledge, not only of Titan (thanks to the Dragonfly mission which will be launched in 2028), but also of the other satellites and of icy worlds in general, in particular Enceladus, the preferred target of future flagship missions (NASA’s “Flagship” or ESA’s L4), will be manifold. The same is true for the Saturnian system and our solar system in general. Cassini-Huygens is still cited today as an example of a successful international collaboration by space agencies and experts, who praise its scientific merit and the inspiration it provides for future generations. It can act as a bridge to the future and its legacy will certainly ensure a scientific return of great importance for generations to come.
You can find more information and register or submit an abstract at this web site:
https://huygens20.sciencesconf.org
For the SOC : Athena Coustenis, Marcello Fulchignoni, Jean-Pierre Lebreton, Panayotis Lavvas
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DPS PCCS STATEMENT ON MENTAL HEALTH
Accomplishing NASA’s science objectives is currently being challenged by rapidly changing federal priorities. Significant changes have been proposed for the next fiscal year’s federal budget, and the delay of the Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 2025 call has created immense funding uncertainty for our community of planetary scientists. Additionally, varied interpretations of U.S. Executive Orders have resulted in situations where certain types of work remain unfunded and/or censored.
The present workplace climate adds to the already high stresses of our vocation, which often calls upon us to work long hours and commit to volunteer efforts to advance our understanding of the solar system. This heightened stress comes about against a backdrop of broader societal and political unrest and fears. As a result of these ongoing events, many members of our community are understandably feeling anxious or stressed.
The DPS Professional Climate and Culture Subcommittee (PCCS) encourages everyone to take a moment, whenever possible, to acknowledge that times are overwhelmingly difficult right now. We urge you to consider ways to be extra kind to yourselves and to others. Pausing when things feel difficult and overwhelming can put them in perspective. Many institutions offer mental health support services, and we encourage the members of our community to utilize any resources they may need.
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PLANETARY MISSION SENIOR REVIEW
As required by Congress, the Planetary Mission Senior Review (PMSR) was conducted by NASA’s Planetary Science Division (PSD) in early 2025 to evaluate proposals requesting extended operations in FY26 through FY28 for: Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), Mars Odyssey (ODY), Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), Mars Science Laboratory (MSL), Mars
Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN), and Juno. A Final Report of all reviewed missions, written by the Review Chairs, was delivered to NASA PSD on March 26, 2025. The Final Report has been posted publicly at:
https://science.nasa.gov/planetary-science/resources/senior-review
While the senior review is an important factor in NASA decisions on the future of these missions, these decisions are currently deferred until further notice.
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REGISTRATION OPEN FOR INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON INSTRUMENTATION FOR
PLANETARY MISSIONS (IPM-2025)
Registration is now open for the sixth International Workshop on Instrumentation for Planetary Missions (IPM-2025), which will be held in Boulder, Colorado on August 4 – 6, 2025. This workshop will convene scientists, engineers, students and other stakeholders who develop or
use instrumentation onboard planetary missions to discuss key planetary science questions and the technology that is required to address these questions.
The in-person registration fee is $225, and the deadline for in-person registration is July 10. Remote registration is free and the deadline for remote registration is July 25, 2025.
IPM-2025 website: https://lasp.colorado.edu/meetings/ipm-2025/
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PLANETARY DATA TRAINING WORKSHOP, AUGUST 12-15, 2025, ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
This in-person only workshop is designed to provide an introduction into using planetary spatial data in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software, with a focus on studies of terrestrial planets and icy satellite surface research. The workshop will include a combination of lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on exercises with the software. Computer work stations will be provided by ASU, or you may bring your own laptop. Topics will include: JMARS (Day 1), ArcGIS Pro (Day 2), ISIS3 for image processing (Day 3 morning), Planetary Data Management and an introduction to NASA’s Planetary Data System (Day 3 afternoon), and an introduction to planetary geologic mapping (Day 4, hands-on). The instructors of each of these activities are experts in their respective fields, some of which were staff of the former NASA Regional Planetary Information Facilities (RPIFs), and have years of experience in the use of digital planetary data for research.
This workshop is offered by the Planetary Data Training program, funded through NASA’s Topical Workshops, Symposia, and Conferences (TWSC), and is facilitated by the Ronald Greeley Center for Planetary Studies, School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona.
Two $2000 travel grants are offered to promote workforce enhancement in planetary science and STEM. These are for domestic travel only by US citizens or foreign nationals at US institutions. Applications due June 30, 2025.
For the Registration form, Travel Grant application, and more information, visit: https://rgcps.asu.edu/gis-pdtw-aug-2025/
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SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT: JUICE SCHOOL AT LES HOUCHES (FRANCE), 25-30 JANUARY 2026
This school is targeted (but not limited) to early career scientists. It will cover the main science topics of the JUICE mission with the goal to best prepare the future exploitation and interpretation of its data. Key topics include Jupiter, its atmosphere and magnetosphere, the
icy Galilean moons (with an emphasis on Ganymede), minor moons and the dust and ring system. Ground- and space-based observations recently obtained on the Jupiter system, as well as links with exoplanet science, will also be presented. The format of the school includes tutorials, seminar-like presentations, inspirational evening talks, a poster session, a workshop on science planning and archive, and a roundtable on future missions to outer planets.
Deadline for registration and request for grants: 15 August 2025
For more information, please visit: https://tinyurl.com/2sw74252
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THE SOLAR SYSTEM IN CONTEXT – CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
We are happy to announce the 2025 NOIRLab Science Conference: The Solar System in Context, which will take place on 29 September – 2 October in Tucson, Arizona. The conference will be focused on the interdisciplinarity of the formation and evolution of the Solar System, exoplanetary systems, and their stars.
Main topics include: disks; stellar evolution; planet-star connections; (exo)planets; planetary demographics; habitability; planet formation, migration, & evolution; rocky small bodies & (exo)moons; active asteroids & (exo)comets; interstellar objects; instrumentation & software tools, and more.
We welcome abstracts submitted using the abstract submission form or through the conference website: https://noirlab.edu/solar-system-in-context. The deadline for submitting abstracts is 11 July 2025.
Important Dates:
21 May – Abstract Submission Opens
2 June – Registration Opens (in-person and virtual options)
11 July – Abstract Submission Closes
15 September – Registration Deadline
Contact: [email protected]
Please join us as we deepen our understanding of the formation and evolution of planetary systems and broaden our perspectives on the context of our Solar System.
Sarah Greenstreet (on behalf of the SOC and LOC)
The Solar System in Context (https://noirlab.edu/solar-system-in-context)
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[AGU 2025, NEW ORLEANS, 15-19 DEC] SESSION P008 – CREATING SUSTAINABLE HABITATS AND ECOSYSTEMS BEYOND EARTH
If we decide in the future to create sustainable habitats and ecosystems beyond Earth, then science will have a critical role to play. As the cost of access to space continues to fall, a fresh look at the research agenda for this topic is timely. We encourage contributions on all aspects of both local and global terraforming, including planetary atmospheres, climate modeling and climate feedbacks, monitoring of climate change beyond Earth, spacecraft data analysis, hydrology, soil/regolith composition and suitability (or otherwise) for life, biogeochemistry, in-situ resource utilization, oxygen production, ecology, and space physics and space environment
monitoring, as well as the exploration and distribution of terraforming-relevant resources. Submissions on technologies and techniques that support terraforming goals are also encouraged.
To submit an abstract, please visit:
https://agu.confex.com/agu/agu25/prelim.cgi/Session/248293
Conveners: Edwin Kite, Robin Wordsworth, Nina Lanza, and Chuanfei Dong
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[AGU 2025] P049: URANUS ORBITER AND PROBE MISSION DESIGN: ADVANCES SINCE THE DECADAL SURVEY
The Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey recommended the Uranus Orbiter and Probe as the top priority Flagship for the decade 2023-2032. We invite contributions on updated mission design concepts; trajectory work; mission architecture trades, challenges, and solutions that enable robust exploration of the Uranian system; and innovative, but feasible, concepts that enhance the science return of the mission. We encourage submissions to include how cross-disciplinary science synergies are enabled by the updated work (e.g., cruise science), but discussions of specific instrumentation or science priorities do not fall under the purview of this session.
https:// https://agu.confex.com/agu/agu25/prelim.cgi/Session/246909
Conveners: Amy Simon, Ian Cohen, Mark Hofstadter
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MERCURY LABORATORY WORKSHOP 2025: CALL FOR ABSTRACT
The abstract submission for the Mercury Laboratory Workshop 2025 is now open: https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/bepicolombo-mercury-lab-workshop/abstract-submission
The Mercury Laboratory Workshop 2025 is hosted by the University of Helsinki, Finland on 15-17 September, 2025. The aim of the workshop is to discuss the laboratory experiments available and/or desiderable worldwide relevant to Mercury and to connect laboratory researchers working on related Mercury research.
The abstract submission deadline is July 15th at 11 pm (CEST) and the registration is open until August 23rd.
In addition, we are pleased to inform you that the ESA Education Office sponsors the attendance of up to 4 students to attend the Mercury Laboratory Workshop 2025. To apply please follow the instructions here: COSMOS Student Sponsorship Programme – BepiColombo Mercury Lab Workshop
For more information about the workshop, please visit our website: https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/bepicolombo-mercury-lab-workshop/home
For any questions please contact: Antti Penttilä ([email protected]), Mikko Vuori ([email protected]) and Océane Barraud ([email protected]).
We look forward to welcoming you to Helsinki!
Océane Barraud, Antti Penttilä and Mikko Vuori
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CURRENT TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THE PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL AND ICARUS
The current issues for both DPS-affiliated journals are here:
The Planetary Science Journal:
Issue 6 – Volume 6 – The Planetary Science Journal – IOPscience
Icarus:
Icarus | Vol 433, In progress (June 2025) | ScienceDirect.com by Elsevier
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JOBS, POSITIONS, AND OPPORTUNITIES
Job seekers and employers are encouraged to browse DPS’s job listings and advertise open positions **for free** on the DPS job board.
Full details for several new positions can be found on the DPS job board.
A summary of recent job announcements and postdoc opportunities are listed below.
- Graduate Student / Researcher Position in Asteroid Science at TU Braunschweig (Germany)
The Institute of Geophysics and Extraterrestrial Physics at the TU Braunschweig is seeking to fill a three-year researcher position (100% FTE, suitable to work towards obtaining a PhD degree) in asteroid science. Details of the position can be found here:
- Post-doc Opportunity at Washington University in St. Louis
The Experimental Studies of Planetary Materials group at Washington University, St. Louis is asking for help identifying potential candidates for a postdoctoral position.
Our lab investigates the rheology and physical properties of Earth and planetary materials through laboratory experiments and microstructural analysis. Broadly, we seek to understand the dynamics of Earth’s interior and other planetary bodies, with particular emphasis on the
processes that govern plate tectonics, lithosphere dynamics, mantle convection, and deformation across multiple scales.
I am eager to work with scholars from a variety of backgrounds, including those with limited experimental experience. This postdoc would be a great opportunity for someone with a recent PhD in planetary geology or planetary interiors, who would like to diversify their skill set before entering the faculty job market.
Please feel free to share this opportunity with any students or colleagues who may be interested.
Philip Skemer ([email protected])
- Post-doc Position at University of Central Florida
The McKeown Group in the University of Central Florida (UCF) Department of Physics in the College of Sciences seeks to hire a Postdoctoral Scholar to help set up the new FROSTIE lab, aimed at investigating icy planetary surface processes under simulated planetary conditions. The postdoctoral scholar will have the opportunity to research icy geomorphological signatures of seasonal processes on Mars and transient liquid water activity relevant for icy airless worlds. The successful candidate will lead design, integration and testing of cryo-vacuum regulation and data acquisition systems. Experience working with cryogenic thermal-vacuum systems is necessary. The scholar’s technical expertise will be integral to the successful completion of cutting-edge experiments investigating the roles of ice sublimation and endogenic liquid water activity in modifying the surfaces of Mars, Europa and small bodies. The scholar would begin the position as soon as possible and serve for 24 months, extendable upon the availability of funds and mutual agreement of the scholar and the supervisor.
- Purdue Hiring For Electron Microprobe Staff Scientist
Purdue University is seeking candidates for a Staff Scientist position to operate and maintain the JXA-iHP200F FE-EPMA laboratory and other relevant electron microscopy instrumentation. The successful candidate will provide technical training to researchers, students, and external collaborators, and support cutting-edge research in Earth, planetary, and synthetic materials. The Staff Scientist will join a multidisciplinary team at Purdue’s Electron Microscopy Center (PEMC), including Research Assistants and Staff Scientists with a wide array of
expertise. This role will include providing expert consultation and research support for consortium-style and highly coordinated investigations conducted as part of the newly established NASA Planetary Science Enabling Facility: Purdue Resources Empowering
Coordinated Investigations for Sample Exploration (PRECISE). Here the successful candidate will professionally liaise with external collaborators to strengthen academic, industry, and government partnerships. Additional details can be found on the application page at:
https://careers.purdue.edu/job/Staff-Scientist/37380-en_US
- Postdoc Position in ML Supported Cloud Formation Modelling
The successful candidate will be part of Prof Christiane Helling’s research group “Exoplanets: Weather & Climate” at the Space Research Institute in Graz. The project is conducted in collaboration with Prof. Robert Peharz from the Graz University of Technology.
In this project, we are interested in understanding cloud formation in exoplanets and specifically the formation of molecular cluster as precursors of cloud formation in the diversity of exoplanets. We aim to explore advanced neural network architectures, particularly Graph
Neural Networks (GNNs) and generative models, to predict the 3D structures and thermo-chemical properties of large molecular clusters-tasks that are computationally prohibitive using traditional methods like Density functional theory (DFT) and molecular dynamics. Our modelling efforts support JWST and CHEOPS in physically interpreting observational data. We further contribute to science case studies and science preparation for PLATO, the high-energy space mission NewATHENA as well as HWO.
Which domain competence are we looking for:
- Astrochemistry (including carbo-hydrates),
- Cloud formation modelling (including the Solar System, exoplanets, brown dwarfs, AGB stars),
- Computational chemistry (including molecular cluster simulations), or
- Theoretical physics (quantum chemistry, material sciences).
Further information can be found here:
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