DPS Newsletter 25-16

Issue 25-16, Jul 23, 2025

+————————————CONTENTS—————————————-+

  1. EARLY REGISTRATION ENDING SOON FOR THE EPSC-DPS 2025 MEETING
  1. EPSC-DPS WOMEN IN PLANETARY SCIENCE LUNCH – SAVE THE DATE
  1. OPEN MIC NIGHT AT THE 2025 EPSC-DPS MEETING
  1. MENTORING AT EPSC-DPS 2025
  1. DEPENDENT CARE GRANT APPLICATION FOR 2025 EPSC-DPS
  1. AN UPDATE ON RECENT AAS ADVOCACY BY THE DPS LIAISON TO CAPP
  1. SUGGESTED ADVOCACY ACTIONS FROM AAS
  1. ROSES ROLL OUT WEBINAR FOR PLANETARY SCIENCE DIVISION JULY 29
  1. CALL FOR DONATIONS IN SUPPORT OF DPS STUDENT TRAVEL GRANTS
  1. SUPPORT REQUESTED FOR DPS PARTNER: THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF BLACK PHYSICISTS (NSBP)
  1. DPS COMMITTEE SEEKS APPLICANTS FOR PUBLICATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR TO BEGIN TERM IN FALL 2025
  1. SUBMIT LUNAR EXPLORATION ABSTRACTS TO THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA (GSA) CONNECTS 2025 MEETING
  1. EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE LEADERSHIP: A NEW WORKSHOP ON STRATEGIES FOR UNLOCKING INDIVIDUAL POTENTIAL
  1. SAVE-THE-DATE: ORIGINS 2026 JULY 5-10, PARIS
  1. JOVIAN ICY MOONS WORKSHOP: ABSTRACT SUBMISSION & TRAVEL GRANT DEADLINE
  1. 5TH MedGU, 10–13 NOVEMBER 2025, ATHENS, GREECE
  1. [AGU 2025, NEW ORLEANS, 15-19 DEC] SESSION P044 – TITAN AT EQUINOX: SEASONAL CHANGES ON AN OCEAN WORLD
  1. CALL FOR ABSTRACTS – AGU 2025 SESSION ON VOLATILES AND PLANETARY HABITABILITY
  1. AGU SESSION: THE NEXUS FOR EXOPLANET SYSTEM SCIENCE (NExSS) – BUILDING A COMMUNITY FOR INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH ACROSS NASA SCIENCE DIVISIONS (SESSION NUMBER P042)
  1. AGU 2025 SPECIAL SESSION: AERIAL EXPLORATION OF MARS
  1. CALL FOR ABSTRACTS – AGU 2025 SESSION P045 – TITAN: ATMOSPHERE, IONOSPHERE, SPACE ENVIRONMENT AND THEIR INTERACTIONS
  1. AGU SESSION P006: CLOSE ENCOUNTERS IN THE EARTH-MOON SYSTEM: APOPHIS, 2024 YR4, AND THE FUTURE OF PLANETARY DEFENSE
  1. AGU SESSION P025 – PLANETARY ANALOG FIELD WORK TO SUPPORT AND ENABLE CREWED AND ROBOTIC EXPLORATION OF OUR SOLAR SYSTEM
  1. AGU SESSION P035 – SMALL SOLAR SYSTEM BODIES: SAMPLE RETURNS, JWST, GROUND-BASED ASTRONOMY AND MORE
  1. AGU 2025 SESSION P010 – ENCELADUS: AN OCEAN WORLD ODYSSEY
  1. AGU 2025 SESSION NH029 – LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN PLANETARY DEFENSE
  1. CURRENT TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THE PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL AND ICARUS
  1. JOBS, POSITIONS, AND OPPORTUNITIES

+——————————————————————————————–+

1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1——-

EARLY REGISTRATION ENDING SOON FOR THE EPSC-DPS 2025 MEETING

Early registration for the EPSC-DPS Joint 2025 Meeting in Finlandia Hall, Helsinki, Finland will close on July 31, 2025 at 5:59 pm ET.  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. Bank transfer payments of registrations will not be possible in case of registering after 31 July 2025, 5:59 pm ET. Please consider that a registration at the early registration rate requires the payment of the registration amount within the deadline indicated on the invoice (14 days after receipt of invoice). Unpaid early registrations after the payment deadline will be cancelled and the late registration rates will be applied.

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

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.

2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2——-

EPSC-DPS WOMEN IN PLANETARY SCIENCE LUNCH – SAVE THE DATE

The DPS will be hosting the Women in Planetary Science Lunch at the EPSC-DPS meeting in the Saturn room of Finlandia Hall on Thursday September 11 at 12:30 pm. Bagged lunches and drinks will be provided. Additional details about the event will be sent in future DPS newsletters.

3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3——-

OPEN MIC NIGHT AT THE 2025 EPSC-DPS MEETING

We will be holding the 2025 EPSC/DPS open mic night on Tuesday Sept 9 at a bar called Storyville, across the street from Finlandia Hall. The exact start time is TBD, but will be late evening. Storyville serves food and drinks and will be open prior to the event. Entry is free.

Any registered DPS attendee is welcome to sign up to perform. We typically have musical acts, poetry, spoken word, etc., so don’t be shy. You can either email Joe Spitale ([email protected]) ahead of time to reserve a slot, or you can sign up during the show for a five-minute walk-on slot, subject to availability. To reserve a slot, send the following information by Sept 2 to [email protected]

  • Name of act, if any
  • Names of participant(s)
  • Description of act (e.g., music w/ singing, opera, aerial acrobatics, Romanian bagpipes, extended bongo solo, etc.)
  • Contact email address
  • Requested duration
  • Requested equipment
  • Any equipment you are willing to share

Regarding sharing equipment, please do not feel in any way pressured or obligated to share any of your personal equipment if you are not comfortable doing so.

Please note that we won’t be able to let you know how much time we can actually give you until after the sign-ups close, but we’ll do our best to get everyone in!

We look forward to seeing you there!

4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4——-

MENTORING AT EPSC-DPS 2025

The Europlanet Early Career (EPEC) network invites you to participate in the 7th edition of the Mentoring@EPSC program. The mentoring will provide one-on-one meetings between students, PhD candidates, postdocs, and established researchers for informal conversation and

exchange of experiences. All of this with the goal of offering early-career scientists a better experience at EPSC 2025 and a unique networking opportunity! Information about the program can be found here – https://www.europlanet.org/early-careers-network/epec-epsc-dps-2025-helsinki/.

If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].

Prospective mentors should fill out this form – https://forms.gle/RVpwZ6qNo3LhWwEq8. Prospective mentees should fill out this form – https://forms.gle/sX6JAzdBxoiRuBcp8. 

The deadline for sign-up is Aug 15.

5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5——-

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

6———6———6———6———6———6———6———6———

AN UPDATE ON RECENT AAS ADVOCACY BY THE DPS LIAISON TO CAPP

Most AAS/DPS members are aware of the great work that the DPS Committee and the Federal Relations Subcommittee (FRS) have done and are doing in terms of advocacy during the present time of extreme political challenges. The DPS FRS subcommittee is made up of volunteers and led by FRS Officer Dr. Angela Dapremont (https://dps.aas.org/leadership/frs).  Moreover, the AAS office and leadership also has several folks on staff working hard on policy topics (Bahcall Fellow Colin Hamill, Dep. Director of Policy Roohi Dahl, and Joel Parriott in his role as Director of External Affairs and Public Policy), as you read about periodically in AAS and DPS newsletters.  But did you know that the AAS has another volunteer group at the top level?  It is called the Committee on Astronomy and Public Policy (CAPP).  https://aas.org/comms/committee-astronomy-and-public-policy-capp

I’ve served as the DPS Liaison to CAPP in the past few years, starting after my time as FRS Officer/Chair.  Other planetary folks such as Dr. Britney Schmidt (and previously Dr. Makenzie Lystrup) have been appointed to CAPP by the AAS President. The Solar Physics Division (SPD) similarly has a liaison to CAPP.  We’ve been quite busy in service to our community and here is a brief summary of recent advocacy activities beyond what you’ve likely already read about in the newsletters and calls for action (e.g., https://aas.org/action-alert-protecting-astronomical-programs-fiscal-year-2026 and “timeline” of public policy updates):

  • Outside Witness Testimony to the Senate CJS subcommittee regarding FY26 Appropriations.
  • Our group advises the AAS President (currently Dr. Dara Norman) while deliberating a variety of topics beyond NASA funding, including NSF and their large facilities, FCC-related radio spectrum threats, light-pollution from satellite constellations, and more.
  • Representatives from CAPP join the annual AAS Congressional Visits Day (CVD) groups, which always includes representation by DPS folks.
  • AAS recently joined several professional societies in submitting Amicus Brief Nos. 25-1677, 25-2637 regarding the suit filed against the office of personnel in response to copious terminations at federal science agencies (Am. Fed’n of Gov’t Employees, AFL-CIO v. United States Office of Personnel Mgmt., 25-1677, (9th Cir.), March 13, 2025).
  • We review, edit, and comment on numerous such co-signed letters to Congress, OMB, etc., usually in collaboration with the American Physical Society, the Coalition for Aerospace and Science, AGU, Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF), Energy Sciences Coalition (ESC), and increasingly with the Planetary Society.
  • Good examples of CAPP’s involvement include helping with the letter to Congress that our AAS Policy Team sent in support of NASA Science in late April. In late May, we also authored a letter to Congress (co-signed by over 50 other organizations) in support of NSF, where we voiced concern over the reorganization plans and urged Congress to exercise their oversight authority.

By working together across professional societies our voices are amplified inside the government with these formal letters.  I share this bit of information about AAS/CAPP to encourage your continued support of AAS/DPS and to go ahead and participate in the present and future action alerts (if you haven’t already): https://aas.org/planetary-action-alert.  Continue to speak up in social media as well.  Contact the DPS/FRS Officer if interested in joining the FRS.  We make a difference by standing together. 

Contact Kurt Retherford at [email protected],Angela Dapremont ([email protected]) and AAS Bahcall Fellow (and former FRS member) Colin Hamill [email protected] with further questions or ideas.

Dr. Kurt D. Retherford

AAS CAPP – DPS Liaison

Federal Relations Subcommittee member

[email protected]

7———7———7———7———7———7———7———7———7——-

SUGGESTED ADVOCACY ACTIONS FROM AAS

There are many ways to make your voice heard in support of scientific funding and programs. From sending a quick email to holding an in-person meeting with your representatives and/or staff, every action counts. The following webpage from the AAS provides ideas and tools to assist you in your advocacy efforts:  https://aas.org/advocacy/suggested-advocacy-actions

Recent reports indicate that the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is directing NASA, NSF, and other science agencies to prepare to operate at the deeply cut levels in the President’s Budget Request for FY2026.  If ultimately implemented during a FY2026 Continuing Resolution (CR), the agencies would execute a budget plan at levels dramatically lower than FY2025 CR levels without regard for the CR appropriation that Congress ultimately provides.  We need to act now to protect our scientific agencies from premature and wasteful project cancellations.  You can learn more about this action alert at the following website.

https://aas.org/action-alert-protecting-astronomical-programs-fiscal-year-2026

During August, Congress will be taking a month-long recess.  This is a great time to set up in-district meetings with your members of Congress and/or their staff to talk about the importance of science funding.  Please reach out to [email protected] if there is anything we can do to help facilitate your advocacy.

8———8———8———8———8———8———8———8———8——-

ROSES ROLL OUT WEBINAR FOR PLANETARY SCIENCE DIVISION JULY 29

On July 29, 2025, at 12:30 PM Eastern Time, NASA’s Planetary Science Division (PSD) Research and Analysis (R&A) Programs will host a webinar to discuss the recently released Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Science (ROSES) relevant to the Planetary Science Community.

NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD) announced the release of its annual omnibus solicitation for basic and applied research, ROSES-2025 as NNH25ZDA001N on July 10, 2025, at https://solicitation.nasaprs.com/ROSES2025. This webinar is an opportunity for the PSD to discuss program elements available for the planetary science community to propose to.

In advance of and during the webinar, questions may be submitted and upvoted on at:  

https://nasa.cnf.io/sessions/ss4t/#!/dashboard

Questions regarding this announcement may be directed to Dr. Kathleen Vander Kaaden, Director of Planetary Research Programs, at [email protected].

9———9———9———9———9——–9———9———9———9——-

CALL FOR DONATIONS IN SUPPORT OF  DPS STUDENT TRAVEL GRANTS

During these challenging times, many students are losing access to their funding and are unable to travel to professional meetings to present their research.  The Division for Planetary Science (DPS) Hartmann Student Travel Grant and Underrepresented Minorities (URM) Travel Grant exist to support student presentations at the annual DPS meeting. The need this year has been very great, and our ability to help the applicants was limited by the amount of money available in the Hartmann and URM grant funds.  

Community donations are critical for the health of these awards and our ability to fund students. Each fund functions as an endowment. Please consider making a donation today. Give by logging into your AAS account through this link and submitting a donation to either the Hartmann Student Travel Grants or the URM Travel Grants.

10———10———10———10———10———10———10———10———10——-

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 partners have drastically reduced NSBP’s ability to support most of the students to attend their conference so they are soliciting 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 to 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

11———11———11———11———11———11———11———11———

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]

12———12———12———12———12———12———12———12———

SUBMIT LUNAR EXPLORATION ABSTRACTS TO THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA (GSA) CONNECTS 2025 MEETING

The GSA Connects 2025 meeting will be hosted in San Antonio, TX on 19–22 October 2025. One of the three themes for this meeting is “From Earth to the Cosmos: Geoscience Beyond Our Planet”. We encourage those with active scientific studies of the Moon, involvement in lunar missions, and those developing goals, concepts, or instrumentation for future lunar exploration to submit abstracts to the GSA session: T168. Lunar Science and Exploration in the Artemis Era.

For questions about this session, email Tracy Becker ([email protected]) or Akbar Whizin ([email protected]).

13———13———13———13———13———13———13———13———

EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE LEADERSHIP: A NEW WORKSHOP ON STRATEGIES FOR UNLOCKING INDIVIDUAL POTENTIAL

August 18-20, 2025, 4 hours daily, 11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm EST (entirely virtual)

We invite planetary scientists to join us for our reinvigorated workshop.  We offer best-practices to meet current challenges while uplifting potential in ourselves and that of our professional partners.  If you are seeking expanded approaches to engage with colleagues, groups, teams, committees, etc. with understanding and ethics, this is your workshop.  The content also includes specific strategies to meet present challenges, including additional resources, staying motivated, and avoiding burnout.  Participants at all career stages and experience levels are welcome, as well as those who have previously attended past workshops.  This offering (~25 people or less, to encourage interaction) provides the basic tools needed to enact positive change in personal and professional spheres.  Entirely on-line. Visit website (below) for more details and to fill out the indication of interest form.

“Well organized and well-facilitated, great breadth and depth of topics, and good novel interactive components as well. The content was expertly curated and extremely well presented …” Participant, Nov. 2022

Facilitators:  Drs. Julie Rathbun (she/her/hers) and JA Grier (ee/em/eir)

Website: https://workforce.psi.edu/leadership/

14———14———14———14———14———14———14———14———

SAVE-THE-DATE: ORIGINS 2026 JULY 5-10, PARIS

We are pleased to announce Origins 2026, jointly organized by the International Society for the Study of the Origins of Life – The International Astrobiology Society (ISSOL) and the Astrobiology Commission of the International Astronomical Union (IAU). The meeting will take place from 5 to 10 July 2026 in Paris, France.

This event will bring together experts from diverse fields, including chemistry, biology, planetary science, and astrophysics, to explore the origins of life and habitability on Earth and beyond. Hosted at the prestigious Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle and Sorbonne University, the conference will highlight interdisciplinary research on the transition from non-living to living systems, focusing on early Earth environments, evolutionary processes, and the search for biosignatures in the universe.

The program will feature the latest discoveries in prebiotic chemistry, the evolution of early life, and habitability across the Solar System and exoplanets, as well as philosophical and historical perspectives. Special emphasis will be placed on the contributions of early-career researchers. This landmark event aims to strengthen international collaborations and advance our understanding of the emergence of life. 

Registration and abstract submission will open in October 2025, but you can already sign up here (https://forms.gle/5MQj1RroTqD5hrMX8) to receive up-to-date information.

15———15———15———15———15———15———15———15———

JOVIAN ICY MOONS WORKSHOP: ABSTRACT SUBMISSION & TRAVEL GRANT DEADLINE

This is a friendly reminder that the deadline for abstract submissions and travel grant applications for the Jovian Icy Moons Workshop is approaching: July 28, 2025 at 23:59 CET.

The workshop will take place from November 3-7, 2025, at ESA/ESAC in Madrid, Spain, and will bring together researchers to explore the surface-environment interactions of Jupiter’s icy moons.

We are also thrilled to welcome a distinguished lineup of invited speakers, including:

– Scott Bolton (Southwest Research Institute)

– Oliver King (University of Leicester)

– Haje Korth (Johns Hopkins University)

– Alice Lucchetti (INAF – Astronomical Observatory of Padova)

– Tom Nordheim (Johns Hopkins University)

– Fuminori Tsuchiya (Tohoku University)

– Claire Vallat (ESA/ESAC)

– Audrey Vorburger (University of Bern)

– Zhonghua Yao (University of Hong Kong)

Submit your abstract: https://tinyurl.com/mrr9wcba

Apply for a travel grant (early-career researchers): https://tinyurl.com/5n7f2mw5

Register for the workshop (open until October 6, 2025): https://tinyurl.com/ytdkbdp4

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us:

We look forward to your contributions and to welcoming you to the workshop!

16———16———16———16———16———16———16———16———

5TH MedGU, 10–13 NOVEMBER 2025, ATHENS, GREECE

The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens in Greece will host the 2025 MedGU Annual Meeting.You are invited to participate and share your most recent research contributions.

Abstract submission deadline: 25 August 2025

Website: MedGU 2025

Scopus-indexed Proceedings: MedGU | SpringerLink

MedGU 2024 YouTube: MedGU-2024 YouTube

17———17———17———17———17———17———17———17———

[AGU 2025, NEW ORLEANS, 15-19 DEC] SESSION P044 – TITAN AT EQUINOX: SEASONAL CHANGES ON AN OCEAN WORLD

On May 6th 2025 the Saturn system passed through Northern Fall Equinox, and the peak sunlight moved from Titan’s northern to southern hemisphere. Thus commenced a period of expected upheaval and change, when Titan’s atmospheric circulation will slowly begin to reverse direction and may be accompanied by intense methane rainstorms as seen soon after the last equinoctial passage in 2009. This year also marks another major milestone: the 20th year since the Huygens landing on Titan and the return to Earth of its incredible in situ dataset. This topical Titan session solicits novel presentations on all aspects of Titan science, including recent observations, new modeling and laboratory work, and related analog and field work.

To submit an abstract, please visit: https://agu.confex.com/agu/agu25/prelim.cgi/Session/248910

Conveners: Conor Nixon, Kathleen Mandt, Kendra Farnsworth, Samuel Birch

18———18———18———18———18———18———18———18———

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS – AGU 2025 SESSION ON VOLATILES AND PLANETARY HABITABILITY

We invite submissions to our AGU 2025 session: Fate of Volatiles During Magmatic Processes in Planetary Interiors: Implications on the Origins of Habitability

Session Link : https://agu.confex.com/agu/agu25/prelim.cgi/Session/251607

Abstract Deadline: 30 July 2025 23:59 EDT/03:59 +1 GMT

This session focuses on how life-enabling elements (e.g., C, S, N, O, H) are acquired, mobilized, and retained within terrestrial planets through magmatic processes such as core formation, magma ocean convection and crystallization, volcanic outgassing, and subduction. These processes are key to understanding the internal distribution of volatiles and how they shape planetary habitability.

We welcome interdisciplinary contributions from fields including:

  • Cosmochemistry and experimental petrology
  • Thermodynamic, molecular, and fluid dynamics modeling
  • Smoothed-particle hydrodynamics simulations
  • Machine learning or AI-based approaches in planetary research

Early-career researchers and those working at the intersection of multiple disciplines are especially encouraged to contribute.

For questions or more information, feel free to contact the conveners:

Please share with colleagues who may be interested. We look forward to your submissions!

19———19———19———19———19———19———19———19———

AGU SESSION: THE NEXUS FOR EXOPLANET SYSTEM SCIENCE (NExSS) – BUILDING A COMMUNITY FOR INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH ACROSS NASA SCIENCE DIVISIONS (SESSION NUMBER P042)

Exoplanet research has provided unique opportunities to promote multidisciplinary work, as it requires expertise from the fields of Earth Science, Planetary Science, Heliophysics, and Astrophysics. NExSS was created to bring together teams that are associated with these corresponding divisions of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. NExSS’s goal is to make interdisciplinary connections possible, promoting activities that increase communication and collaboration between research teams and individuals, and streamline research objectives across its science community. The session will cover both NExSS activities as well as general topics on interdisciplinary research. In the spirit of broadening connections, we encourage submissions not only about unique NExSS activities or NExSS-related projects, but also non-NExSS projects that demonstrate the unique value of highly interdisciplinary research; effective means to create and encourage interdisciplinary research within the AGU community; the value of interdisciplinary research in public outreach; or the benefits of interdisciplinary research for science education.

More information: https://agu.confex.com/agu/agu25/prelim.cgi/Session/250198

20———20———20———20———20———20———20———20———

AGU 2025 SPECIAL SESSION: AERIAL EXPLORATION OF MARS

Semi-autonomous rotorcraft have revolutionized terrestrial geological and atmospheric science. Their ability to explore high and low, far and wide allows them to deploy instrumentation and collect remote-sensing data in regions and from perspectives otherwise difficult or impossible to access. The success of the Ingenuity Mars helicopter similarly opens prospects for transforming the study of Mars. Rotorcraft on Mars can facilitate geological and geophysical investigations, enable atmospheric measurements, and assist human exploration. Future missions to Mars could involve these aircraft as complements to ground-bound assets, such as rovers or fixed stations, or as stand-alone vehicles. This session welcomes presentations that consider how small rotorcraft may advance our understanding of Mars, both past and present. Submissions on aircraft-enabled Mars science, missions, and human exploration are all welcome. For details of additional activities, including a social, see http://boi.st/AGU-2025-Mars-UAS or e-mail Brian Jackson at [email protected].

Abstracts may be submitted here –

https://agu.confex.com/agu/agu25/prelim.cgi/Session/250381.

21———21———21———21———21———21———21———21———

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS – AGU 2025 SESSION P045 – TITAN: ATMOSPHERE, IONOSPHERE, SPACE ENVIRONMENT AND THEIR INTERACTIONS

We invite submissions to our AGU 2025 session “Titan: Atmosphere, Ionosphere, Space Environment and their Interactions”

Session link: https://agu.confex.com/agu/agu25/prelim.cgi/Session/250591

Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, is unique among the other moons in the solar system. It possesses a thick atmosphere composed of several hydrocarbon species and is home to some of the most complex organic chemistry known. The atmosphere in many ways is analogous to Earth’s with methane forming clouds, rain and surface lakes. One of the major objectives of the Cassini mission was to study Titan’s atmosphere and its interaction with the space environment. New discoveries and insights continue to be made 8 years after the end of the Cassini mission. This session brings together researchers studying Titan’s atmosphere, ionosphere and space environment to present their latest results. Presentations highlighting data analysis, theory, modeling, and any combination thereof that furthers our understanding of the various regions of Titan and the interactions between them are welcome.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Best regards,

Matt Fillingim, Steve Ledvina, Jared Bell, Niklas Edberg, and Konstantin Kim

22———22———22———22———22———22———22———22———

AGU SESSION P006: CLOSE ENCOUNTERS IN THE EARTH-MOON SYSTEM: APOPHIS, 2024 YR4, AND THE FUTURE OF PLANETARY DEFENSE

On 27 January 2025, near-Earth asteroid (NEA) 2024 YR4 reached a record Torino Scale impact rating of 3 before additional observations ruled out an Earth impact in 2032. A >1% impact probability remains, though, with the Moon. On 13 April 2029, (99942) Apophis will pass within geosynchronous orbit, offering a once-in-7kyr opportunity for investigations into Earth’s gravitational influence on asteroid properties and collaborative observations with ground and space assets, including NASA’s Apophis Explorer, ESA’s RAMSES, and JAXA’s DESTINY+. These encounters highlight growing public interest in asteroid hazards and scientific opportunities that will be amplified by next-generation asteroid surveys. This session invites abstracts focused on NEA observations, modeling of dynamical or physical evolution, mission concepts, and planetary defense applications. We especially welcome interdisciplinary contributions that bridge science, engineering, and policy to address the evolving landscape of planetary defense in the context of increasing detection rates and upcoming close encounters.

Please submit your abstract here by Wednesday, 30 July 2025, at 23:59 EDT/03:59 UTC, to join us!

https://agu.confex.com/agu/agu25/prelim.cgi/Session/248431

Co-Convenors: Ron Ballouz, Ed Rivera-Valentín, Dawn Graninger, Andy Rivkin

23———23———23———23———23———23———23———23———

P025 – PLANETARY ANALOG FIELD WORK TO SUPPORT AND ENABLE CREWED AND ROBOTIC EXPLORATION OF OUR SOLAR SYSTEM

New science and exploration questions have emerged from recent exploration of terrestrial Solar System bodies. Terrestrial analogs provide a unique opportunity to investigate these bodies and inform future crewed and robotic missions to the Moon and Mars, and beyond. Research is encouraged in areas such as surface modification processes—including impact, erosion, glacial activity, tectonism, and volcanism—as well as astrobiology, field sampling methods, and lab-based simulant experiments. Studies that explore emerging technologies and capabilities for exploration, instrument development using analog environments, and analog fieldwork to validate remote sensing data are also of interest. Additionally, contributions focusing on field safety, operational field experiences, community collaboration, and outreach efforts are welcomed. These studies not only enhance scientific understanding but also contribute to the planning and success of upcoming missions, supporting the development of expertise in practical strategies and tools for exploration in challenging planetary environments.

To submit an abstract, please visit:

https://agu.confex.com/agu/agu25/prelim.cgi/Session/249564

Conveners: Alexandra Matiella Novak, Emileigh Shoemaker, Lizeth Magaña

24———24———24———24———24———24———24———24———

AGU SESSION P035 – SMALL SOLAR SYSTEM BODIES: SAMPLE RETURNS, JWST, GROUND-BASED ASTRONOMY AND MORE

Recent and upcoming space missions (e.g., OSIRIS-REx, Hayabusa 2, New Horizons, Psyche, Lucy, Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt) and powerful telescopic facilities (e.g., JWST, adaptive optics, next-generation ground-based observatories) continue to expand our understanding of the diversity and complexity of small solar system bodies. These planetesimals and dwarf planets preserve essential clues about the early solar system, including accretional processes and thermal evolution. Sample return missions are providing ground truth to remote observations, helping decode planetary formation and evolution. At the same time, national and private space programs are entering the arena and private companies are pushing forward with asteroid prospecting missions. Together, these efforts signal a new era in the study of small bodies—one that is increasingly collaborative, diverse in methods, and rich in discovery potential. We invite abstracts including, but not limited to, space mission data, ground-based observations, modeling, sample returns, planetary defense, and private-sector initiatives.

We invite abstract submissions by Wednesday, July 30, at this link:

https://agu.confex.com/agu/agu25/prelim.cgi/Session/247514

Conveners: Bryan Holler, Julie Castillo-Rogez, Franck Marchis

25———25———25———25——–25———25———25———25———

AGU 2025 SESSION P010 – ENCELADUS: AN OCEAN WORLD ODYSSEY

Saturn’s moon Enceladus is a geologically active and habitable ocean world. Enceladus offers fresh opportunities for advancing our understanding of planetary processes and searching for signatures of potential life. The most accessible ocean material beyond Earth erupts from the internal plumbing system of Enceladus, forming a plume that modifies the space environment at Saturn. This is the 20th consecutive year of this session, attesting to the phenomenal enthusiasm of our community. You won’t want to miss this one! We welcome the community to submit contributions diving into diverse ranges of phenomena including but not limited to: cryovolcanism, ice fracturing and other tectonic processes, ocean circulation, water-rock reactions, tidal heating, organic chemistry, life detection approaches, Enceladus’s formation, history, and internal structure, and cross comparisons with other ocean worlds including Earth and Europa. Observational, theoretical, laboratory, and field analogue investigations are all welcome.

To submit an abstract, please visit:

https://agu.confex.com/agu/agu25/prelim.cgi/Session/249971

Abstract deadline: Wednesday, 30 July 2025 at 23:59 EDT

Conveners: Christopher Glein (SwRI), Cynthia Phillips (JPL), Fabian Klenner (UW Seattle)

26———26———26———26——–26———26———26———26———

AGU 2025 SESSION NH029 – LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN PLANETARY DEFENSE

We want to invite all that are interested to please submit an abstract for the AGU25 annual meeting session NH029: Latest Developments in Planetary Defense!
The link to submit your abstract can be found here!  (https://agu.confex.com/agu/agu25/prelim.cgi/Session/250688)

The deadline to submit is July 30th 2025 at 23:59 EDT/03:59 UTC

NH029: Latest Developments in Planetary Defense
Planetary defense is the effort to detect and mitigate threats from objects like asteroids and comets, with the goal of preventing or minimizing potential impacts with Earth. This session will delve into the asteroid impact hazard and any recent developments in the field of planetary defense. Topics will include deflection simulations and experiments, characterization of asteroid physical and structural properties, surface morphology, the dynamics of small bodies, and the effects of impacts into Earth. By leveraging simulation models and characterization data, the session aims to inform mission design and optimize the effectiveness of mitigation approaches.  We welcome contributions from diverse research perspectives to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and advance global planetary defense efforts.

Please feel free to forward this to anyone you think might be interested, and we look forward to having a productive session with all that can make it!

Sincerely,

Sean Wiggins, LLNL

Jessie Dotson, NASA Ames
Catherine Plesko, LANL
Kathryn Kumamoto, LLNL

27———27———27———27——–27———27———27———27———

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 7 – Volume 6 – The Planetary Science Journal – IOPscience

Icarus:

Icarus | Vol 435, In progress (15 July 2025) | ScienceDirect.com by Elsevier

28———28———28———28——–28———28———28———28———

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.

  1. Tenure Track Assistant Professor in Astronomy at Mount Holyoke College

The Mount Holyoke College Physics & Astronomy Department invites applications for an Assistant Professor in Astronomy (tenure track) to begin in Fall 2026. We seek a candidate with a strong commitment to undergraduate teaching in a liberal arts environment, who will establish a vigorous research program involving undergraduates. A PhD in astronomy or a related field is required. Mount Holyoke College is an active member of the Five College Astronomy Department (FCAD), which provides multiple opportunities for research collaborations including at nearby UMass Amherst, the flagship campus of the state university system.

The candidate will teach across our core astronomy curriculum, which spans general-education to upper level astrophysics. With the recent merging of physics and astronomy, there is the opportunity to revamp the astronomy major sequence in collaboration with the FCAD.

Submit statements concerning (1) teaching philosophy with illustrative examples, (2) research plan, and (3) a statement about mentoring a diverse student body, as well as a cover letter addressing your interest in Mount Holyoke and CV. To apply, submit materials here:

https://tinyurl.com/2wj4pb86

For further information please contact Prof. Spencer Smith at [email protected]. Review of applications will begin October 1.

  1. Postdoc Opportunity at University of Leicester, UK

The University of Leicester was recently awarded an STFC Large Grant on the topic of “Planet Mercury: Origins, Evolution, and Interactions” with Emma Bunce as PI. The main aim is preparation for, and analysis of, the first data back from the ESA/JAXA BepiColombo mission to

Mercury, which we are well-positioned for here at Leicester given our leadership of the Mercury Imaging X-ray Spectrometer (MIXS). MIXS will revolutionise our understand of Mercury’s surface geochemistry as a nadir pointing instrument capable of global mapping at X-ray

wavelengths.

This grant spans five years and has four post-doc positions associated with it. Two will be hosted at the University of Leicester, one at Imperial College, and one at the Open University. This represents the first of these exciting positions to be advertised, and the role is focused on planetary geochemistry. Further posts will be advertised next year.

The successful candidate will join the BepiColombo MIXS team at Space Park Leicester and will to analyse the first data back from Mercury’s surface.

Please see the advert for further details:

https://tinyurl.com/5ea9jjfw

For any informal enquiries please get in touch directly with Emma Bunce

via email ([email protected]).

  1. NEO Surveyor Moving Object Scientist at IPAC

IPAC at Caltech invites applications for the position of Moving Object Scientist for the NEO Surveyor Survey Data System (NSDS). IPAC is building and will operate the NSDS for NASA’s NEO Surveyor (NEOS) mission. The NSDS ingests imaging and engineering data from the flight system, processes those data into calibrated image and source detection products, performs automated searches for moving Solar System objects, assesses the quality of the survey data, and distributes data products to NASA archives and the user community, including sending moving object tracklets to the Minor Planet Center. A key part of the NSDS is the Moving Object Detection Pipeline (MODP), a software subsystem that is in an advanced state of development and currently undergoing regular performance testing and analysis. 

For more information visit: https://phf.tbe.taleo.net/phf03/ats/careers/v2/viewRequisition?org=CALTECH&cws=37&rid=10473

  1. Tenure-Track Faculty Position at University of Iowa

The School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability (SEES) at The University of Iowa seeks a tenure-track appointment at the rank of assistant or associate professor with expertise in solid Earth geology, focused on structural geology, tectonics, geochronology, thermochronology, critical minerals, or geodynamics. Required teaching duties will include structural geology, field courses, tectonics, and other courses within the successful applicant’s expertise. We will consider all areas of research but encourage candidates with strong field-based programs and interest in Earth and planetary processes as well as in the interplay between solid earth dynamics and environmental conditions in the hydrosphere, biosphere, or atmosphere.

Apply online at:  https://jobs.uiowa.edu/     Refer to requisition #75645.

Deadline for full consideration is September 15, 2025. Screening of applications will begin in early September. The application window will remain open until the position is satisfactorily filled.

Direct questions regarding this position to Dr. Emily Finzel,  [email protected].

  1. 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.

https://tinyurl.com/4h8dzb9f

+———————————

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