Issue 26-07, June 8, 2026
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- DPS 2026 ELECTION – CANDIDATE SLATE
- IT IS NEVER TOO LATE – RENEW YOUR DPS MEMBERSHIP TODAY
- ABSTRACT SUBMISSION, EARLY REGISTRATION FOR DPS-58 CLOSING SOON
- DPS-58 TRAVEL AND DEPENDENT CARE GRANT APPLICATIONS
- SATELLITE MEETINGS ARE SOLICITED AT DPS-58
- LOW-COST MEETING OBSERVER OPTION AT DPS-58
- CONFERENCE LODGING AT DPS-58
- INFORMATION FOR DPS-58 EXHIBITORS AND SPONSORS
- STUDENT LED REU PRESENTATIONS AT DPS-58
- DPS SEEKS A NEW SECRETARY
- DPS SEEKS A NEW EDUCATION SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR
- DPS ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS SUBCOMMITTEE SOLICITS MEMBERS
- AAS ACTION ALERT: SUBMIT COMMENTS OPPOSING HARMFUL CHANGES TO FEDERAL GRANTS
- PLANETARY CRATER CONSORTIUM: REGISTRATION AND ABSTRACTS ARE OPEN
- [GSA 2026] GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA CONNECTS ANNUAL MEETING: ABSTRACT SUBMISSION IS OPEN
- NEW HORIZONS SCIENCE SPOTLIGHT WEBINAR RELAUNCHED
- TABLES OF CONTENTS FOR THE PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL AND ICARUS
- JOBS, POSITIONS, AND OPPORTUNITIES
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DPS 2026 ELECTION : CANDIDATE SLATE
The DPS Nominating Subcommittee has identified the following candidates for the 2026 DPS elections for Vice Chair, Committee Member, and Student Representative
Vice Chair (1 to be elected):
- Kurt Retherford – Southwest Research Institute (SwRI)
- Moses Milazzo – NASA/Other Orb Science, LLC
- Robert (Bob) Pappalardo – NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
Committee (2 to be elected):
- Ahmed Mahjoub – NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
- Julie Brisset – Florida Space Institute, University of Central Florida
- Kara Brugman – University of New Mexico
- Lynnae Quick – Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL)
- Tom Nordheim – Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL)
Student Representative (1 to be elected):
- Emeline Fromont – University of Maryland, College Park
- Eshan Raul – University of Wisconsin, Madison
- Simone Lilavois – Amherst College
Per the DPS Bylaws, additional candidates for Vice Chair or Committee Member, supported by a petition of at least 20 DPS members, may be nominated by June 17, 2026. Please send any nominations to DPS secretary, Denise Stephens, at [email protected]
The DPS Committee thanks the members of the Nominating Subcommittee for their dedicated service to the DPS:
Jessica Noviello (chair), Therese Encrenaz, and Jodi Berdis
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IT IS NEVER TOO LATE – RENEW YOUR DPS MEMBERSHIP TODAY
The DPS Committee and the AAS staff and community thank you for being an AAS/DPS member in 2025. For those who have not yet renewed for 2026, now is the time! DPS membership yields discounted registration for the Fall 2026 Annual Meeting to be held 25-30 October in Spokane, WA. The meeting will have a broad scope with a wide-ranging program of science and workforce topics, celebrating planetary exploration and mission anniversaries. DPS does not censor submissions – diverse perspectives are welcome.
If you are unsure of your membership status, it’s easy to check. Go to my.aas.org and log in with your AAS username and password. Look for the framed Profile-at-a-Glance section on the right and confirm the Paid Through date. If it’s 31 December 2025 or earlier, it’s time to renew.
If you are an active AAS member, the DPS dues is $30 for Full, International Affiliate, Educator Affiliate, Alumni Affiliate, and Amateur Affiliate Members, $0 for Graduate Student and Undergraduate Student Members and Emeritus Members. The classes and benefits of AAS membership are described here.
To join and pay by credit card (VISA, MasterCard, American Express), simply fax your request and the following card data: card number; name of card holder as it appears on card; expiration date; authorized charge amount. Please direct your transmittal to the attention of AAS Membership Services at (202) 588-1351, remembering to include a daytime telephone number for contact purposes.
To join and pay by check or money order, you may mail your request and payment drawn on a U.S. bank in U.S. currency to:
American Astronomical Society
1667 K Street NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20006
Checks or money orders should be payable to the American Astronomical Society.
You should allow a minimum of 5 business days for your request and payment to be processed and your DPS membership established.
If you wish to join the DPS and the AAS at the same time, download the AAS Membership Form; provide all required information; indicate your intent to join the DPS (section 8); and return your completed form and payment to the AAS.
You should allow a minimum of 5 business days for your request and payment to be processed and your AAS and DPS memberships established.
Further information regarding the AAS and AAS membership benefits is available at AAS and AAS Membership respectively. Questions regarding joining the DPS as an AAS member should be directed to the AAS Membership Department.
If you have questions about your benefits or need assistance with your login or renewal, please email the membership team [email protected] or call (202) 328-2010 x109.
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ABSTRACT SUBMISSION, EARLY REGISTRATION FOR DPS-58 CLOSING SOON
https://submissions.mirasmart.com/DPS58/Splash.aspx
https://aas.org/meetings/dps58/registration
Registration and abstract submission are open for DPS-58 at the Spokane Convention Center, 25-30 October 2026. DPS will be a hybrid meeting with live-streamed in-person and recorded virtual talks and in-person posters. Three classes of registration include: full in-person, full virtual, and virtual meeting observer for a very low cost. Abstract submission will indicate a science theme plus a class of bodies pertinent to the abstract, from which the Science Organizing Committee will formulate the program. There is also an option to submit to one of five special sessions:
- 5 Years of Perseverance Exploration at Jezero
- Juno at 10 years
- 20 years of MRO observing Mars
- 30 years of asteroid rendezvous missions
- Interstellar comets
Regular abstract deadline: Thursday, 11 June 2026 9:00pm ET
Early registration deadline: Monday, 15 June 2026 9:00pm ET
Late abstract deadline: 2 July, 2026 12:00pm ET
–Scott Murchie and JA Grier on behalf of the DPS Committee
–Abigail Fraeman on behalf of the Scientific Organizing Committee
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DPS-58 TRAVEL AND DEPENDENT CARE GRANT APPLICATIONS
The Division for Planetary Sciences (DPS) offers two types of travel grants to support attendance at DPS-58 to be held 25-30 October 2026 in Spokane, Washington, U.S.A. At least 30 travel grants may be awarded at $500-$1500 each.
Hartmann Student Travel Grants support student presentations at the annual DPS meeting. (Postdoctoral scholars may also be eligible, but students are prioritized). These grants provide a supplement that enables the student to present at the annual meeting, especially in person. Award of a travel grant assumes submission of a DPS abstract, to be described in the application.
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. 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. The aim of these grants is to enable in-person or virtual participation at DPS or National Society of Black Physicists (NSBP) – National Society of Hispanics Physicists (NSHP) meetings. Presentation by the applicant is not required but is prioritized.
Applicants for DPS travel grants do not need to be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Eligible candidates are welcome to apply for both grants, but if selected would receive only one.
Apply at DPS Travel Grants Application | AAS Division for Planetary Sciences. The deadline is 1 July 2026. Award notifications are planned during July (well before the registration deadline), but the award team will work with DPS and NSBP-NSHP meeting organizers to accommodate costs should there be delays.
Additionally, DPS offers Susan Niebur Dependent Care grants. These provide financial assistance to qualifying members to facilitate their meeting attendance by offsetting costs for child care, elder care, spousal care, etc., at the meeting location or at home during the DPS conference. Apply for a dependent care grant here.
Community donations are critical for the health of these awards. To donate, please access this link and select the grant you wish to support.
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SATELLITE MEETINGS ARE SOLICITED AT DPS-58
DPS welcomes community groups to hold satellite meetings at DPS’s 58th annual meeting at the Spokane Convention Center 25-30 October 2026, including AG groups, mission or instrument teams, or other planetary-themed groups. The venue features 4-6 rooms that seat between 30-100 and are available anytime, plus 4 large halls seating >250 which are available Sunday Oct 25, or for 60-90 minute lunchtime meetings Monday-Thursday Oct 26-29. Rooms will be outfitted for hybrid participation with AV hardware; users must supply laptops. Zoom reservations may be arranged by users, or supplied at no cost by AAS if the meeting is sponsored by DPS. In-person participants are expected to register for attendance at DPS; virtual participants may attend at no cost. Apply for a satellite meeting here. The application deadline is Thursday June 11; selected applicants will be notified in late June. Catering is available at cost with forms sent with selection notifications.
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LOW-COST MEETING OBSERVER OPTION AT DPS-58
Are you interested in planetary science, and ready to attend professional talks on topics of interest, but costs of a professional conference are not affordable? DPS is pleased to announce a virtual attendance option that can fit a tightly constrained budget, as a virtual meeting observer. This option is meant for a wide variety of planetary science amateurs and professionals:
- amateurs who want a deeper dive than what is in the popular press
- leaders of high-school science clubs who will share with a group
- students and faculty at community colleges and tribal colleges
- retired professionals who lack emeritus status in a professional society
- active professionals who don’t have funding to attend *all* the conferences they would like
The virtual attendance option, available for $50 (a modest out-of-pocket cost), allows full watching and listening to oral presentations and access to recorded sessions.
For more information visit the DPS-58 registration page.
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CONFERENCE LODGING AT DPS-58
Please consider arranging your hotel for DPS-58 at official conference lodging. There is a block of rooms at government rates, and lodging is connected to the conference venue—the Spokane Convention Center—via a covered a walkway. The hotel features an onsite restaurant and other options are located nearby. Utilizing this lodging will cut both cost to attend the conference and carbon footprint to attend the conference by eliminating the need for car rental.
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INFORMATION FOR DPS-58 EXHIBITORS AND SPONSORS
The Local Organizing Committee for DPS-58 is soliciting exhibitors and sponsors for the meeting. Exhibitor spaces are located in a heavily trafficked are between the poster sessions and common area in a large, shared ballroom. If you are interested, please contact Conor Sherry ([email protected]) at the American Astronomical Society.
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STUDENT LED REU PRESENTATIONS AT DPS-58
The Science Organizing Committee for DPS-58 is aware that the regular abstract deadline comes early for students participating in a summer internship program such as Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU). When submitting a student-led abstract to DPS-58 that describes work completed as part of an REU or other internship, authors are asked to note in the “Special requests” field that the abstract is student-led work from an REU or other internship, and whether oral or poster presentation is desired. For such abstracts, oral presentation will be considered even for submissions made as “late abstracts” by July 2.
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DPS SEEKS A NEW SECRETARY
As she nears the completion of a 3-year term as DPS Secretary, Dr. Denise Stephens has announced that she will be stepping aside from that position to focus on research and teaching. The term of office is expiring and it is time for a change.
The DPS seeks a motivated, organized candidate to succeed Dr. Stephens as DPS Secretary. If this impactful position interests you, submit a letter of interest and a CV to DPS Chair Scott Murchie at [email protected] or [email protected]. As DPS Secretary, you would be part of the DPS Executive Committee, helping to lead the division and to formulate rapid responses to planetary community events. Regular duties of the DPS Secretary are to:
- Compile and distribute eNews to DPS members;
- Take minutes of meetings and archive them;
- Maintain DPS records and documents including the DPS Meeting Guide, instruction guides for subcommittees, official Committee and Subcommittee membership lists, letterhead, bylaws, and membership data;
- Oversee membership applications and the membership roster;
- Collected statements from candidates for elected DPS offices identified by the Nominating Subcommittee, circulate them, conduct the annual election, and announce the results;
- Prepare prize certificates and citations; and
- Contribute to the corporate memory of DPS along with other officers.
Nominees are reviewed by the DPS Committee and one candidate will be elected to a 3-year term.
If you are interested please contact DPS Chair Scott Murchie and submit a CV at [email protected] or [email protected]
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DPS SEEKS A NEW EDUCATION SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR
The DPS Education Officer position was filled by Prof. Brian Jackson of Boise State University until he accepted the position of Editor-in-Chief of the Planetary Science Journal, at which time the remainder of the 3-year term was assumed by Past Chair Sanlyn Buxner of the Planetary Science Institute.
The Chair of the Education Subcommittee oversees the following activities:
- Maintains the Education portion of the DPS website together with the DPS webmaster
- Maintains the searchable database of Research Experiences for Undergraduate students in planetary science
- Maintains the searchable database of graduate schools for planetary science
- Intermittently, manages DPS Education and Outreach Grants – ($200 to $500) – awarded on rolling basis
- Supports education-related activities during DPS meetings in coordination with DPS leadership and other committees
Nominees are reviewed by the DPS Committee and one candidate will be elected to a 3-year term.
If you are interested please contact DPS Chair Scott Murchie and submit a CV at [email protected] or [email protected]
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DPS ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS SUBCOMMITTEE SOLICITS MEMBERS
The DPS Environmental Affairs Subcommittee (EAS) is soliciting new members. If you are interested please contact EAS Chair Rosemary Killen at [email protected] with your name, affiliation and email. In addition, please provide a brief statement concerning your priorities for environmental sustainability as it relates to the DPS.
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AAS ACTION ALERT: SUBMIT COMMENTS OPPOSING HARMFUL CHANGES TO FEDERAL GRANTS
On 29 May 2026, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released a proposed rule that alters how the government handles the management of federal grants and other forms of financial assistance. Among the many changes in this proposed rule, OMB proposes giving political appointees greater control over the grant selection process, expanding the authority of the government to terminate active grants if they do not align with Administration priorities, and placing significant restrictions on the use of federal funds for publishing costs, conference attendance, and international collaborations.
Please take action! The AAS and DPS encourage individuals to submit comments to this proposed rulemaking by the deadline of 13 July 2026. Please reach out to[email protected]with any questions.
– Participate in AAS’s Action Alert now!
– Learn more about the proposed changes from the AAS blog post
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PLANETARY CRATER CONSORTIUM: REGISTRATION AND ABSTRACTS ARE OPEN
It’s time to save the date for the upcoming Planetary Crater Consortium (PCC) Meeting this July:
- The dates for our 2026 meeting are July 15-17. It will be held at the USGS-Flagstaff in Flagstaff, AZ, USA; we will still support remote attendance and speakers. If you would like to consider hosting the PCC at your organization in future years, please come to the meeting with a proposal and we will vote on it.
- Abstract submission and registration for this year’s meeting are officially open! As with last year, Registration and Abstract submission for this year’s meeting will be handled by Google Form:
Abstracts: https://forms.gle/APaNS8G7ycJxNrQdA
Registration: https://forms.gle/RpGWUMaK6qdkKWKK6
- The deadline for abstract submission is June 17, 2026. Also keep your calendars open for a potential July 18 field trip in the Flagstaff area.
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[GSA 2026] GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA CONNECTS ANNUAL MEETING:
ABSTRACT SUBMISSION IS OPEN
Abstract submission is open for the Geological Society of America Connects Annual Meeting, October 11-14 in Denver! https://connects.geosociety.org/
Planetary related sessions include:
- Big Science from Small Worlds
- Boxwork and Fracture Halos: Changes in mineralogy and erosion resistance around fracture features on Earth, Mars, and across the Solar System
- Friends of Hoth, Rogue Moons: Icy Ocean Worlds
- The G.K. Gilbert Award Session
- Geomorphology and Landscape Evolution of Mars
- Geomorphology and Surface Processes Across the Solar System
- Hydrothermal Processes Across the Solar System
- Impact Cratering: From the Earth into the Solar System
- Mineralogy in the Solar System
- Myths and Misrepresentations surrounding Cosmic Impact claims in Paleoclimatology, Paleontology, Paleoecology, Geoarchaeology, and Quaternary Research
- Planetary Exploration and Education: How We Learn About Our Solar System and Beyond
- Planetary sample science: Unlocking the history of lunar, Martian, and asteroidal materials
- Shake and Bake: Volcanism and Tectonism across the Solar System
- The Astro-Geoheritage of the Solar System: Past Explorations and Future Considerations
- Venus and Earth: Separated at Birth
Abstract deadline: August 6
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NEW HORIZONS SCIENCE SPOTLIGHT WEBINAR RELAUNCHED
Join us on 25 June 2026, 2:30-3pm EDT (11:30-12 PDT, 12:30-1pm MDT,1:30-2pm CDT)
New Horizons continues its operation, now at 64.7au from the Sun. Since 2015 it has made ground-breaking discoveries of the Pluto-Charon system, flown past the small contact KBO binary Arrokoth and collected phase and light curve data for some three-dozen additional KBOs and the ice giants. It has also been sampling dust density throughout the Solar System and studying the cosmic optical background. After a brief break, we are continuing our spotlight webinar (30 min, fourth week each month) which we invite you to attend, or watch recorded at your convenience.
Our speaker will be Eric Zirnstein (Princeton) and he will be speaking on: “Formation of H+ PUI Tails Downstream of Distant Interplanetary Shocks and Predictions for NH’s SWAP Measurements at the HTS”
Connection Link: https://tinyurl.com/mr2rsubj
Meeting ID: 973 1769 7636
Passcode: ExtendedKB
Calendar for future seminars: https://tinyurl.com/43reym37
Recordings are archived and posted at: https://pluto.jhuapl.edu/News-Center/index.php#Spotlight-Presentations
For questions, contact New Horizons Co-I Susan Benecchi, [email protected]
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TABLES OF CONTENTS FOR THE PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL AND ICARUS
The current issues for both DPS-affiliated journals are here:
The Planetary Science Journal:
The Planetary Science Journal | Issue 6, Volume 7, June 2026 | IOPscience
Icarus:
Icarus | Vol 451, June 2026 | 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 is listed below.
- Jodrell Banke Center 3-year UK STFC-funded postdoctoral position
The Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, University of Manchester, welcomes applications for a 3-year UK STFC-funded postdoctoral position to work on exoplanet demographics with NASA Roman and ESA Euclid. I’d be very grateful for this to be forwarded to any colleagues you know who may be interested in applying. Please note the closing date of 10th June 2026. Applicants must be available to start on October 1st 2026.
Application details and further particulars are at
https://www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk/Job/JobDetail?JobId=35068
jobs.manchester.ac.uk
STFC-funded Research Associate in Exoplanet Demographics:Manchester
- NASA SMD Graduate Student Research Solicitation – Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology
Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology(FINESST) F.5 of ROSES-25 solicits proposals from accredited U.S. universities and other eligible organizations for graduate student-designed and performed research projects that contribute to SMD’s science, technology, and exploration goals. The Future Investigator, i.e., the student, shall have the primary initiative to define the proposed FINESST research project and must be the primary author, with input or supervision from the proposal’s Principal Investigator, as appropriate.
ROSES-2025 Amendment 52 releases final text and due dates for Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology (FINESST) F.5 of ROSES-25, which was previously TBD. For more information, please visit: F.5 Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology (FINESST).
Neither a notice of intent nor a Step-1 proposal should be submitted. Proposals are due July 14, 2026.
Questions concerning F.5 FINESST may be directed to [email protected].
- Research Associate Position Available at the University of Kent, UK
The Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, University of Manchester, welcomes applications for a 3-year UK STFC-funded postdoctoral position to work on exoplanet demographics with NASA Roman and ESA Euclid. I’d be very grateful for this to be forwarded to any colleagues you know who may be interested in applying. Please note the closing date of 10th June 2026. Applicants must be available to start on October 1st 2026.
Application details and further particulars are at
https://www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk/Job/JobDetail?JobId=35068
jobs.manchester.ac.uk
STFC-funded Research Associate in Exoplanet Demographics:Manchester
- NEO Surveyor Staff Scientist Openings at IPAC
IPAC invites applications for two Staff Scientist positions to work at the NEO Surveyor Survey Data System.
Calibration Scientist: https://tinyurl.com/4sddyp3t
Moving Object Quality Assurance Scientist: https://tinyurl.com/439bscmv
To apply, use the form in the above links. For questions about the positions, please contact Dr. Joe Masiero: [email protected]
- Two Postdoctoral Positions in Planetary Geochemistry, ELSI (Science Tokyo)
We invite applications for two postdoctoral researchers in planetary geochemistry and thermodynamics at the Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI), Institute of Science Tokyo.
Position 1 (Experimentalist): The researcher will lead calorimetric measurements (heat capacity, decomposition enthalpies, mass loss) on organic matter and mineral assemblages relevant to ocean worlds and other planetary bodies, using the lab’s simultaneous TGA/DSC instrument with modulated DSC capability.
Position 2 (Modeler): The researcher will develop thermodynamic databases and apply computational models (Gibbs free energy minimization, reactive transport) to water-rock-organic systems in planetary interiors, integrating experimental data from Position 1 into modeling workflows.
Both researchers will collaborate closely. Backgrounds in geochemistry, planetary science, cosmochemistry, physical chemistry, or related fields are welcome. Positions are initially for one year with possibility of extension. ELSI operates in English; full support is provided for international researchers.
Full descriptions and application instructions:
Experimentalist: https://tinyurl.com/26dxmass
Modeler: https://tinyurl.com/3sfu4ay8
Informal discussions about the positions are welcome at AbSciCon (May 18 – 22, 2026); please reach out in advance (melwani (at) elsi.jp) to arrange a meeting.
Deadline: June 15, 2026.
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Send submissions to: Denise Stephens, DPS Secretary, at this address: [email protected]