Newsletter 15-4

Issue 15-04, January 21, 2015

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1) IN MEMORIAM: ALBERTO BEHAR (1967-2015)
2) NASA/APPLIED PHYSICS LAB (APL) INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
3) UPCOMING MEETINGS
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IN MEMORIAM: ALBERTO BEHAR (1967-2015)

Dr. Alberto Behar, a long-time researcher at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, died January, 9, 2015 in a small-plane accident near Van Nuys, CA.

An expert on robotics for exploring extreme environments on Earth and other planets, Behar worked in the Avionics, Instruments, and Science divisions at JPL. He played a key role in developing in situ robotic systems for measuring Earth’s ice sheets in Antarctica and Greenland using submarines, ice rovers, and boats. He also participated in the exploration of Mars, serving as the Investigation Scientist for both the Dynamic Albedo of Neutrons (DAN) instrument on the Curiosity rover and the High Energy Neutron Detector on the Mars Odyssey orbiter. Alberto was a research professor in the School of Earth and Space Exploration at Arizona State University. He held a PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California.

Thomas Wagner, the Cryosphere Program Scientist at NASA Headquarters, summed up Behar this way: “From his submarines that peeked under Antarctica to his boats that raced Greenland’s rivers, Alberto’s work enabled measurements of things we’d never known. His creativity knew few bounds. He is, and will forever be, sorely missed.”

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NASA/APPLIED PHYSICS LAB (APL) INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

Students participating in the 2015 NASA/APL Internship Program will work at the APL facility in Laurel, MD. Students will receive a stipend ($4K-undergrads and $5K-grads) for the 10-week program, and housing will be provided. Talks by key mission engineers and scientists, along with tours of APL and NASA/Goddard will be provided throughout the summer. Students must be U.S. Citizens, and have successfully passed a background check of criminal, social security and driving record. The investigation will be facilitated by the Visitor Control Office at APL.

https://dnnpro.outer.jhuapl.edu/aplnasaintern/Home.aspx

Application Deadline February 28, 2015.

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UPCOMING MEETINGS

A) SPF1: STAR AND PLANET FORMATION IN THE SOUTHWEST

We would like to draw your attention to the upcoming meeting: “SPF1: Star and Planet Formation in the Southwest”.

Note that the abstract deadline has been extended to Friday, 23 January 2015.

This conference will take place at the Biosphere 2 Center in Oracle, Arizona, just north of Tucson, on March 23-26, 2015, and will feature senior reviews, as well as invited and contributed talks by junior scientists that highlight contributions to the field by post-docs and graduate students. This conference will also foster extended, unstructured discussion and interaction between the senior review speakers and other attendees.
SPF1 registration, abstraction submission, and additional information are available at the conference website:
http://tinyurl.com/spf2015
Please note that payment and registration/abstract submission are separate processes. Questions should be directed to: [email protected]
A one-day NRAO Community Day will be held Friday, March 27, immediately after the SPF1 conference and at the same location. For more information and ** free ** registration, please visit:
https://science.nrao.edu/facilities/alma/naasc-workshops/nrao-cd-spf1/index

We look forward to seeing you at Biosphere 2!
The Scientific Organizing Committee

B) VENUS SCIENCE PRIORITIES FOR LABORATORY MEASUREMENTS AND INSTRUMENT DEFINITION WORKSHOP

April 7-8, 2015
Hampton, Virginia

http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/venustech2015/venustech20151st.shtml

Abstract deadline January 22, 2015

C) THE FUTURE & SCIENCE OF GEMINI OBSERVATORY

June 14-18, 2015
Toronto, Canada

Registration is now open for the next Gemini Science and User Meeting, which will be held in Toronto, 14-18 June 2015. The Gemini Science Meeting occurs every three years. The theme of this year’s meeting is “The Future & Science of Gemini Observatory.” The meeting will cover a range of exciting scientific results from the international community, such as: Solar System, Exoplanets, Galactic astronomy, The Nearby Universe, Cosmic Explosions, AGNs and QSOs, and Distant Galaxies and Cosmology.

If you have used Gemini data in the past several years, or are interested in finding out more about the capabilities of the Observatory, please consider attending. At the User meeting there will be discussions on the next-generation instruments, observing modes and synergies with other facilities as the Observatory looks ahead to 2020 and beyond. In particular, the Gemini Instrument Feasibility Study (GIFS) teams will present their studies for the next Gemini instrument and your feedback is requested on the different concepts to be proposed.

Abstract and Early Registration (reduced fee) deadlines are both March 4, 2015. For further information on the program, registration, abstract submission, and the venue, see

http://www.gemini.edu/fsg15

D) ASTROBIOLOGY SCIENCE CONFERENCE 2015 (AbSciCon)

Please join us for the session on “Determining the Origin and Nature of Prebiotic Species in Comets” at the upcoming AbSciCon meeting this summer, June 15-19 in Chicago, Illinois. This session invites contributions from comet observations at all wavelengths, investigating the inventory and origin of cometary organics.

Abstract submission is now open (closes March 4), and details, as well as a list of other session topics, are available at the AbSciCon website (http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/abscicon2015/).

Theme: How to Build a Habitable Planet
Session Title: Determining the Origin and Nature of Prebiotic Species in Comets
Summary: Sublimated molecular ice, silicate dust, and solid-state carbonaceous materials are the major components of cometary comae that can be studied by space- and ground-based observations, as well as by rendezvous missions. Multiple organic molecules are now routinely detected, including ethylene glycol and formamide, as well as a number of unidentified lines in bright comets that suggest that other organic/prebiotic molecules may be present and detectable in comets. This session invites contributions from comet observations at all wavelengths, investigating the inventory and origin of cometary organics.

Sincerely,
Stefanie Milam and Martin Cordiner

E) PLANETARY SYSTEMS: A SYNERGISTIC VIEW

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

PLANETARY SYSTEMS: A SYNERGISTIC VIEW
International Center for Interdisciplinary Science Education
Quy Nhon, Vietnam
19-25 July 2015

http://rencontresduvietnam.org/conferences/2015/planetary-systems/

Abstract Deadline: 20 February 2015

Newsletter 15-3

Issue 15-03, January 14, 2015

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MESSAGE FROM DPS FEDERAL RELATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR

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MESSAGE FROM THE DPS FEDERAL RELATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR

The omnibus spending bill that was signed into law to fund Fiscal Year 2015 was very good for planetary science in light of the overall spending caps that Congress has imposed. There was a top-line increase for the Science Mission Directorate – a total of $5.2447B, $96.5M (1.9%) over last year and $272.7M (5.5%) above the President’s FY15 budget request. The Planetary Science Division was funded at $1.4378B, $94.4M (7.0%) above last year and $157.8M (12.3%) above the FY15 request. As has become usual in recent years, the bill’s report language has much to say about how this funding should be allocated within the division – including the addition of not less than $5M for studying a future New Frontiers mission (missing from the President’s budget request), at least $100M for the Mars 2020 rover mission, $118M in law for a mission to Europa, and $165.4M ($35.4M above FY14) for Research & Analysis.

A new Congress is now in session and the Republican party has a majority in both the House and Senate, and January is the time when new committee assignments are made. The good news is that support for planetary science in Congress remains very strong, and we have strong supporters on the relevant committees. The most positive change from a planetary science perspective is that John Culberson (R-TX) is now the Chair of the House science appropriations subcommittee. Representative Culberson is a big supporter of planetary science, and his leadership is likely to benefit the community even more in the coming Congress. Another big change is that the Senate science committee (jurisdiction is e.g. NASA authorization) will now be chaired by Ted Cruz (R-TX).

The Federal Relations Subcommittee is planning a late February visit to Washington, D.C. to introduce the DPS to new committee members and their staff, and to reconnect with members and staff with which we have existing relationships. FRS is also working with other planetary science groups such as the planetary sections of the AGU and GSA, and the Planetary Society, to advocate wherever we can. But we really need the engagement of our entire community order to be successful.

So what can you do to get involved and have a positive impact on planetary science policy and advocacy?

Participate in the AAS Congressional Visit Day (CVD) March 17-18

In the past, not many DPS members have participated in the AAS CVD, so please take this opportunity to bring DPS representation to Washington, DC! It is actually a fun event, and the AAS provides training and guidance on conducting these group visits to Congressional offices. Travel support is available, too. We’d like to have a record number of DPS members participating this year. But you do need to sign up before February 10 at http://aas.org/events/2014-12/congressional-visits-day-2015

Respond to calls to action when they are announced

Occasionally, we come to the community with a call to action to write letters or make phone calls to lawmakers on behalf of planetary science. I can tell from experience that these communications really can have an impact, but they really do when there is a very strong response.

Apply or encourage others to apply for the AAS Bahcall Policy Fellowship

The Bahcall Fellow works at AAS headquarters in Washington, DC on policy matters of interest to AAS. We would love to see a planetary scientist in this role! If you will have a PhD by Fall 2015 and have an interest in a fellowship — one year, renewable for two — in Washington, DC, working on science policy and advocacy, please apply. Some fellows have taken this fellowship immediately after getting a PhD, others have held postdocs prior to taking the position.

http://aas.org/posts/blog/2014/12/apply-my-job-john-n-bahcall-public-policy-fellowship

Apply for this National Science Foundation rotator position

If you are a planetary scientist, and in particular an exoplanet scientist, please check out this opportunity to serve at the NSF. The Division of Astronomical Sciences is searching for a scientist to fill a Program Director position for Planetary and Exoplanetary Astronomy: Studies of Solar System and extrasolar planets. The position is offered under the provisions of the Intergovernmental Personnel Act, which provides for a one-year (with possible extension) rotation into NSF. The NSF and NASA are working together on an exoplanet program, and this is your opportunity to have an impact.

http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2014/ast14001/ast14001.jsp?org=AST

Please direct questions or comments to Makenzie Lystrup at [email protected]

Newsletter 15-2

Issue 15-02, January 13, 2015

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1) PLANETARY SURFACE PROCESSES FIELD SCHOOL
2) AAS/CSWA WORKPLACE CLIMATE SURVEY
3) AAAS MASS MEDIA SCIENCE & ENGINEERING FELLOWS PROGRAM
4) CASTALIA CALL FOR SUPPORT
5) PSS SPECIAL ISSUE
6) SUMMER SCIENCE PROGRAM
7) HST 2020 VISION WHITE PAPER – CHANGE IN DEADLINE
8) UPCOMING MEETINGS
9) JOBS/POSITIONS OPPORTUNITIES
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2015 PLANETARY SURFACE PROCESSES FIELD SCHOOL MAY 12-22

Offered through the Centre for Planetary Science and Exploration (CPSX), the Department of Earth Sciences, and the Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Western Ontario & NSERC CREATE Technologies and Techniques in Earth and Space Exploration, the principal objective of this course is to provide participants with an interdisciplinary field studies experience with an emphasis on planetary surface processes. Emphasis will be placed on volcanism, impact cratering, tectonics and fluvial and Aeolian erosion. More details available at:

http://cpsx.uwo.ca/study/study-1/graduate-courses/2015-planetary-science-fieldschool

Deposit is due January 15, 2015.

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AAS/CSWA WORKPLACE CLIMATE SURVEY

The AAS Committee on the Status of Women in Astronomy (CSWA) is conducting a survey on Workplace Climate. The CSWA wants to learn if members of the astronomical and/or planetary communities encounter negative language, or experience verbal or physical altercations on the basis of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability status, or race and ethnicity. The survey is designed to request information during the respondent’s current position and previous position (if the respondent has changed positions within the last five years). This information is requested in order to understand if astronomers and planetary scientists encounter varying workplace climates at different stages of their career.

Please help us in our pursuit to better understand how workplace climate impacts the members of the astronomical community. Go to

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CSWA_Workplace_Climate_Survey

to complete a confidential survey. We appreciate your input and welcome participation from all members of the astronomical and planetary scientist community over the age of 18.

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AAAS MASS MEDIA SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FELLOWS PROGRAM

This 10-week summer program places science, engineering, and mathematics students at media organizations nationwide. Fellows use their academic training as they research, write, and report today’s headlines, sharpening their abilities to communicate complex scientific issues to the public.http://www.aaas.org/program/aaas-mass-media-science-engineering-fellows-program

The AAAS is also recruiting Spanish Language Fellows for 2015:

http://www.aaas.org/massmedia/spanish

Application Deadline January 15, 2015.

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CASTALIA CALL FOR SUPPORT

Castalia: A mission to a Main Belt Comet

Main Belt Comets (MBCs) constitute a newly identified class of solar system objects. They have stable, asteroid-like orbits and some exhibit a recurrent comet-like appearance. It is believed that they survived the age of the solar system in a dormant state and that their current ice sublimation-driven activity only began recently. Buried water ice is the only volatile expected to survive under an insulating surface. Excavation by an impact can expose the ice and trigger the start of MBC activity.

A proposal for a mission named Castalia will be submitted to the European Space Agency by January 15th, for consideration as an M4 mission candidate for its Cosmic Vision programme. The specific science goals of the Castalia mission are to:

1. Characterize a new Solar System family, the MBCs, by in-situ investigation
2. Understand the physics of activity on MBCs
3. Directly sample water in the asteroid belt and test if MBCs are a viable source for Earth’s water
4. Use the observed structure of an MBC as a tracer of planetary system formation and evolution.

These goals can be achieved by a multi-instrumented spacecraft designed to rendezvous with and orbit an MBC for a time interval of some months, sampling the gas and dust released during the active phase. These observations will be particularly important in light of recent results from the Rosetta mission to Comet 67P.

MBC 133P/Elst-Pizarro is the primary target for Castalia. A design study has been carried out in partnership between the science team, DLR and OHB System.

The members of Castalia’s international team of proposers would welcome indications of support for the mission. We ask everyone who wishes to express their support to please do so at the following webpage:

http://bit.ly/joincastalia

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PSS SPECIAL ISSUE

CALL FOR PAPERS : PLANETARY SPACE SCIENCE SPECIAL ISSUE ON OUTER PLANET SYSTEMS XI

TITLE OF SPECIAL ISSUE: “Atmospheres, Magnetospheres and Surfaces of the outer planets, their satellites and ring systems: Part XI”

Following up on our previous 10 special issues for PSS on this subject, we invite colleagues who have recently given a presentation concerning outer planets and their systems at one of the 2014 Planetary meetings (EGU, EPSC, AOGS, COSPAR, etc) to submit a paper in a new special issue of Planetary and Space Science on the subject of the sessions regarding the Atmospheres, Magnetospheres and Surfaces of the outer planets, their satellites and ring systems.

All papers presented in these meetings (solicited, contributed oral and posters) and concerning results on the outer planets and their systems, as well as laboratory or modelling work for the analysis of such data, are welcome to an article in this PSS issue.

This special issue will also include solicited reviews on the progress in the research concerning outer planets systems in the past years (likely themes could include the giant planets, the icy moons, the rings, etc)… This issue can cover also some of the contributions related to the 10th anniversary of the Cassini-Huygens mission.

AS A FIRST STEP WE ASK FOR AN INDICATION OF INTEREST FROM POTENTIAL AUTHORS SO AS TO KNOW HOW MANY PAPERS MIGHT BE EXPECTED, PREFERABLY BY 15 FEBRUARY 2015 OR BEFORE.

The usual refereeing process is applied for publication in PSS. The deadline for submission of the manuscripts for this issue will be end of April 2015. We do not have a specific page limitation. Submitted manuscripts should be written in good, grammatical English. Care should be taken to ensure that the wording is matter of fact and not superfluous. The text should be long enough to deal with the subject in a scientific manner, and this varies depending on the subject being handled. Authors are invited to submit their paper in the appropriate PSS electronic format to one of the guest editors (see hereafter). For further instructions see the Journal’s web site guidelines for the authors.
The Conveners/Editors

– Athena Coustenis ([email protected])
– Sushil Atreya ([email protected])
– Julie Castillo ([email protected])
– Ingo Müller-Wodarg ([email protected])
– Linda Spilker ([email protected])
– Giovanni Strazzulla ([email protected])

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SUMMER SCIENCE PROGRAM
No ordinary summer job … the Summer Science Program is a unique and unusually rewarding opportunity to teach and mentor some of the most promising young scientists in the world. SSP seeks faculty to lead research teams of extraordinarily gifted high school students (rising seniors) in near-earth asteroid observations and orbit determinations.
On each of two campuses – Univ. of Colorado Boulder and New Mexico Tech in Socorro – two faculty teach the physics, vector calculus, and observational astronomy required to perform near-earth asteroid orbit determination from first principles and their own observations. The pace is faster than typical college courses. Four Teaching Assistants tutor, mentor, and supervise students outside of the classroom. A Site Director provides residential and logistical support.
All faculty receive salary, housing, meals, and travel reimbursement.
The Summer Science Program is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse faculty and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. (Non-US citizens must have legal permission to work in the US; we cannot sponsor employment visas.) All positions are open until filled.
Faculty are on campus (almost) continuously for 44 days and 43 nights. Dates are:
• Socorro, NM: Tuesday June 16 through Thursday, July 30, 2015
• Boulder, CO: Tuesday June 23 through Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015

http://www.summerscience.org/contactus/jobs.php

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HST 2020 VISION WHITE PAPERS – CHANGE IN DEADLINE
Dear Colleagues,

STScI has issued a call to the community for white papers describing initiatives that will enhance significantly Hubble’s scientific legacy from the next 5 years of observations.

The initial deadline for white paper submission was given a February 20th, 2015. NASA’s Discovery Program deadline is February 16th 2015. To accommodate our colleagues in planetary science, we are moving the white paper deadline to March 4th 2015. All submissions prior to that deadline will receive full consideration.
Further details are given here, http://www.stsci.edu/hst/

Neill Reid & Ken Sembach, STScI

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UPCOMING MEETINGS

A) EUROPEAN PLANETARY SCIENCE CONGRESS (EPSC) 2015

The 10th European Planetary Science Congress will take place at La Cité des Congrès, Nantes, France, from 27 September – 02 October 2015. We thank you for making the last EPSC meeting in Cascais, Portugal, a great success with 591 participants from 27 countries. In order to ensure a high scientific and technical quality of the next congress, we ask you to send any comments or feedback concerning the last meeting to Manuel Grande ([email protected]) or another member of the EPSC Executive Board. As with the previous highly successful EPSC meetings, EPSC2015 provides an attractive platform to exchange and present results, develop new ideas and to network the planetary science community in Europe. A forum you might say! It will have a distinctively interactive style, with a mix of talks, workshops and posters, intended to provide a stimulating environment for the community to meet.. The modern congress centre is very close to the centre of Nantes, an attractive city, the historical capital of Brittany, on the west coast of France, about 2 hours by high speed train from Paris. The success of EPSC is founded on the excellence of its sessions and conveners. So we encourage you to make session or workshop proposals on the conference website before 29 January 2015:

http://www.epsc2015.eu

Manuel Grande and Maria Teresa Capria, Scientific Organizing Committee Chairs
Mario Ebel, Copernicus Meetings

B) WORKSHOP ON PLANETARY PROTECTION KNOWLEDGE GAPS FOR HUMAN EXTRATERRESTRIAL MISSIONS

March 24-26, 2015
NASA Ames Research Center, CA

http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/ppw2015/

Abstract deadline January 22, 2015

C) 26th IUGG GENERAL ASSEMBLY

June 22-July 2, 2015
Prague, Czech Republic

http://www.iugg2015prague.com/

Abstract deadline January 31, 2015

Please consider submitting an abstract to the IAMAS/ICPAE-related symposia, as follows:

– M08 Comparative Planetary Atmospheres within and beyond the Solar System
Convener: Feng Tian (Beijing, China) Co-conveners: Sanjay Limaye (Madison, USA), Leigh Fletcher (Oxford, U.K.), Darrell Strobel (Baltimore, USA), Athena Coustenis (Paris, France)

Topics include all aspects and characteristics of atmospheres from terrestrial worlds to giant planets; the evolutionary paths of various atmospheres, especially exoplanets thought to be habitable. Planetary origins both in our solar system and in exoplanetary systems will also be featured. Contributions should focus on the comparative aspect of these research topics, and broader relevance to atmospheric sciences.

– M09 Solar System Exploration of Atmospheres with Ground-Based and Space-Based Platforms
Convener: Sanjay Limaye (Madison, USA) Co-conveners: Ralf Greve (Tokyo, Japan), Leigh Fletcher (Oxford, U.K.), Darrell Strobel (Baltimore, USA)

Topics include recent contributions from missions and space-based observatories including, but not limited to, atmospheric composition and chemistry; density and thermal structure; dynamics and energetics; clouds, aerosols and haze. Themes include climate and seasonal variations, surface atmosphere interactions, “hydrological” cycles, atmospheric escape and evolution.

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JOBS/POSITIONS OPPORTUNITIES

For all Job opportunities, please visit jobs and also consider posting a job by filling out the jobs submission form at:node/add/job

You can send any comments, questions, or suggestions to the DPS Jobs Czar at: [email protected]

A) NRAO POSTDOC AT GREENBANK, WEST VIRGINIA

https://cw.na1.hgncloud.com/nrao/loadJobPostingDetails.do?jobPostingID=100901&source=jobList

Application deadline: 15 February 2015

Newsletter 15-1

Issue 15-01, January 6, 2015

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1)    SMALL BODIES ASSESSMENT GROUP MEETING
2)    LPI SUMMER INTERN PROGRAMS
3)    UPCOMING MEETINGS
4)    JOBS/POSITIONS OPPORTUNITIES
+———————————————————————+

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SMALL BODIES ASSESSMENT GROUP MEETING

The 12th NASA SBAG (Small Bodies Assessment Group) meeting will be
held January 6-7, 2015, in Tempe, AZ.

Information to participate remotely via WebEx and a call-in phone
number are now posted at the SBAG website at:

http://www.lpi.usra.edu/sbag/meetings/

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LUNAR AND PLANETARY INSTITUTE SUMMER INTERN PROGRAMS DEADLINES APPROACHING

Summer Intern Program in Planetary Science: Deadline 9 January 2015
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/lpiintern/

Exploration Science Summer Intern Program: Deadline 23 January 2015
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/exploration_intern/

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UPCOMING MEETINGS

Comparative Tectonics and Geodynamics of Venus, Earth, and Rocky Exoplanets
May 4-6, 2015
Pasadena, California

http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/geodyn2015/

Abstract Deadline 26 February 2015

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JOBS/POSITIONS OPPORTUNITIES

For all Job opportunities, please visit jobs and also consider posting a job by filling out the job submission form at:node/add/job

You can send any comments, questions, or suggestions to the DPS Jobs Czar at: [email protected]

A) TWO TENURE-TRACK POSITIONS, UNIVERSITY OF ANTOFAGASTA, CHILE

http://jobregister.aas.org/job_view?JobID=50378

Application deadline: 31 January 2015

B) PROGRAM DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF ASTRONOMICAL SCIENCES, NSF

https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/389641300

Application deadline: 2 February 2015

C) ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, ROCHESTER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

http://jobs.physicstoday.org/jobs/6695347

Application deadline: 1 February 2015

Newsletter 14-231

Issue 14-31, December 23, 2014

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1) LAST CALL: RENEW YOUR AAS/DPS MEMBERSHIP TODAY!
2) HUBBLE WHITE PAPER
3) UPCOMING MEETINGS
4) JOBS/POSITIONS OPPORTUNITIES
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LAST CALL: RENEW YOUR AAS/DPS MEMBERSHIP TODAY!

Please also consider making an end-of-year gift to the DPS Hartmann Student Travel Grant Program and/or the Susan Niebur Professional Development Fund when you renew your membership.

With no dues increase and a “stellar” lineup of benefits, there isn’t a better time than now to renew your commitment to the AAS/DPS.
AAS emailed members in early September announcing the start of membership renewal season, and many took notice. Online renewals are arriving at a steady pace. If you have already paid your dues, thanks for your continued support.

To help reduce costs and the Society’s carbon footprint, we encourage you to renew online today for fast, easy self-service. Simply log in to pay your dues, to confirm or update your journal subscriptions and Division memberships, and to lock in savings for 2016 by renewing for two years at the current rate. (Note: That last option isn’t available to junior members, who instead get two years for the price of one — currently $77 —when first joining the Society, then renew annually thereafter.)

Renew before 31 December to maintain your benefits and receive additional savings: the AAS will extend a one-time 15% discount off your portion of the author charges for one paper published in the Astronomical Journal, the Astrophysical Journal, ApJ Letters, or ApJ Supplement. Eligible members can double their savings: if you renew by 31 December for two years, you will receive the 15% author discount on one paper each in 2015 and 2016.
The Society has much planned for 2015 — including the 225th meeting of the AAS in Seattle in January and the 29th General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in Honolulu in August — so you won’t want to miss out on the latest science, member communications, and career and networking opportunities. Supporting the AAS is supporting your discipline. Renew today!

If you have any questions about your dues or benefits, or need assistance when logging in, please contact the membership team by email at [email protected] or by phone at 202-328-2010. Thank you!
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CALL FOR WHITE PAPERS: USING HUBBLE IN NEXT FIVE YEARS

Space Telescope Science Institute solicits white papers from the community about how best to structure the next five years of Hubble observations. The white papers should describe initiatives that will enhance significantly Hubble’s scientific legacy and must have a length of no more than 3 pages.

White papers are due 20 February 2014 and can address any aspect of the Hubble program.

White papers should summarize the anticipated science objectives, conveying a sense of their import, urgency, and timeliness. They should explain why those objectives cannot be accomplished under the present time allocation system. They should also include a preliminary assessment of feasibility of the proposed changes. White papers should be submitted as pdf files via e-mail to:[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> and copied to Neill Reid ([email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>). If no acknowledgement is received within 3 days, please inform us via e-mail. Questions about the complete notification should be addressed to[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>, copying [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>.

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UPCOMING MEETINGS

A) PLANETARY SYSTEMS: A SYNERGISTIC VIEW
International Center for Interdisciplinary Science Education
Quy Nhon, Vietnam
19 – 25 July 2015

http://rencontresduvietnam.org/conferences/2015/planetary-systems/

RATIONALE
“Planetary systems: A synergistic view” will bring together exoplanet and solar system specialists to exchange ideas and discuss opportunities to develop science and science education in Vietnam. Invited presentations and contributed talks will focus on major new observational projects and what we expect to learn over the next decade. The conference will be structured around key topics such as results from solar system and exoplanet missions, comparative studies of planet formation, criteria for habitability and lessons from our solar system, future missions. :

VENUE
As part of the series “Rencontres du Vietnam”, the conference will be held at the recently completed International Center for Interdisciplinary Science Education (ICISE), in the beautiful beach town of Quy Nhon in Central Vietnam.

SUPPORT
Limited financial support for registration and lodging is available for graduate students and young scientists from developing countries, including Eastern Europe. Unfortunately, there is no support for transportation costs for airfare or train tickets. Financial support requests may be submitted online at http://supernovae.in2p3.fr/users/jacdz/grantform.php

ORGANIZING INSTITUTION
Rencontres du Vietnam, Series Founder: Jean Tran Thanh Van

SCIENCE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE:
Jonathan Lunine, Chair (Cornell University)—to be contacted for more information.
Bethany Ehlmann (Caltech)
Heidi Hammel (AURA)
Lisa Kaltenegger (Cornell University)
Jim Kasting (Penn State University)
Heather Knutson (Caltech)
Eduardo Martin (CAB, CSIC-INTA, Madrid)
Yamila Miguel (MPI, Heidelberg)

B) LPSC 2015

The 46th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference will be held at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center in The Woodlands, Texas, on March 16-20, 2015.

Abstract submission is now open and abstracts are due on January, 6, 2015.

http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2015/

C) EGU 2015

Vienna, Austria
http://www.egu2015.eu/
Dear Colleague,
This is to remind you that the abstract submission for the EGU General Assembly is coming up soon. Please submit abstracts to our sessions in PS3 soon:
PS3 – Outer planets
http://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2015/sessionprogramme
Detailed information on how to submit an abstract can be found at:
http://egu2015.eu//abstract_management/how_to_submit_an_abstract.html
The deadline for the receipt of Abstracts is 07 Jan 2015, 13:00 CET.

PS3.1 Outer planets, icy satellites and rings
Convener: Athena Coustenis | Co-Conveners: Glenn Orton, Linda Spilker , Sushil K. Atreya , Jean-Pierre Lebreton, Nicolas Altobelli
This session welcomes papers about the outer planets and Pluto systems, including their satellites with atmospheres or not, with special emphasis on observations (both from space and from the ground), modelling, and theoretical interpretation. Abstracts on satellite interactions with their neutral environments, and ring systems are also welcome. Supporting laboratory investigations and concepts for future spacecraft missions and investigations are also relevant to this session.

PS3.2 Huygens Probe 10th anniversary session
Convener: David H. Atkinson | Co-Conveners: Jean-Pierre Lebreton, Athena Coustenis, Ralph D. Lorenz, Dennis Matson, Olivier Witasse

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Huygens probe landing on Titan (14 January, 2005), a special Huygens Probe 10th anniversary session is being planned for the 2015 EGU meeting. This session will highlight the Huygens mission, the major discoveries of Huygens, and will consider the significance these discoveries in the broader perspective of Saturn, the giant planets, and the solar system.
On January 14, 2005, the European Space Agency’s Huygens probe arrived at and landed on Saturn’s Largest moon Titan. Huygens was an important element of the international Cassini mission to Saturn which continues until 2017. The data from the Huygens science investigations, developed under true international partnerships, continues to be used to this day to improve our understanding of Titan, the Saturn system and the other giant planets, and the solar system. Ten years later we remember the development of the Huygens mission, and we reflect on the impact of Huygens’ remarkable achievements on solar system science.
(Please note that EGU does not provide financial support for invited speakers.)

D) USER TRAINING IN JWST DATA ANALYSIS

May 6-8, 2015
Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, Maryland
http://www.stsci.edu/institute/conference/ut_jwst_da/

E) LIFE IN A EUROPA PLUME WORKSHOP

On Wednesday, February 18, 2015, the NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI) and the Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI) will co-host the workshop at NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, one day prior to the OPAG meeting at NASA Ames.

Further information available : http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/calendar/europa-plume-workshop/

F) SOFIA OBSERVERS WORKSHOP

May 20-21, 2015

The SOFIA Science Center will host a two-day workshop on Wednesday and Thursday, May 20 and 21, in Mountain View, California, near the SOFIA Science Center. The goals of the workshop are to help astronomers write compelling proposals for SOFIA observing time, and to guide them in analyzing SOFIA data. The workshop is intended for both junior and senior-level astronomers interested in learning more about airborne infrared astronomy research, as well as for SOFIA observers who want to understand infrared data processing and how to get the most science from their data. The workshop will cover SOFIA observing capabilities, details of the instruments to be available in Cycle 4, proposal preparation tools, the data archive, and descriptions of the data processing and calibration pipelines.

Astronomers are encouraged to visit the SOFIA Science Center the day after the workshop (Friday, May 22) for more in-depth help with analyzing data from previous observing cycles. There will be no registration fee for the workshop, but the attendance will be limited to about 30 participants. A website will be open soon for registration containing detailed information about the workshop agenda and schedule. Please feel free to direct questions to SOFIA scientific staff in the SOFIA booth during the winter 2015 AAS meeting in Seattle or contact us via the SOFIA Helpdesk: sofia_help {at} sofia.usra.edu. We look forward to your participation in the workshop!

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JOBS/POSITIONS OPPORTUNITIES

For all Job opportunities, please visit jobs and also consider posting a job by filling out the jobs submission form at:node/add/job

You can send any comments, questions, or suggestions to the DPS Jobs Czar at: [email protected]

A) TENURED/TENURE-TRACK PROFESSOR AT BROWN

https://apply.interfolio.com/24379

B) BLOOMBERG DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR OF EXOPLANETS

content/bloomberg-distinguished-professor-exoplanets

Application deadline: 1 February 2015

C) ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY

https://jobregister.aas.org/job_view?JobID=49245
Application deadline: 15 January 2015

D) ASTRONOMER, APPLICATIONS DEPT. U.S. NAVAL OBSERVATORY
https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/PrintPreview/389816700
E) POSITIONS AT NRAO
The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) has openings for a Scientist (Assistant/Associate)https://cw.na1.hgncloud.com/nrao/loadJobPostingDetails.do?jobPostingID=100760&source=jobList
and an Astronomer (Tenure Track) https://cw.na1.hgncloud.com/nrao/loadJobPostingDetails.do?jobPostingID=100761&source=jobList
Application deadline for both positions is 1 February 2015.

Newsletter 14-230

Issue 14-30, December 9, 2014

+—————————–CONTENTS——————————–+

SCIENCE ENABLED BY SPITZER PRIOR TO JWST
PIERAZZO INTERNATIONAL STUDENT TRAVEL AWARD
RENEW YOUR AAS/DPS MEMBERSHIP TODAY!
TRAVELERS IN THE NIGHT
SBAG HOTEL DEADLINE
JOBS/POSITIONS OPPORTUNITIES
UPCOMING MEETINGS

+———————————————————————+

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SCIENCE ENABLED BY SPITZER OBSERVATIONS PRIOR TO JWST

Dear Colleagues,

A Committee comprising science community representatives has convened under the auspices of the Cosmic Origins Program Analysis Group (COPAG) to draft a report on Science Enabled by Spitzer Space Telescope Observations Prior to JWST. This Science Analysis Group (SAG) 9 activity is described here: http://cor.gsfc.nasa.gov/sags/sag9.php .

A draft version of the report will be available early January 2015 for comment by any interested member of the science community, including planetary scientists, via email to [email protected]. The Committee is committed to conveying the community’s interests to NASA through its Astrophysics Subcommittee, to which the report will be submitted in March 2015. Please contact Stefanie Milam (stefanie.n.milam at nasa.gov) for more details.

SAG 9 Committee Members:

Daniela Calzetti (co-Chair), David Leisawitz (co-Chair), Lee Armus, Sean Carey, Ranga Ram Chary, Daniel Dale, Drake Deming, Joshua Emery, Kathleen Kraemer, Stefanie Milam, Avi Mandell, Rachel Osten, Ken Sembach, Adam Stanford, John Stauffer, Massimo Stiavelli, Michael Werner, Rogier Windhorst, Ned Wright

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PIERAZZO INTERNATIONAL STUDENT TRAVEL AWARD

2015 PIERAZZO INTERNATIONAL STUDENT TRAVEL AWARD

Application deadline: December 15, 2014

Awards will be announced on or about December 31, 2014

This award is established by the Planetary Science Institute in memory of Senior Scientist Betty Pierazzo to support and encourage
graduate students to build international collaborations and relationships in planetary science. Two awards will be made each year,
contingent upon there being meritorious applications. One will be awarded to a graduate student working on his or her Ph.D. at an
institution within the U.S. This is to support travel to a planetary science related meeting (conferences and workshops) outside of
the U.S. The second award will be to a graduate student working on his or her Ph.D. at an institution outside of the U.S. This is to
support travel to a planetary science related meeting within the U.S. These include general meetings that have planetary-focused
sessions such as the AGU, GSA, EGU and IAG.

The award will consist of a certificate and up to $2000US.

Additional information and application materials are available at: http://www.psi.edu/pista

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RENEW YOUR AAS/DPS MEMBERSHIP TODAY!

With no dues increase and a “stellar” lineup of benefits, there isn’t a better time than now to renew your commitment to the AAS/DPS.

AAS emailed members in early September announcing the start of membership renewal season, and many took notice. Online renewals are arriving at a steady pace. If you have already paid your dues, thanks for your continued support.

To help reduce costs and the Society’s carbon footprint, we encourage you to renew online today for fast, easy self-service. Simply log in to pay your dues, to confirm or update your journal subscriptions and Division memberships, and to lock in savings for 2016 by renewing for two years at the current rate. (Note: That last option isn’t available to junior members, who instead get two years for the price of one — currently $77 —when first joining the Society, then renew annually thereafter.)

The Society has much planned for 2015 — including the 225th meeting of the AAS in Seattle in January and the 29th General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in Honolulu in August — so you won’t want to miss out on the latest science, member communications, and career and networking opportunities. Supporting the AAS is supporting your discipline. Renew today!

If you have any questions about your dues or benefits, or need assistance when logging in, please contact the membership team by email at[email protected]or by phone at 202-328-2010. Thank you!

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TRAVELERS IN THE NIGHT

DPS members may be interested in Travelers In The Night.

Please give a listen: http://www.prx.org/series/33698-travelers-in-the-night

I am an observer with the University of Arizona’s Catalina Sky Survey Team. Travelers In The Night features an engaging and informative
series of two-minute radio programs about asteroids, comets, spacecraft and other objects in space. The pieces are “evergreen” in that they
are current but not dated. The script for each program piece can be found on travelersinthenight.org. At the end of each one you can click
for more information.

For radio stations Travelers In The Night is available from Google Drive or on CDs. I encourage DPS members to send me their research
results.

(From Al Grauer)

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SBAG (SMALL BODIES ASSESSMENT GROUP) HOTEL DEADLINE

The 12th SBAG meeting will be held January 6-7, 2015, in Tempe, AZ: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/sbag/meetings/

Please note that the hotel deadline is next Friday, Dec. 12. Registration is free but still important for planning purposes, so please register. A final meeting agenda is also now posted.

The SBAG 12 dates and location were selected in coordination with the Conference on Spacecraft Reconnaissance of Asteroid and Comet Interiors, AstroRecon, which will be held January 8-10, 2015, in Tempe, AZ:

http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/astrorecon2015/

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JOBS/POSITIONS OPPORTUNITIES

For all Job opportunities, please visit jobs

and also consider posting a job by filling out the jobs submission form at:

node/add/job

You can send any comments, questions, or suggestions to the DPS Jobs Czar at: [email protected]

A) ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT UC BERKELEY

The University of California, Berkeley Department of Earth and Planetary Science invites applications for a position at the Assistant Professor level with an expected start date of July 1, 2015.

Application closing date: 12 December 2014

http://eps.berkeley.edu/news/faculty-position-earth-and-planetary-science-0

B) POSTDOC IN NEO FOLLOW UP

The Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network, Inc. (LCOGT) and University of California, Santa Barbara seek a postdoctoral scientist to work on the follow up of Near Earth Objects (NEOs) and the creation of citizen science program.

Applications closing date: 2 January 2015

Website: http://lcogt.net/job/neo-follow-up?hootPostID=2ebb05ce09d1d4fac4992549dcf3cf30

C) RESEARCH ASSOCIATE IN SPACE PHYSICS, IMPERIAL COLLEGE UK

JOB OPENING: Research Associate in Space Physics, Imperial College London, UK

Title: Research Associate – Topic: Modeling of cometary plasma in the context of Rosetta Location: Space and Atmospheric Physics group,
Department of Physics, Imperial College London, London, UK – Duration: until March 31, 2016

Website: http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/spat/jobs

Closing date for application: 5 January 2015

D) POSTDOC AT THE OBSERVATORIO NACIONAL, RIO DE JANEIRO

Atmospheric structure of extrasolar planets.

Application due date 1 February 2015

Website: content/post-doc-observatório-nacional-rio-de-janeiro-atmospheric-structure-extrasolar-planets

E) POSITIONS AT NRAO

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) has openings for a Scientist (Assistant/Associate)https://cw.na1.hgncloud.com/nrao/loadJobPostingDetails.do?jobPostingID=100760&source=jobList

and an Astronomer (Tenure Track) https://cw.na1.hgncloud.com/nrao/loadJobPostingDetails.do?jobPostingID=100761&source=jobList

Application deadline for both positions is 1 February 2015.

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UPCOMING MEETINGS

A) LPSC 2015

The 46th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference will be held at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center in The Woodlands, Texas, on March 16-20, 2015.

Abstract submission is now open and abstracts are due on January, 6, 2015.

http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2015/

B) EGU 2015

12 – 17 April 2015

Vienna, Austria

http://www.egu2015.eu/

The EGU welcomes further proposals for Topical Meetings, Training Schools and Workshops, as well as applications for EGU Sponsorship of External Meetings, for the year 2015.
Successful proposals result in high profile EGU events with financial support.

Proposals for events in 2015 must be submitted by 31 December 2014 only via the online form on the EGU website (http://www.egu.eu/meetings/support-request/).

More information about the aims, format and mechanisms of the EGU Topical Events Programme together with application guidelines can be found at the above link.

Among several other sessions related to planetary sciences (PS), please note that to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Huygens probe landing on Titan (14 January, 2005), a special Huygens Probe 10th anniversary session is planned.

Session PS3.2: Huygens Probe 10th anniversary session

http://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2015/sessionprogramme

This session will highlight the Huygens mission, the major discoveries of Huygens, and will consider the significance these discoveries in the broader perspective of Saturn, the giant planets, and the solar system.

The Abstract Submission link for the Session PS3.2 can be found at

http://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2015/sessionprogramme

Detailed information on how to submit an abstract can be found at:

http://egu2015.eu//abstract_management/how_to_submit_an_abstract.html

The deadline for the receipt of Abstracts is 07 Jan 2015, 13:00 CET. In case you would like to apply for support, please submit no later than 28 Nov 2014.

Please note that EGU cannot provide financial support for invited speakers.

Looking forward to seeing you in Vienna !

The Conveners: D. Atkinson, J.-P. Lebreton, A. Coustenis, R. Lorenz, D. Matson, O. Witasse

C) USER TRAINING IN JWST DATA ANALYSIS

May 6-8, 2015

Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, Maryland

http://www.stsci.edu/institute/conference/ut_jwst_da/

Newsletter 14-29

Issue 14-29, December 2, 2014

+—————————–CONTENTS——————————–+

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
PIERAZZO INTERNATIONAL STUDENT TRAVEL AWARD
RENEW YOUR AAS/DPS MEMBERSHIP TODAY!
RESOURCES AND AN AWARD FOR THOSE TEACHING ASTRONOMY & SPACE SCIENCE
ICARUS SPECIAL ISSUES
JOBS/POSITIONS OPPORTUNITIES
UPCOMING MEETINGS

+———————————————————————+

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MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR

I want to thank you again for the opportunity to serve the community of planetary scientists. We just had a successful meeting in Tucson under the leadership of Faith Vilas, SOC Chair, and Joe Spitale, LOC Chair. I thank them, their committees, and the AAS staff, who did a great job working with us, as usual. We are also fortunate to have an active and engaged DPS Committee. Joining us this year are Jason Barnes, as Vice-Chair, Anne Verbiscer as Secretary, and Bonnie Meinke as Education Director. Big thanks are due to Athena Coustenis and Nick Schneider for their respective 4 and 5-year stints as Secretary and Education Director. Other new Committee Members are Josh Emery and Amy Lovell.

During the coming year, I would like to work on two things: encouraging every member of DPS to be involved in some form of outreach (or if you already involved, to expand your efforts), and in extending our membership and activities into groups of scientists who have not been traditionally active in DPS, including planetary geologists and geophysicists and space physicists. If you have ideas that you didn’t already bring up at the Members meeting, please send them to me and I will share them in the Newsletter.

Bonnie Buratti

DPS Chair

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PIERAZZO INTERNATIONAL STUDENT TRAVEL AWARD

A) SOLAR SYSTEM OBSERVATIONS WITH THE K2 MISSION

2015 PIERAZZO INTERNATIONAL STUDENT TRAVEL AWARD

Application deadline: December 15, 2014

Awards will be announced on or about December 31, 2014

This award is established by the Planetary Science Institute in memory of Senior Scientist Betty Pierazzo to support and encourage graduate students to build international collaborations and relationships in planetary science. Two awards will be made each year, contingent upon there being meritorious applications. One will be awarded to a graduate student working on his or her Ph.D. at an institution within the U.S. This is to support travel to a planetary science related meeting (conferences and workshops) outside of the U.S. The second award will be to a graduate student working on his or her Ph.D. at an institution outside of the U.S. This is to support travel to a planetary science related meeting within the U.S. These include general meeting
s that ha
ve planetary-focused sessions such as the AGU, GSA, EGU and IAG.

The award will consist of a certificate and up to $2000US.

Additional information and application materials are available at: http://www.psi.edu/pista

3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3

RENEW YOUR AAS/DPS MEMBERSHIP TODAY!

With no dues increase and a “stellar” lineup of benefits, there isn’t a better time than now to renew your commitment to the AAS/DPS.

To help reduce costs and the Society’s carbon footprint, we encourage you to renew online today for fast, easy self-service. Simply log in to pay your dues, to confirm or update your journal subscriptions and Division memberships, and to lock in savings for 2016 by renewing for two years at the current rate. (Note: That last option isn’t available to junior members, who instead get two years for the price of one — currently $77 —when first joining the Society, then renew annually thereafter.)

If you have any questions about your dues or benefits, or need assistance when logging in, please contact the membership team by email at [email protected]or by phone at 202-328-2010. Thank you!

4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4

RESOURCES AND AN AWARD FOR THOSE TEACHING ASTRONOMY & SPACE SCIENCE

A) New or Updated Resource Guides for Astronomy Educators

A new guide to educational resources about eclipses in general and the “Great American Eclipse of the Sun” in 2017 is available at: http://www.astrosociety.org/eclipse2017

New resource guides in the Unheard Voices series, “The Astronomy of Many Cultures” and “Women in Astronomy” can be found at: http://multiverse.ssl.berkeley.edu/Learning-Resources/Educator-Resource-Guides

An updated guide to science fiction stories with reasonable astronomy and physics (organized by science topic) is now available at: http://www.astrosociety.org/scifi

B) Astronomy Talks on YouTube

New talks by noted astronomers in the Silicon Valley Astronomy Lecture Series can be found on their YouTube channel at: http://www.youtube.com/SVAstronomyLectures/

Recent lectures include: Caleb Scharf (Columbia) on “The Copernicus Complex;” Michael Bicay (NASA) on “A Decade of Spitzer Space Telescope Results;” Chung-Pei Ma (U of California, Berkeley) on “Monster Black Holes;” Roger Romani (Stanford) on “Black Widow Pulsars; ” and Alex Filippenko (Berkeley) on “Exploding Stars, New Planets, and the Crisis at the Lick Observatory.”

Audio-only Podcasts that can be played on many different devices are also available at: https://www.astrosociety.org/education/past-silicon-valley-astronomy-lectures/

C) ASP Invites Nominations for the Emmons Award for College Astronomy Teaching

The Astronomical Society of the Pacific is now accepting nominations for the 2015 Emmons Award for outstanding contributions to the teaching of college-level introductory astronomy. Please see: http://www.astrosociety.org/about-us/the-richard-h-emmons-award-for-excellence-in-college-astronomy-teaching/ for more information. Nomination materials are due by Feb. 15, 2015.

(From Andew Fraknoi)

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ICARUS SPECIAL ISSUES

A) PLANETARY RINGS

The year 2014 marks the tenth year of operations of the NASA/ESA Cassini orbiter at Saturn, a period which has seen a tremendous increase in our knowledge of the planet’s ring system. As a result, previous theoretical models have been challenged or revised, and many new questions raised. In August 2014, the Fourth Planetary Rings Workshop was held in Boulder, CO, sponsored by the Cassini Rings Working Group. This special issue brings together papers presented at the meeting, but is also open to other contributions describing new

observational or theoretical work on this topic.

Topics of interest include:

– New observations or analyses of data for Saturn’s rings from Cassini, or ground-based observations.

– New results on the ring systems of other bodies, including Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune.

– Theoretical analyses or numerical modeling of any aspect of planetary rings systems.

Submission Format:

Submitted papers must be written in English and describe original research which is neither published nor currently under review by other journals. Author guidelines for preparation of manuscripts can be found at:

http://www.elsevier.com/journals/icarus/0019-1035/guide-for-authors

For more information, please contact the editorial office at

[email protected].

Guest Editors:

Philip Nicholson (lead)

Larry Esposito

Jeffrey Cuzzi

B) TITAN

As Titan approaches northern summer solstice in 2017, seasonal variations in solar insolation are driving dynamic changes to its surface and atmosphere. A primary objective of the Cassini Solstice Mission is to study these changes and monitor the evolution of Titan’s hydrocarbon-based hydrologic cycle. Titan’s exotic environment ensures that even rudimentary measurements of atmospheric/surface interactions, such as wind-wave generation or aeolian dune development,

provide valuable data to anchor physical models.

Titan’s seas are being illuminated for the first time during the Cassini mission. This special issue invites papers that describe observations, theoretical models, and laboratory experiments that

relate to the processes that modify Titan’s surface and drive its atmosphere.

Topics of interest include:

– New results documenting surface and atmospheric processes on Titan

from both the Cassini mission and telescopic observations.

– Theoretical modeling predicting activity on Titan’s surface and

within its atmosphere.

– Laboratory investigations into the underlying processes related to

activity on Titan.

Submission Format:

Submitted papers must be written in English and describe original research which is neither published nor currently under review. See:

http://www.elsevier.com/journals/icarus/0019-1035/guide-for-authors

for detailed author guidelines. For more information, please contact the editorial office at [email protected].

Guest Editors:

Alex Hayes (lead)

Jason Soderblom

Mate Adamkovics

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JOBS/POSITIONS OPPORTUNITIES

For all Job opportunities, please visit jobs

and also consider posting a job by filling out the jobs submission form at:

node/add/job

You can send any comments, questions, or suggestions to the DPS Jobs Czar at: [email protected]

A) ESA’s PLATO M3 MISSION POST-DOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOW

Applications are invited for a full time Post-doctoral Research Fellow in support of ESA’s PLATO M3 Mission jointly funded by UKSpA and the University of Warwick.
The position, which is available from December 2014, is initially funded for a period of three years but is expected to last the duration of the PLATO mission (2030+).
The successful candidate will hold a PhD degree and have a proven research track record.

Closing Date: 7 December 2014

Please find the complete job advertisement under the following URL:

https://atsv7.wcn.co.uk/search_engine/jobs.cgi?SID=amNvZGU9MTQ0NDc2OSZ2dF90ZW1wbGF0ZT0xNDU3Jm93bmVyPTUwNjI0NTImb3duZXJ0eXBlPWZhaXImYnJhbmRfaWQ9MCZ2YWNfeHRyYTUwNjI0NTIuNTJfNTA2MjQ1Mj0yMzk5NTcmcG9zdGluZ19jb2RlPTYzNSZyZXFzaWc9MTQxNTM1NTEzMS1mMjFhOTMzYzFiZDZhMGVmZDg1NDQ5YWI0MDdiODBmM2Y1OWJlZDY4

B) Ph.D. PROGRAM OF THE API/GRAPPA, AMSTERDAM

The Anton Pannekoek Institute for Astronomy (API) and the GRAPPA (GRavitation and AstroParticle Physics in Amsterdam) Center of Excellence, at the University of Amsterdam, invite applications for multiple PhD positions in astronomy, astrophysics and astroparticle physics. The positions are open to candidates from any country. The institutes provide a stimulating, international environment in a city where English is the common second language.

University of Amsterdam PhD students are fully-funded for four years and earn competitive salaries. PhD students execute a vigorous research program, under the supervision of one or more faculty members. Positions will be available in a number of fields of research where the institutes are active, including exoplanets, neutron stars and black holes, supernova remnants, fast radio transients, and the nature and detection of dark matter.

More information about our research can be found at http://www.astro.uva.nl/research/ and http://grappa.science.uva.nl .

Instructions for applicants are available at http://www.astro.uva.nl/jobs . Applications will be via online submission where, as well as providing details of at least two referees, applicants will have to provide a curriculum vitae, a list of all university courses taken and grades obtained, and a cover letter which includes a brief statement of research interests and experience.

The successful candidates must have a MSc degree (or equivalent) by the PhD starting date, which will typically be in Autumn 2015, but this is negotiable. Applications need to be submitted on or before December 11th, 2014. By early-January we will invite promising candidates for a presentation and interviews to be held on February 12 and 13, 2015.

Contact email: [email protected] Contact person: Ms. Milena Hoekstra

Included Benefits: The standard, generous Dutch social benefits apply to this position including collective health insurance, 16 weeks paid maternity leave, childcare subsidies, pension accrual, and several weeks annual paid vacation.

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UPCOMING MEETINGS

A) LPSC 2015

The 46th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference will be held at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center in The Woodlands, Texas, on March 16-20, 2015.

Abstract submission is now open and abstracts are due on January, 6, 2015.

http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2015/

B) EGU 2015

12 – 17 April 2015

Vienna, Austria

http://www.egu2015.eu/

Proposals for events in 2015 must be submitted by 31 December 2014 only via the online form on the EGU website (http://www.egu.eu/meetings/support-request/).

More information about the aims, format and mechanisms of the EGU Topical Events Programme together with application guidelines can be found at the above link.

Session PS3.2: Huygens Probe 10th anniversary session

http://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2015/sessionprogramme

The Abstract Submission link for the Session PS3.2 can be found at

http://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2015/sessionprogramme

Detailed information on how to submit an abstract can be found at:

http://egu2015.eu//abstract_management/how_to_submit_an_abstract.html

The deadline for the receipt of Abstracts is 07 Jan 2015, 13:00 CET. In case you would like to apply for support, please submit no later than 28 Nov 2014.

Please note that EGU cannot provide financial support for invited speakers.

Looking forward to seeing you in Vienna !

The Conveners: D. Atkinson, J.-P. Lebreton, A. Coustenis, R. Lorenz, D. Matson, O. Witasse

B) FOURTH INTERNATIONAL PLANETARY DUNES WORKSHOP

The Fourth International Planetary Dunes Workshop will be held May 19–22, 2015, at Boise State University, Boise, Idaho.

The purpose of this meeting is to provide a forum for discussion and the exchange of new ideas and approaches to gaining new insights into the aeolian processes that form and maintain dune fields on Earth and other planetary bodies within the solar system.

The first announcement is now available on the conference website:

http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/dunes2015/

C) 11TH IAA LOW-COST PLANETARY MISSION CONFERENCE (LCPM-11)

First Announcement:

The International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) LCPM-11 will be held on 9-11 June 2015, in Berlin, Germany, at the Archenhold Sternwarte located in one of the largest parks in the city. The meeting web site: http://www.dlr.de/LCPM11 has just gone live and will be updated regularly. We will convene in the Einstein Saal, the venue where Albert Einstein gave his first public lecture on the theory of relativity. The co-chairs, Tilman Spohn, German Aerospace Center (DLR) Institute of Planetary Research, and Gregg Vane, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Solar System Exploration Directorate, will work with the program committee and soon announce the preliminary program. Please mark your calendars now for this important meeting.

D) 12TH INTERNATIONAL PLANETARY PROBE WORKSHOP

June 15-19, 2015 Cologne, Germany

Short Course: June 13 – June 14, 2015
Workshop: June 15 – June 19, 2015
Hyatt Regency, Cologne, Germany

Purpose and Scope

Sending space vehicles to other worlds is one of humankind’s most challenging and rewarding ventures. The 12th International Planetary Probe Workshop (IPPW-12) will bring together engineers, technologists, scientists, mission designers, space agency leaders, and students from around the world for a compelling, week-long collaboration focused on exploring solar system destinations via in situ missions.

IPPW-12 will build upon the IPPW tradition by encouraging international cooperation in planetary probe missions, new technologies, and scientific discoveries. In addition, scholarships are available to support students from around the world with a unique opportunity to present their work and interact with the leaders in their discipline areas.

Workshop Goals

The long-standing goals of the IPPWs are to:

Review the state-of-the-art in science, mission design, engineering implementation and technologies for the in situ robotic exploration of solar system bodies. Share ideas, mission opportunities, and emerging technologies to enable future mission success.
Serve as a forum for discussions on innovative methodologies and techniques for upcoming probe and surface science missions.
Attract early career scientists and engineers to the field of entry, descent, and flight in planetary atmospheres, as well as surface science and exploration on other worlds, enabling them to learn from experienced researchers and practitioners.
Foster international collaboration among the communities of scientists, engineers, and mission designers with an interest in planetary probes and landers.

Workshop Format

The program will include invited talks, contributed presentations, posters, and opportunities for networking with colleagues from academia, aerospace industry, and international space agencies.

E) 26TH IUGG GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Prague, Czech Republic

June 22-July 2, 2015

http://www.iugg2015prague.com/

The 26th General Assembly of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG) will be held in Prague, Czech Republic, from the 22nd of June to the 2nd of July 2015, at the Prague Congress Center.

On line registration is now open and until June 15, 2015 (early deadline is April 10, 2015). Abstract submission deadline is January 31, 2015.

Please consider submitting an abstract to the IAMAS/ICPAE-related symposia, as follows:

– M08 Comparative Planetary Atmospheres within and beyond the Solar System

Convener: Feng Tian (Beijing, China)

Co-conveners: Sanjay Limaye (Madison, USA), Leigh Fletcher (Oxford, U.K.), Darrell Strobel (Baltimore, USA), Athena Coustenis (Paris, France)

Description

– M09 Solar System Exploration of Atmospheres with Ground-Based and Space-Based Platforms

Convener: Sanjay Limaye (Madison, USA)

Co-conveners: Ralf Greve (Tokyo, Japan), Leigh Fletcher (Oxford, U.K.), Darrell Strobel (Baltimore, USA)

Description

F) IAU GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Honolulu, Hawaii – August 3 – 14, 2015

http://astronomy2015.org/

· Symposia

o IAUS 314 – Young Stars & Planets Near the Sun (outside the General Assembly)

o IAUS 315 – From Interstellar Clouds to Star-forming Galaxies: Universal Processes?

o IAUS 316 – Formation, Evolution, and Survival of Massive Star Clusters

o IAUS 317 – The General Assembly of Galactic Halos: Structure, Origin and Evolution

o IAUS 318 – Asteroids: New Observations, New Models

o IAUS 319 – Galaxies at High Redshift and Their Evolution Over Cosmic Time

o IAUS 320 – Solar and Stellar Flares and Their Effects on Planets

· Focus Meetings

o FM 1 – Dynamical Problems in Extrasolar Planets Science

o FM 2 – Astronomical Heritage: Progressing the UNESCO–IAU Initiative

o FM 3 – Scholarly Publication in Astronomy: Evolution or Revolution?

o FM 4 – Planetary Nebulae as Probes of Galactic Structure and Evolution

o FM 5 – The Legacy of Planck

o FM 6 – X-ray Surveys of the Hot and Energetic Cosmos

o FM 7 – Stellar Physics in Galaxies Throughout the Universe

o FM 8 – Statistics and Exoplanets

o FM 9 – Highlights in the Exploration of Small Worlds

o FM 10 – Stellar Explosions in an Ever-changing Environment

o FM 11 – Global Coordination of Ground and Space Astrophysics and Heliophysics

o FM 12 – Bridging Laboratory Astrophysics and Astronomy

o FM 13 – Brightness Variations of the Sun and Sun-like Stars

o FM 14 – The Gravitational Wave Symphony of Structure Formation

o FM 15 – Search for Water and Life’s Building Blocks in the Universe (see hereeafter)

o FM 16 – Stellar Behemoths – Red Supergiants Across the Local Universe

o FM 17 – Advances in Stellar Physics from Asteroseismology

o FM 18 – Scale-free Processes in the Universe

o FM 19 – Communicating Astronomy with the Public in the Big Data Era

o FM 20 – Astronomy for Development

o FM 21 – Mitigating Threats of Light Pollution & Radio Frequency Interference

o FM 22 – The Frontier Fields: Transforming our Understanding of Cluster and Galaxy Evolution

– FOCUS MEETING 12 AT THE IAU GA

First announcement

Bridging Laboratory Astrophysics and Astronomy

A Focus Meeting within the IAU XXIX General Assembly

3 to 5 August 2015

Honolulu Convention Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

astronomy2015.org/focus_meeting_12<http://astronomy2015.org/focus_meeting_12>

Laboratory astrophysics is the Rosetta stone that enables astronomers to understand and interpret the cosmos. This Focus Meeting will discuss the strong interplay between astronomy and astrophysics with theoretical and experimental studies into the underlying processes that drive our Universe. These processes involve atoms, molecules, dust and ices, plasmas, planetary science, and nuclear and particle physics.

The IAU Commission 14 (Atomic and Molecular Data) and the Laboratory Astrophysics Division of the American Astronomical Society (AAS LAD) have coordinated their efforts for a joint meeting at the next GA in the form of a Focus Meeting to help bridge Laboratory Astrophysics and Astrochemistry with Astronomy by bringing together expert data providers and data users of laboratory and astronomical data. This is a truly multidisciplinary meeting that will bring together astronomers with theoretical and experimental chemists and physicists to discuss the state-of-the-art research in their respective disciplines and how their combined expertise can address important open questions in astronomy and astrophysics.

The program will consist of invited review talks by leading astronomers and laboratory astrophysicists at the forefront of the field, invited and contributed topical talks and posters that will provide opportunities for the presentation of new scientific developments, and discussion. For more information, see the website astronomy2015.org/focus_meeting_12<http://astronomy2015.org/focus_meeting_12>.

Interested scientists can register, submit abstracts, arrange lodging and logistics through the IAU General Assembly website www.astronomy2015.org<http://www.astronomy2015.org/>. Early registration is open until 1 Dec 2014.

We look forward to a productive cross-disciplinary exchange of ideas and hope to see many of you there.

Farid Salama, Lyudmila Mashonkina and Steve Federman on behalf of the SOC

SOC:
Martin Asplund, Australian National University, Australia
Beatriz Barbuy, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
Paul Drake, University of Michigan, USA
Steven Federman, University of Toledo, USA
Karlheinz Langanke, GSI, Germany
Harold Linnartz, Leiden Observatory, The Netherlands
Xiaowei Liu, Kavli Institute, P.R. China
Lyudmila Mashonkina, Institute of Astronomy RAS, Russia
Tom Millar, Queen’s Univ. Belfast, UK
Evelyne Roueff, Observatoire de Paris, France
Farid Salama, NASA-Ames Research Center, USA
Daniel Savin, Columbia University, USA

– FOCUS MEETING 15 AT THE IAU GA

Search for water and life’s building blocks in the universe

First Announcement

August 3-7, 2015, Honolulu

http://www.scifac.hku.hk/event/FM15/

The IAU GA Focus Meeting 15 is organized by the IAU Commission 51 and will be held during the general assembly in Honolulu. We will discuss the current status of the search and observation of water in solar system objects, in circumstellar environment, in interstellar clouds, and in external galaxies. Starting from the basic chemistry of water and water ice, we discuss the effects of water on planetary and star formation. The connective role of water and extraterrestrial organic matter on the origin of life of Earth will be explored.

The FM will consist of invited and contributed oral talks, as well as posters. All abstracts have to be submitted via the IAU GA web site and screened by the SOC. A list of approved abstracts will be posted on the web site for FM (http://www.scifac.hku.hk/event/FM15/).

FM 15 will cover the following focus areas:

Area 1: Water in the Universe

Area 2: Water and Organics in the Solar System

Area 3: Building Blocks of Life on Earth

Support :

Travel support is available from the IAU. Please apply before the deadline below.

Timetable :

Registration and abstract submission are handled by the IAU GA:

http://astronomy2015.org/. The important dates are:

December 1, 2014 Early Registration Due

March 18, 2015 Abstract Submission Due – 8:00pm ET/11:59pm UTC

April 1, 2015 Grant Application Due

May 28, 2015 Regular Registration Due

August 1, 2015 Late Registration Due

Notifications on the award of travel grants and the acceptance of abstracts will be sent out during spring of 2015.

Contact :

If you are interested in attending this meeting, please write a note to

[email protected]and we will keep your name on the list of the 2ndannouncement.

Scientific Organizing Committee :

Co-chairs

Sun Kwok, The University of Hong Kong, China Edwin Bergin, University of

Michigan, USA Pascale Ehrenfreund, FWF, Austria

G) 22ND SYMPOSIUM OF THE COMMITTEE ON SPACE RESEARCH (COSPAR): WATER AND LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE “COSPAR 2015”

Date: 9 – 13 November 2015

Place: Foz do Iguacu, Brazil

Contact:

COSPAR Secretariat, 2 place Maurice Quentin, 75039 Paris Cedex 01, France

Tel: +33 1 44 76 75 10

Fax: +33 1 44 76 74 37

[email protected]

http://cosparbrazil2015.org/

Scientific Program Chair:

Dr. Othon Winter, UNESP – São Paulo State University

Abstract Deadline: 31 May 2015

Topics:

– Space astronomy missions to detect ingredients for life and exoplanets in the universe: status of current and future approved missions and new proposals

– Water and life in the universe and on Earth: impact on human consciousness and societies

– Satellite and probe missions for water remote sensing on Earth, planets, and other celestial bodies

– Water and Life in the Solar System

– Water from chemical, biological, and physical perspectives

– Role of water from the ground to the upper atmosphere

– Astrobiology: habitability, synthesis of organics in ice, and prebiotic chemistry in liquid water

– Water, organics and life support for human exploration in low Earth orbit, the Moon and beyond

– Interdisciplinary lectures, keynote talks, public lectures

Selected papers published in Advances in Space Research and Life Sciences in Space Research, fully refereed journals with no deadlines open to all submissions in relevant fields.

H) 41ST SCIENTIFIC ASSEMBLY OF THE COMMITTEE ON SPACE RESEARCH (COSPAR) AND ASSOCIATED EVENTS “COSPAR 2016”

Date: 30 July – 7 August 2016

Place: Istanbul, Turkey

Contact:

COSPAR Secretariat, 2 place Maurice Quentin, 75039 Paris Cedex 01, France

Tel: +33 1 44 76 75 10

Fax: +33 1 44 76 74 37

[email protected]

http://www.cospar-assembly.org

Scientific Program Chair:

Prof. Ersin Gogus, Sabanci University

Abstract Deadline: Mid-February 2016

Topics:

Approximately 125 meetings covering the fields of COSPAR Scientific Commissions (SC) and Panels:

– SC A: The Earth’s Surface, Meteorology and Climate

– SC B: The Earth-Moon System, Planets, and Small Bodies of the Solar System

– SC C: The Upper Atmospheres of the Earth and Planets Including Reference Atmospheres

– SC D: Space Plasmas in the Solar System, Including Planetary Magnetospheres

– SC E: Research in Astrophysics from Space

– SC F: Life Sciences as Related to Space

– SC G: Materials Sciences in Space

– SC H: Fundamental Physics in Space

– Panel on Satellite Dynamics (PSD)

– Panel on Scientific Ballooning (PSB)

– Panel on Potentially Environmentally Detrimental Activities in Space (PEDAS)

– Panel on Radiation Belt Environment Modelling (PRBEM)

– Panel on Space Weather (PSW)

– Panel on Planetary Protection (PPP)

– Panel on Capacity Building (PCB)

– Panel on Education (PE)

– Panel on Exploration (PEX)

– Panel on Exoplanetary Exploration (PEPE)

– Special events: interdisciplinary lectures, round table, etc.

Selected papers published in Advances in Space Research and Life Sciences in Space Research, fully refereed journals with no deadlines open to all submissions in relevant fields.

———————————+

Send submissions to:

DPS Secretary ([email protected])

To unsubscribe visit http://aas.org/unsubscribe or email [email protected].

To change your address email [email protected].

Newsletter 14-27

Issue 14-27, November 3, 2014

+—————————–CONTENTS——————————–+
1)   IN MEMORIAM : CHARLES A. BARTH (1930-2014)
2)   WORKSHOPS AT THE DPS MEETING IN TUCSON
3)   RENEW YOUR AAS/DPS MEMBERSHIP TODAY!
4)   RESOURCES AND AN AWARD FOR THOSE TEACHING ASTRONOMY & SPACE SCIENCE
5)   JOBS/POSITIONS OPPORTUNITIES
6)   UPCOMING MEETINGS
+———————————————————————+

1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1
IN MEMORIAM : CHARLES A. BARTH (1930-2014)

Charles A. Barth, Professor Emeritus at the University of Colorado, died on October 14th 2014. Charles grew up in Philadelphia where he attended Central High School. He received his B.S. in chemistry at Lehigh University. After serving in the Air Force, he earned his Ph.D. from UCLA. From 1958 to 1959 he was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Bonn, Germany, followed by six years working at the CalTech/NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. From 1965 to 1992 he was the Director of the University of Colorado’s Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) and until 2002 a professor in the Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences. He became Professor Emeritus in 2002.

Between 1962 and 2002, Charles was active on numerous experiments studying the Earth and other planets, including Mariners 5, 6, 7, and 9, OGO-2, 4, 5, and 6, Atmosphere Explorer-C and D, the Solar Mesosphere Explorer, the Student Nitric Oxide Experiment, and instruments on Apollo 17, Pioneer Venus, Galileo, and Cassini. As a professor, he especially valued giving undergraduate students their first taste of space and planetary science by allowing them to design, build and operate spacecraft. He mentored and inspired many undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and scientists, producing a lasting legacy of friends, colleagues, and outstanding scientists. He will be missed greatly.

Transmitted by A. Hendrix

2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2
WORKSHOPS AT THE DPS MEETING IN TUCSON

A) SOLAR SYSTEM OBSERVATIONS WITH THE K2 MISSION

The K2 mission will make use of the Kepler spacecraft and its assets to expand upon Kepler’s groundbreaking discoveries through new and exciting observations.

K2 will use an innovative way of operating the spacecraft to observe target fields along the ecliptic for the next 2–3 years. Early science commissioning observations have shown an estimated photometric precision near 150 ppm in a single 30 minute observation, and a 6-hr photometric precision of 40 ppm (both at V = 12). The K2 mission offers long-term, simultaneous optical observations of thousands of objects at a precision far better than is achievable from ground-based telescopes. K2 will provide limited opportunities for solar system observations. Generally, slow moving sources and major planets between V=4 and 20 will be possible targets. K2 has a funded GO program accepting proposals twice a year.

As a dedicated effort to discuss the scientific capabilities of the K2 mission for Solar System science, the NASA Planetary Science and Astrophysics divisions are holding a joint workshop at the 46th Annual Meeting of the Division for Planetary Sciences in Tucson. The workshop is scheduled on TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2014 at 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM; Arizona Ballroom 1-4 ; This workshop will consist of: 1) Presentations on the K2 mission as well as Solar System observations with the mission, and 2) Discussion with the broader community to identify observatory capabilities and envision future opportunities.

B) 2ND ANNOUNCEMENT: JWST WORKSHOP AT THE 46TH ANNUAL DPS MEETING
We invite you to participate in a workshop being held at the DPS meeting in Tucson, AZ next month to provide community input on potential solar system science with JWST. The workshop is being held on Sunday, 9 November from 1:00 pm- 4:00 pm (MST), prior to the opening reception. Remote participation is also available via WebEx (details can be found here: http://www.stsci.edu/jwst/science/solar-system).

In order to fully realize the potential of JWST for Solar System observations, we have recently organized 10 focus groups including: Asteroids, Comets, Giant Planets, Mars, Near Earth Objects, Occultations, Rings, Satellites, Titan, and Trans-Neptunian Objects, to explore various science use cases in more detail. This workshop will consist of: 1) Presentations of findings from the focus groups, and 2) Discussion with the broader community to identify gaps in the focus-group science use cases and in envisioned observatory capabilities. These outputs from the workshop will be used to inform ongoing development and pre-launch operational studies. Unique science cases are also available as flyers for various Solar System targets found here: http://www.stsci.edu/jwst/doc-archive/flyers.
Your input is essential and we hope you will consider attending this workshop next month.

C) PROPOSAL WRITING WORKSHOP AT DPS
Curious about how to improve the quality of the proposals you send to NASA? Ever wonder what the review panel is really looking for when it reviews that proposal? In conjunction with the DPS workshop on “How to be a PI,” the Planetary Science Division at NASA Headquarters is offering a shortened Proposal Writing Workshop at DPS that is based on the cumulative experience of current and former Discipline Scientists who have managed a variety of Research and Announcement (R&A) programs at NASA Headquarters. The specific focus of this intense, educational session is to provide a greater understanding of NASA’s review process and offer constructive and practical insight into writing an effective research proposal.
The event is open to all at no charge and will be held on Sunday, November 9, from 12-2 pm in Arizona Ballroom 11/12.
All interested planetary scientists, from graduate students through emeritus professors, are encouraged to attend, and the workshop will end in time for participants to also attend the “How to be a PI” workshop.

To register, send an e-mail with your name, affiliation, and current position to [email protected].

3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3
RENEW YOUR AAS/DPS MEMBERSHIP TODAY!

If you have any questions about your dues or benefits, or need assistance when logging in, please contact the membership team by email at[email protected] or by phone at 202-328-2010. Thank you!

4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4
RESOURCES AND AN AWARD FOR THOSE TEACHING ASTRONOMY & SPACE SCIENCE

A) New or Updated Resource Guides for Astronomy Educators
A new guide to educational resources about eclipses in general and the “Great American Eclipse of the Sun” in 2017 is available at:http://www.astrosociety.org/eclipse2017

New resource guides in the Unheard Voices series, “The Astronomy of Many Cultures” and “Women in Astronomy” can be found at:http://multiverse.ssl.berkeley.edu/Learning-Resources/Educator-Resource-Guides

An updated guide to science fiction stories with reasonable astronomy and physics (organized by science topic) is now available at:http://www.astrosociety.org/scifi

B) Astronomy Talks on YouTube
New talks by noted astronomers in the Silicon Valley Astronomy Lecture Series can be found on their YouTube channel at:http://www.youtube.com/SVAstronomyLectures/

Audio-only Podcasts that can be played on many different devices are also available at: https://www.astrosociety.org/education/past-silicon-valley-astronomy-lectures/

C) ASP Invites Nominations for the Emmons Award for College Astronomy Teaching
The Astronomical Society of the Pacific is now accepting nominations for the 2015 Emmons Award for outstanding contributions to the teaching of college-level introductory astronomy. Please see: http://www.astrosociety.org/about-us/the-richard-h-emmons-award-for-excellence-in-college-astronomy-teaching/ for more information. Nomination materials are due by Feb. 15, 2015.

(From Andew Fraknoi)

5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5
JOBS/POSITIONS OPPORTUNITIES

For all Job opportunities, please visit jobs
and also consider posting a job by filling out the jobs submission form at:
node/add/job

You can send any comments, questions, or suggestions to the DPS Jobs Czar at: [email protected]

A) ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF PLANETARY SCIENCE

The School of Earth and Space Exploration (SESE) at Arizona State University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Planetary Science to begin August 2015. Preference will be given to candidates whose research focus is on Solar System planetary science, and who have research strengths that complement or extend those of current SESE faculty (http://sese.asu.edu/people_faculty).

Established in 2006, SESE is the focal point of earth and space science at ASU, one of the most dynamic and fastest growing institutions of higher learning in the United States. An essential part of SESE’s mission is to make new discoveries by integrating science and technology. SESE faculty and their research groups benefit from a variety of state-of-the-art facilities, and thrive on broad collaborations.

The requirements for this position include: (1) a PhD in Planetary Science or a closely related discipline; (2) a strong research record in planetary science established through publications in international peer-reviewed journals; and (3) a commitment to quality teaching and mentorship at the graduate and undergraduate levels.

Applications are due November 21, 2014 and should include: 1) a cover letter that includes a description of the applicant’s research and teaching interests and experience; 2) a current CV; and 3) the names, addresses, email addresses and telephone numbers of three references. All materials should be submitted in PDF format to [email protected]. For further details see
http://sese.asu.edu/opportunities-faculty.

B) DATA ARCHIVE SCIENTIST FOR VEX/MEX

A job vacancy has arisen for a Data Archive Scientist for Venus Express and Mars Express.
This is a key role for ensuring the long-term preservation of the data from these missions.
The position will be part of Science Operations Centre at ESAC, west of Madrid.
Application deadline is 12 November.
This is an ESA contractor job; the job is listed at http://www.space-careers.com/.
Please pass this notice along to any interested parties.

6———6———6———6———6———6———6———6———6———6
UPCOMING MEETINGS

A) EGU 2015
12 – 17 April 2015
Vienna, Austria
http://www.egu2015.eu/

Session PS3.2: Huygens Probe 10th anniversary session
http://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2015/sessionprogramme

Session Summary: On January 14, 2005, the European Space Agency’s Huygens probe arrived at and landed on Saturn’s Largest moon Titan. Huygens was an important element of the international Cassini mission to Saturn which continues until 2017. The data from the Huygens science investigations, developed under true international partnerships, continues to be used to this day to improve our understanding of Titan, the Saturn system and the other giant planets, and the solar system. Ten years later we remember the development of the Huygens mission, and we reflect on the impact of Huygens’ remarkable achievements on solar system science.
This session will highlight the Huygens mission, the major discoveries of Huygens, and will consider the significance these discoveries in the broader perspective of Saturn, the giant planets, and the solar system.
The Abstract Submission link for the Session PS3.2 can be found at
http://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2015/sessionprogramme
Detailed information on how to submit an abstract can be found at:
http://egu2015.eu//abstract_management/how_to_submit_an_abstract.html
The deadline for the receipt of Abstracts is 07 Jan 2015, 13:00 CET. In case you would like to apply for support, please submit no later than 28 Nov 2014.
Please note that EGU cannot provide financial support for invited speakers.
Looking forward to seeing you in Vienna !
The Conveners: D. Atkinson, J.-P. Lebreton, A. Coustenis, R. Lorenz, D. Matson, O. Witasse

B) FOURTH INTERNATIONAL PLANETARY DUNES WORKSHOP
The Fourth International Planetary Dunes Workshop will be held May 19–22, 2015, at Boise State University, Boise, Idaho.

The first announcement is now available on the conference website:
http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/dunes2015/

C) 11TH IAA LOW-COST PLANETARY MISSION CONFERENCE (LCPM-11)
First Announcement:

D) 12TH INTERNATIONAL PLANETARY PROBE WORKSHOP
June 15-19, 2015 Cologne, Germany

Short Course: June 13 – June 14, 2015
Workshop: June 15 – June 19, 2015
Hyatt Regency, Cologne, Germany

Purpose and Scope
Sending space vehicles to other worlds is one of humankind’s most challenging and rewarding ventures. The 12th International Planetary Probe Workshop (IPPW-12) will bring together engineers, technologists, scientists, mission designers, space agency leaders, and students from around the world for a compelling, week-long collaboration focused on exploring solar system destinations via in situ missions.
IPPW-12 will build upon the IPPW tradition by encouraging international cooperation in planetary probe missions, new technologies, and scientific discoveries. In addition, scholarships are available to support students from around the world with a unique opportunity to present their work and interact with the leaders in their discipline areas.

Workshop Goals
The long-standing goals of the IPPWs are to:
   • Review the state-of-the-art in science, mission design, engineering implementation and technologies for the in situ robotic exploration of solar system bodies. Share ideas, mission opportunities, and emerging technologies to enable future mission success.
   • Serve as a forum for discussions on innovative methodologies and techniques for upcoming probe and surface science missions.
   • Attract early career scientists and engineers to the field of entry, descent, and flight in planetary atmospheres, as well as surface science and exploration on other worlds, enabling them to learn from experienced researchers and practitioners.
   • Foster international collaboration among the communities of scientists, engineers, and mission designers with an interest in planetary probes and landers.
   •
Workshop Format
The program will include invited talks, contributed presentations, posters, and opportunities for networking with colleagues from academia, aerospace industry, and international space agencies.

E) 26TH IUGG GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Prague, Czech Republic
June 22-July 2, 2015

http://www.iugg2015prague.com/

On line registration is now open and until June 15, 2015 (early deadline is April 10, 2015). Abstract submission deadline is January 31, 2015.

Please consider submitting an abstract to the IAMAS/ICPAE-related symposia, as follows:

– M08 Comparative Planetary Atmospheres within and beyond the Solar System
Convener: Feng Tian (Beijing, China)
Co-conveners: Sanjay Limaye (Madison, USA), Leigh Fletcher (Oxford, U.K.), Darrell Strobel (Baltimore, USA), Athena Coustenis (Paris, France)

Description
Topics include all aspects and characteristics of atmospheres from terrestrial worlds to giant planets; the evolutionary paths of various atmospheres, especially exoplanets thought to be habitable. Planetary origins both in our solar system and in exoplanetary systems will also be featured. Contributions should focus on the comparative aspect of these research topics, and broader relevance to atmospheric sciences.

– M09 Solar System Exploration of Atmospheres with Ground-Based and Space-Based Platforms
Convener: Sanjay Limaye (Madison, USA)
Co-conveners: Ralf Greve (Tokyo, Japan), Leigh Fletcher (Oxford, U.K.), Darrell Strobel (Baltimore, USA)

Description
Topics include recent contributions from missions and space-based observatories including, but not limited to, atmospheric composition and chemistry; density and thermal structure; dynamics and energetics; clouds, aerosols and haze. Themes include climate and seasonal variations, surface atmosphere interactions, “hydrological” cycles, atmospheric escape and evolution.

F) IAU GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Honolulu, Hawaii – August 3 – 14, 2015
http://astronomy2015.org/
· Symposia

o IAUS 314 – Young Stars & Planets Near the Sun (outside the General Assembly)

o IAUS 315 – From Interstellar Clouds to Star-forming Galaxies: Universal Processes?

o IAUS 316 – Formation, Evolution, and Survival of Massive Star Clusters

o IAUS 317 – The General Assembly of Galactic Halos: Structure, Origin and Evolution

o IAUS 318 – Asteroids: New Observations, New Models

o IAUS 319 – Galaxies at High Redshift and Their Evolution Over Cosmic Time

o IAUS 320 – Solar and Stellar Flares and Their Effects on Planets

· Focus Meetings

o FM 1 – Dynamical Problems in Extrasolar Planets Science

o FM 2 – Astronomical Heritage: Progressing the UNESCO–IAU Initiative

o FM 3 – Scholarly Publication in Astronomy: Evolution or Revolution?

o FM 4 – Planetary Nebulae as Probes of Galactic Structure and Evolution

o FM 5 – The Legacy of Planck

o FM 6 – X-ray Surveys of the Hot and Energetic Cosmos

o FM 7 – Stellar Physics in Galaxies Throughout the Universe

o FM 8 – Statistics and Exoplanets

o FM 9 – Highlights in the Exploration of Small Worlds

o FM 10 – Stellar Explosions in an Ever-changing Environment

o FM 11 – Global Coordination of Ground and Space Astrophysics and Heliophysics

o FM 12 – Bridging Laboratory Astrophysics and Astronomy

o FM 13 – Brightness Variations of the Sun and Sun-like Stars

o FM 14 – The Gravitational Wave Symphony of Structure Formation

o FM 15 – Search for Water and Life’s Building Blocks in the Universe (see hereeafter)

o FM 16 – Stellar Behemoths – Red Supergiants Across the Local Universe

o FM 17 – Advances in Stellar Physics from Asteroseismology

o FM 18 – Scale-free Processes in the Universe

o FM 19 – Communicating Astronomy with the Public in the Big Data Era

o FM 20 – Astronomy for Development

o FM 21 – Mitigating Threats of Light Pollution & Radio Frequency Interference

o FM 22 – The Frontier Fields: Transforming our Understanding of Cluster and Galaxy Evolution

– FOCUS MEETING 15 AT THE IAU GA
Search for water and life’s building blocks in the universe

First Announcement
August 3-7, 2015, Honolulu
http://www.scifac.hku.hk/event/FM15/

FM 15 will cover the following focus areas:
Area 1: Water in the Universe
Area 2: Water and Organics in the Solar System
Area 3: Building Blocks of Life on Earth

Support :
Travel support is available from the IAU. Please apply before the deadline below.

Timetable :
Registration and abstract submission are handled by the IAU GA:
http://astronomy2015.org/. The important dates are:
December 1, 2014       Early Registration Due
March 18, 2015           Abstract Submission Due – 8:00pm ET/11:59pm UTC
April 1, 2015               Grant Application Due
May 28, 2015              Regular Registration Due
August 1, 2015            Late Registration Due

Notifications on the award of travel grants and the acceptance of abstracts will be sent out during spring of 2015.

Contact :
If you are interested in attending this meeting, please write a note to
[email protected] and we will keep your name on the list of the 2ndannouncement.

Scientific Organizing Committee :
Co-chairs
Sun Kwok, The University of Hong Kong, China Edwin Bergin, University of
Michigan, USA Pascale Ehrenfreund, FWF, Austria

G) 22ND SYMPOSIUM OF THE COMMITTEE ON SPACE RESEARCH (COSPAR): WATER AND LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE “COSPAR 2015”
Date: 9 – 13 November 2015
Place: Foz do Iguacu, Brazil

Contact:
COSPAR Secretariat, 2 place Maurice Quentin, 75039 Paris Cedex 01, France
Tel: +33 1 44 76 75 10
Fax: +33 1 44 76 74 37
[email protected]
http://cosparbrazil2015.org/

Scientific Program Chair:
Dr. Othon Winter, UNESP – São Paulo State University

Abstract Deadline: 31 May 2015

Topics:
– Space astronomy missions to detect ingredients for life and exoplanets in the universe: status of current and future approved missions and new proposals
– Water and life in the universe and on Earth: impact on human consciousness and societies
– Satellite and probe missions for water remote sensing on Earth, planets, and other celestial bodies
– Water and Life in the Solar System
– Water from chemical, biological, and physical perspectives
– Role of water from the ground to the upper atmosphere
– Astrobiology: habitability, synthesis of organics in ice, and prebiotic chemistry in liquid water
– Water, organics and life support for human exploration in low Earth orbit, the Moon and beyond
– Interdisciplinary lectures, keynote talks, public lectures

Selected papers published in Advances in Space Research and Life Sciences in Space Research, fully refereed journals with no deadlines open to all submissions in relevant fields.

H) 41ST SCIENTIFIC ASSEMBLY OF THE COMMITTEE ON SPACE RESEARCH (COSPAR) AND ASSOCIATED EVENTS “COSPAR 2016”
Date: 30 July – 7 August 2016
Place: Istanbul, Turkey

Contact:
COSPAR Secretariat, 2 place Maurice Quentin, 75039 Paris Cedex 01, France
Tel: +33 1 44 76 75 10
Fax: +33 1 44 76 74 37
[email protected]
http://www.cospar-assembly.org

Scientific Program Chair:
Prof. Ersin Gogus, Sabanci University

Abstract Deadline: Mid-February 2016

Topics:
Approximately 125 meetings covering the fields of COSPAR Scientific Commissions (SC) and Panels:
– SC A: The Earth’s Surface, Meteorology and Climate
– SC B: The Earth-Moon System, Planets, and Small Bodies of the Solar System
– SC C: The Upper Atmospheres of the Earth and Planets Including Reference Atmospheres
– SC D: Space Plasmas in the Solar System, Including Planetary Magnetospheres
– SC E: Research in Astrophysics from Space
– SC F: Life Sciences as Related to Space
– SC G: Materials Sciences in Space
– SC H: Fundamental Physics in Space
– Panel on Satellite Dynamics (PSD)
– Panel on Scientific Ballooning (PSB)
– Panel on Potentially Environmentally Detrimental Activities in Space (PEDAS)
– Panel on Radiation Belt Environment Modelling (PRBEM)
– Panel on Space Weather (PSW)
– Panel on Planetary Protection (PPP)
– Panel on Capacity Building (PCB)
– Panel on Education (PE)
– Panel on Exploration (PEX)
– Panel on Exoplanetary Exploration (PEPE)
– Special events: interdisciplinary lectures, round table, etc.

Selected papers published in Advances in Space Research and Life Sciences in Space Research, fully refereed journals with no deadlines open to all submissions in relevant fields.

———————————+
Send submissions to:
DPS Secretary ([email protected])

To unsubscribe visit http://aas.org/unsubscribe or email [email protected].
To change your address email [email protected].

Newsletter 14-26

Issue 14-26, October 20, 2014

+—————————–CONTENTS——————————–+
1)   IN MEMORIAM : GERHARD NEUKUM (1944-2014)
2)   IN MEMORIAM: GERRY NEUGEBAUER (1932-2014)
3)   JOBS/POSITIONS OPPORTUNITIES
4)   UPCOMING MEETINGS
+———————————————————————+

1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1
IN MEMORIAM : GERHARD NEUKUM (1944-2014)

Prof. Gerhard Neukum, our planetary scientist colleague, passed away on 21 September 2014. He was one of the most prominent planetary researchers in Germany and one of the world’s recognised experts in the field. He made a name for himself in his chosen field with the work he conducted on the chronology of Solar System bodies.

He was born in 1944 in the Sudetenland, he got his Ph.D. in physics on lunar craters at the University of Heidelberg, and his HDR in geophysics and planetary sciences at the University Louis and Maximilian in Munich in 1983, where he was appointed extraordinary professor in 1989. Since 1997, he occupied the position of professor of geosciences at the Free University of Berlin. He also headed the Institute of Planetology DLR between 1993 and 2002.

He was instrumental in the birth of ESA’s Mars Express Mission devoted to the in-depth study of the surface of Mars since late 2003, for which he instigated the development of the high-resolution stereo camera (HRSC) leading the team of scientists that analyzes the results of this experiment. G. Neukum was also part of the imaging team of the joint ESA-NASA Cassini- Huygens mission who is exploring the Saturnian system since 2004. He was furthermore involved in the ESA Rosetta mission which is expected to land on the comet Churyumov – Gerasimenko in November 2014, and in NASA’s Dawn mission to study the asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.

2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2
IN MEMORIAM: GERRY NEUGEBAUER (1932-2014)

Gerry Neugebauer, an astrophysicist who pioneered ways to peer into previously invisible sectors of outer space, helping to discover hundreds of thousands of planets, stars and galaxies, died on Sept. 26 in Arizona. Dr. Neugebauer was a former chairman of the division of physics, mathematics and astronomy at the California Institute of Technology and director of the Palomar Observatory there.

Gerhart Otto Neugebauer was born in Gottingen, Germany, on Sept. 3, 1932. He then changed his first name to Gerry. He graduated from Cornell with a degree in physics and earned a Ph.D. in physics from Caltech. From 1960 to 1963, Dr. Neugebauer served in the Army, which assigned him to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory where he designed the infrared equipment for the Mariner 2 mission to Venus in 1962, and then was hired at Caltech’s physics faculty.

Early on he worked with Robert B. Leighton of Caltech, who in the early 1960s developed a telescope that Dr. Neugebauer used to sweep the sky from the Mount Wilson Observatory. His persistence was rewarded when he found an object the size of the solar system. It turned out to be a newborn star, a discovery that shed light on how stars are formed. He and his colleagues went on to locate the exact center of the Milky Way.

He was considered a father of the field of infrared radiation, along with Frank J. Low of the University of Arizona. Dr. Neugebauer’s biggest achievement was in detecting and interpreting infrared radiation emanating from outer space. A major advance came in 1983, when he was the scientific director of the Infrared Astronomical Satellite, or IRAS, sponsored by NASA, Britain and the Netherlands, when he helped develop instruments sensitive enough to detect a 20-watt light bulb on Pluto or a speck of dust from a mile away. His team pinpointed more than a half-million sources of infrared radiation in the sky, many of them galaxies. It found rings of debris and dust around stars that were an early clue that planets exist beyond Earth’s solar system.

Dr. Neugebauer was a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Philosophical Society and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He received the Space Science Award of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and the Herschel Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society in Britain, of which he was a member.

[Condensed and edited extract from the NY Times – http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/03/us/gerry-neugebauer-pioneer-in-space-studies-dies-at-82.html?_r=0]

3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3
JOBS/POSITIONS OPPORTUNITIES

For all Job opportunities, please visit jobs
and also consider posting a job by filling out the jobs submission form at:
node/add/job

You can send any comments, questions, or suggestions to the DPS Jobs Czar at: [email protected]

A) PM AND PS POSITIONS FOR THE MAUNA KEA SPECTROSCOPIC EXPLORER

The Maunakea Spectroscopic Explorer (MSE) Project Office is actively
recruiting two key positions, the Project Manager (PM) and Project
Scientist (PS). Details for these positions can be found at the CFHT’s
website:

http://www.cfht.hawaii.edu/en/about/employment.php

These positions offer an exciting opportunity to provide scientific
and engineering leadership roles in the development of this proposed
replacement for CFHT. The MSE project involves upgrading the CFHT 3.6
meter general-use facility with a new telescope of 10 meter aperture,
new enclosure, and incorporating dedicated leading-edge technology and
highly-multiplexed spectrometers. A summary of the project can be
found here : http://www.cfht.hawaii.edu/en/news/MSE-new/.

The PM will manage the MSE Project Office to achieve its objectives,
initially including the generation of a comprehensive Construction
Proposal in collaboration with other members of the Project Office
team. The PS will be responsible for leading the scientific
development of the MSE in collaboration with team
members. Responsibilities include the development of a detailed
science case, science requirements and operational concept for the
MSE.

B) FELLOWSHIPS AT THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION

The Smithsonian Institution is now accepting applications for graduate students, pre-doctoral, and post-doctoral fellowships in earth and planetary sciences.
The award for graduate students is $7,000 for ten weeks (usually summer appointments).
The annual award for pre-doctoral fellows is $32,700 annually with a research allowance of $4,000.
The annual awards for post-doctoral fellows is $53,000 per year with a research allowance of $4,000.
Deadlines are December 1, 2014.

Geologic research is conducted at both the Center for Earth and Planetary Studies located in the National Air and Space Museum and the Department of Mineral Sciences located at the National Museum of Natural History. The fellowship application is submitted online and can be found at:
http://www.smithsonianofi.com/fellowship-opportunities/smithsonian-institution-fellowship-program/

Other links interested people should investigate before applying include:

Center for Earth and Planetary Studies
http://airandspace.si.edu/research/earth-and-planetary/

Department of Mineral Sciences
http://mineralsciences.si.edu/

C) NASA POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS

The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) provides opportunities for
scientists and engineers to conduct research largely of their own
choosing, yet compatible with the research opportunities posted on
the NPP Web site.

Selected by a competitive peer-review process, NPP Fellows complete
one- to three-year Fellowship appointments that advance NASA’s
missions in earth science, heliophysics, planetary science,
astrophysics, space bioscience, aeronautics and engineering, human
exploration and space operations, and astrobiology.

A sample research opportunities is:
https://www3.orau.gov/NPDoc/Catalog/18818

Applicants must have a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in hand before
beginning the fellowship, but may apply while completing the degree
requirements. U. S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents, and
foreign nationals eligible for J-1 status as a Research Scholar
may apply.

Stipends start at $53,500 per year, with supplements for high cost-
of-living areas and for certain academic specialties. Financial
assistance is available for relocation and health insurance, and
$8,000 per year is provided for professional travel.

Applications are accepted three times each year: March 1, July 1,
and November 1.

The latest NPP Newsletter:
http://bit.ly/1u0LcSj

For further information and to apply, visit:
http://nasa.orau.org/postdoc/description/index.htm

Questions: [email protected]

D) TENURE TRACK FACULTY POSITION IN CHEMISTRY OF PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES, UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS

University Academic Fellow in Chemistry of Planetary Atmospheres
School of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Physical Sciences
University of Leeds, UK

This University Academic Fellowship (UAF) is a tenure track equivalent
post for future academic leaders which provides an excellent
opportunity to establish an academic career at a research intensive
University and play a key role in our ambitious plans for the future.
You will embark on a structured five year development programme,
successful completion of which will lead to your appointment as a
grade 9 Associate Professor. The School of Chemistry has an
international reputation in observing, modelling and performing
laboratory experiments to understand the Earth’s atmosphere. We are
seeking to expand our research and teaching expertise in chemical
studies related to the atmospheres of other solar-system bodies and
the atmospheres of extra-solar planets. Our current work in this area
includes a laboratory and modelling study of Titan’s organic photo-
chemistry and the impacts of cosmic dust in the upper atmospheres of
several planets.

https://jobs.leeds.ac.uk/vacancy.aspx?ref=MAPCH1003

Closing Date: Sunday 16 November 2014

E) POSTDOCTORAL ASSOCIATE ON GEOSCIENCES – STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY
Required: PhD, or the equivalent degree from a foreign university, in
Geosciences, Planetary Sciences, Astronomy, Physics or related field.
Applicant must have successfully defended their dissertation prior to
the start date. Course work or research experience in remote sensing
and/or geospatial analyses and planetary geology.

Preferred: Research experience related to geology of Mars. Experience
in processing and analyzing infrared spectral datasets from spacecraft.
Experience with scientific programming in IDL, Python, Matlab, C+-based
language, or similar. Effective writing and verbal communication
skills. Demonstrated outstanding research ability, with an emphasis on
critical thinking skills and high productivity.

Duties: Conduct research in Planetary Science, with emphasis on
quantitative studies of Martian surface and crustal materials through
analysis of spacecraft data.

Responsible for: Process, analyze and interpret visible and infrared
images from Mars. Summarize findings in conference presentations and
publications. Process, analyze and interpret supporting data sets and
models such as elevation, geologic maps, and general circulation
models. Read and synthesize information from relevant scientific
literature to inform geologic interpretations of planetary data.

This position is full-time. Application deadline is 29 October 2014.

Application Procedure: For a complete description and instructions on
“how to apply”, please visit:
http://www.stonybrook.edu/jobs/

and select the reference # WC-R-9213-14-09-S.

F) CPS POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS IN PLANETARY/EXOPLANETARY SCIENCE
The University of Toronto Centre for Planetary Sciences (CPS) is a centre for the study of all planets. The CPS expects to offer several postdoctoral fellowships of up to three years. The starting date will be September 1, 2015. Salaries and funds for travel/research expenses will be competitive. A Ph.D. in any field of earth and planetary sciences or astrophysics is required. Fellows are expected to carry out original research in observational or theoretical planetary/exoplanet science under the general supervision of the CPS-affiliated
faculty at U of T.

Electronic submissions only. Applicants are asked to submit a curriculum vitae, statement of research interests (3 pages) and arrange for three letters of recommendation (note that two different websites are used for the application and for the submission of reference letters).

The University of Toronto is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from visible minority group members, women, Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, members of sexual minority groups, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas.

CPS Information Website:
http://cps.utoronto.ca/

CPS Fellows Application Website:
http://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/webapps/webforms/cps/postdoctoralfellows.php

The deadline for applications and all letters of recommendation is December 1, 2014.

G) FULLY FUNDED PHD POSITION IN LUNAR SCIENCE – VU UNIVERSITY AMSTERDAM
The Department of Earth Sciences at VU University Amsterdam, is offering a four-year PhD studentship focused on providing new constraints on the structure and evolution of the crust of the Moon.
The studentship is funded by an NWO User Support Programme Space Research grant. You will collaborate with researchers at ESA’s ESTEC (European Space Research and Technology Centre) in Noordwijk (Netherlands) and at the IPGP (Institut de Physique du Globe) in
Paris. Candidates need to have completed a MSc degree in the field of planetary science, physics, geophysics, geology, or similar relevant field. Starting date is negotiable, preferably no later than January 2015. There is no constraint on citizenship; all applications are welcomed.

More information can be found at:
http://www.vu.nl/en/employment/vacancies/2014/072.asp

Interested candidates are encouraged to contact Dr. Prof. dr. Wim van Westrenen and Dr. Jessica Flahaut for additional information
([email protected]; [email protected]).

To apply, email Mrs. Fenny Bosse ([email protected]) with the subject “Vacancy #14320”. Please provide a cover letter, CV, and the names and contact information of at least three references.

Deadline for applications is October 30, 2014.

H) THREE-DAY TRAINING COURSE ON PLANETARY PROTECTION
Course: “Planetary Protection: Policies and Practices”
Dates: February 24-26, 2015
Location: Kennedy Space Center, Florida

We cordially invite all interested parties to participate in the
upcoming course on Planetary Protection Policies and Practices, which
is designed to familiarize current and future practitioners with
NASA, ESA, and COSPAR planetary protection programs. The course
provides an overview of applicable policies, practices and procedures
necessary to implement a successful planetary protection program,
emphasizing integration of managerial, administrative, and laboratory
activities. It is supported by the NASA Planetary Protection Officer.

http://planetaryprotection.nasa.gov/course

Enrollment: 14 participants
Application: contact [email protected]

Amy Baker (owner)
Technical Administrative Services
303-972-4849

I) 2015 LPI SUMMER INTERN PROGRAM IN PLANETARY SCIENCE

The Lunar and Planetary Institute invites undergraduates with at least 50 semester hours of credit to experience cutting-edge research in the lunar and planetary sciences. As a Summer Intern, you will work one-on-one with a scientist at the LPI or at the NASA Johnson Space Center on a research project of current interest in lunar and planetary science. Furthermore, you will participate in peer-reviewed research, learn from top-notch planetary scientists, and preview various careers in science.

http://www.lpi.usra.edu/lpiintern

Deadline for application : January 9, 2015

4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4
UPCOMING MEETINGS

A) ASTRORECON 2015
The Conference on Spacecraft Reconnaissance of Asteroid and Comet Interiors (AstroRecon) will be held January 8–10, 2015, at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. The conference begins the day after the conclusion of the 12th Meeting of the NASA Small Bodies Assessment Group, which will be held January 6–7, 2015, in Phoenix.

We have entered an era of detailed spacecraft reconnaissance of asteroids and comets. This exploration is motivated by a growing curiosity about our closest celestial neighbors, the hazards these bodies present, our desire to understand how planets form, and our vision for a human future in space. The goal of AstroRecon is to identify and evaluate the best technologies for spacecraft robotic reconnaissance of comets, asteroids, and small moons — paving the way for advanced science missions, exploration, sample return, in situ resource utilization, hazard mitigation, and human visitation.

The first announcement for the Conference on Spacecraft Reconnaissance of Asteroid and Comet Interiors 2015 is now available. Information about the call for abstracts is included in this announcement.

http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/astrorecon2015/

Abstract Deadline: November 6, 2014

B) VENUS INSTRUMENT AND LABORATORY MEASUREMENTS WORKSHOP
The Venus Instrument and Laboratory Measurements Workshop will be conducted January 27–28, 2015, at the National Institute for Aerospace near the NASA Langley Research in Hampton, Virginia.

The objectives of this two day workshop are to (1) present, discuss, and document the status of the instrument technologies and the definition of new instruments; and (2) present, discuss, and document the status and needs of laboratory experiments in support of fundamental science as well as mission preparation. The objectives will be worked as guided by the recently released VEXAG Goals and Objectives, Pathways, and Technology Plan documents. The workshop presentations and discussions will form the basis of peer-reviewed papers or other documents that capture the relevant technologies and their readiness. These documents will be made available to the broader science and technology communities to enable them to attack the necessary problems. Participation by science, technology, and mission communities will be sought and encouraged for this workshop.

The latest announcement with call for abstracts is available on the conference website:
http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/venustech2015/

C) WORKSHOP ON EARLY SOLAR SYSTEM BOMBARDMENT”
Houston, TX, USA
February 4-6, 2015

Dear Colleagues,
The third edition of the “Workshop on Early Solar System Bombardment” is scheduled for February 4-6, 2015. The scope of the workshop encompasses both the giant impact hypothesis and the lunar cataclysm hypothesis. Example topics relevant to lunar origin include cosmochemical and geophysical constraints on lunar formation; giant impact simulations; the chemical, thermal, and/or dynamical evolution of the proto-lunar disk; and the accretion and early evolution of the Moon. Example topics relevant to the lunar cratering record include an assessment of the geologic record of impact cratering throughout the solar system, cosmochemical constraints on any early bombardment, dynamical models that might explain the flux of debris and potential changes in the flux of debris; and consequences for the Hadean Earth. The goal is to investigate the range of collisional events from the late stages of terrestrial planet accretion to the end of the basin-forming epoch on the Moon. Although the Moon will be a central component of the workshop, the discussion will include observations elsewhere, such as the Earth, Mercury, Mars, the asteroid belt, and outer solar system moons.

The abstract deadline is November 18, 2014.

Details are available at http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/bombardment2015/.

We hope you will consider attending.
Best regards,
David Kring

D) WISE AT 5 CONFERENCE
We are pleased to announce a conference on “WISE at 5: Legacy and Prospects” to be held February 10-12, 2015, at the Beckman Institute Auditorium of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.

The conference will celebrate what has been done with WISE, what is being done with NEOWISE, and what will be done in the future.

NASA’s Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) was launched into orbit 5 years ago, and surveyed the entire mid-infrared sky in 2010. The satellite resumed surveying as NEOWISE in December 2013, and by the time of the conference will be on its fifth pass over the sky. Over 1,000 refereed papers based on the data have now been published, with results ranging from the discovery of the first Earth Trojan asteroid, to challenging the standard paradigm for quasar unification.

For further information, see the conference website: http://wise5.ipac.caltech.edu/

E) WORKSHOP ON GROUND & SPACE OBSERVATORIES: A JOINT VENTURE TO PLANETARY SCIENCE
March 2-5, 2015
Santiago, Chile

2ND ANNOUNCEMENT

Registration has now open for the ESO/ESA/ALMA/NRAO-NAASC workshop on: “Ground and Space Observatories: A Joint Venture to Planetary Science”

http://www.eso.org/sci/meetings/2015/Planets2015.html

The goal of this workshop is to explore synergies between ground and
space-based observatories with planetary missions for exploring the
Solar System and planets, and to foster collaborations between the
different communities by sharing scientific and technical knowledge,
needs, requirements, and techniques.

The meeting will be held at the ESO office in Santiago, and will be
limited to around 100 participants. The registration fee is 250 euros,
which will cover coffee breaks, lunches at ESO, and a winery tour and
conference dinner on Wednesday, March 4. For students, the registration
fee is 150 euros. We have financial support for a limited number of
students.

Abstract submission deadline: November 24, 2014.

We hope to see you in Santiago!

F) ABSCICON2015
The Astrobiology Science Conference 2015 (AbSciCon2015) will be held at the Hilton Chicago in downtown Chicago, Illinois, on
June 15–19, 2015.

The Science Organizing Committee is soliciting community input for Session Topics and Session Organizers.

Astrobiology is an inherently interdisciplinary endeavor. Given the wide variety of disciplinary tools and topics to be presented at the conference, the success of AbSciCon 2015 will be built upon the community’s involvement in the organization of topical sessions. Community members are urged to be proactive in proposing sessions, merging similar session topics, and organizing abstracts into selected sessions.

The Call for Session Topics and Organizers is now open. The deadline to submit Session Topics is October 22, 2014.

www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/abscicon2015/

G) 26TH IUGG GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Prague, Czech Republic
June 22-July 2, 2015

http://www.iugg2015prague.com/

On line registration is now open and until June 15, 2015 (early deadline is April 10, 2015). Abstract submission deadline is January 31, 2015.

Please consider submitting an abstract to the IAMAS/ICPAE-related symposia, as follows:

– M08 Comparative Planetary Atmospheres within and beyond the Solar System
Convener: Feng Tian (Beijing, China)
Co-conveners: Sanjay Limaye (Madison, USA), Leigh Fletcher (Oxford, U.K.), Darrell Strobel (Baltimore, USA), Athena Coustenis (Paris, France)

– M09 Solar System Exploration of Atmospheres with Ground-Based and Space-Based Platforms
Convener: Sanjay Limaye (Madison, USA)
Co-conveners: Ralf Greve (Tokyo, Japan), Leigh Fletcher (Oxford, U.K.), Darrell Strobel (Baltimore, USA)

H) COLLOQIUM: “TWENTY YEARS OF GIANT EXOPLANETS”
Observatoire de Haute Provence, France
5-9 Octobre, 2015

First announcement :
http://ohp2015.sciencesconf.org

After twenty years of investigations, hundreds of giant exoplanets have now been identified with several of them deeply characterized, from both ground- and space-based observations. Radial velocity and photometric surveys have considerably changed our vision of gaseous planets, and the emerging capabilities of direct imaging, astrometry and spectroscopy of atmospheres provide precious new parameter space. Fundamental properties of giant exoplanets are now measured with increasing precision, offering unprecedented constraints on formation and evolution scenarios. Moreover, numerous observational constraints have lead to considerable improvements on the modeling of their internal structure, dynamics, and interactions.

The Colloquium “OHP-2015’’ will be hosted to review all observed characteristics of giant gaseous exoplanets, from 51 Peg b up to distant giants including Jupiter-like exoplanets, and theoretical works that relate to the measured properties. We propose to discuss the key questions regarding giant planets and how to solve them in the coming years, exploring the synergies between current and new facilities, and confronting the predictions of theories.

Main topics of this colloquium include:
– Transiting giant exoplanets
– Jupiter-like planets from long-term radial velocity surveys
– Directly imaged planets
– Atmosphere characterization
– Internal structure modeling
– Dynamics of systems, link from observations to theory
– Formation and migration scenarios
– Star-planet interactions in transiting systems: tides, irradiation

The Observatoire de Haute Provence is located in southern France, near the village of Saint Michel l’Observatoire. It is the discovery place of 51 Peg b in 1995 with the ELODIE spectrograph. The 193-cm telescope is now equipped with SOPHIE, which carries a large contribution to the exoplanet studies. Up to 80 participants are expected.
Accommodation will be provided inside and close to the Observatory for the duration of the Colloquium. Students and post-docs are encouraged to participate and contribute their work, and can apply to a travel grant.

Important deadlines:
September 2014: first announcement
1st January – 1st May 2015: registration
1st January – 1st July 2015: abstract submission
5– 9 October 2015: Colloquium
15 January 2016: publication of proceedings

———————————+
Send submissions to:
Athena Coustenis, DPS Secretary ([email protected])

To unsubscribe visit http://aas.org/unsubscribe or email [email protected].
To change your address email [email protected].

Newsletter 14-25

Issue 14-25, October 6, 2014

+—————————–CONTENTS——————————–+
1)   NOTE FROM THE CHAIR
2)   MEETINGS, LUNCHES, EVENTS AND OPENING AT THE 46TH DPS MEETING
   2A) DPS FEDERAL RELATIONSHIP SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING
   2B) WOMEN IN PLANETARY SCIENCE LUNCH
   2C) OPAG DOWN HALL MEETING
   2D) NRAO COMMUNITY EVENT
   2E) OPENING RECEPTION AND DIA DE LOS MUERTOS CELEBRATION!
3) SPITZER CYCLE-11 PROPOSAL DEADLINE 29 OCTOBER
4) JOBS/POSITIONS OPPORTUNITIES
5) UPCOMING MEETINGS
+———————————————————————+

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NOTE FROM THE CHAIR

Dear DPS Members,

I hope you are all enjoying the return of cooler weather, the resurgence of school, and the current great planetary science! NASA celebrated the arrival of MAVEN at Mars, New Horizons passed the orbit of Neptune on its way to Pluto, Cassini sent back more astonishing images of Saturn, and much more, including the positive outcomes of the Senior Review of planetary missions. DPS extends kudos to our international partners for the amazing images of Comet C-G from Rosetta and the successful orbital insertion of India¹s Mars Orbiter Mission.

Plans for the DPS meeting in Tucson are coming to fruition, and it is going to be great! In order to assure the best possible meeting, the AAS provides a “Guide to AAS Meeting Etiquette [1],” including the following excerpt: “The AAS is … dedicated to the philosophy of equality of opportunity and treatment for all members and other meeting attendees, regardless of gender, race, ethnic origin, religion, age, marital status, sexual orientation, disabilities, or any other reason not related to scientific merit. It is AAS policy that all participants in Society activities [including DPS meetings] will enjoy an environment free from all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. Harassment, sexual or otherwise, is a form of misconduct that undermines the integrity of Society meetings. (Read the full AAS anti-harassment policy [2].)”
Your DPS leadership supports this zero-tolerance policy for discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. Do not hesitate to contact me or any other DPS officer with concerns about theses issues. [1] http://aas.org/posts/news/2013/12/guide-aas-meeting-etiquette
[2] http://aas.org/policies/anti-harassment-policy.

One of the initiatives I outlined at the beginning of my tenure was a desire to update the DPS website. I am pleased to announce that DPS will be rolling out its new site very shortly. Major thanks to Tony Roman for his work on this during the past year, as well as thanks to the AAS for their support, especially Scott Idem and Jerry Lin. Stay tuned, and send feedback to Tony.

Finally, the DPS leadership is soliciting feedback about your interactions with our journal Icarus. We welcome both positive and negative feedback (we usually hear more of the negative). Send your comments to Vice Chair Bonnie Buratti ([email protected]).

Heidi Hammel
DPS Chair

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MEETINGS, LUNCHES, EVENTS AND OPENING AT THE 46TH DPS MEETING

http://aas.org/meetings/dps46

Upcoming Deadlines
•       9 October 2014: DPS 46 Regular Registration Deadline
•       10 October 2014 DPS 46 Hotel Reservation Deadline
•       10 October 2014 DPS 46 Hotel Reservation Deadline
23 October 2014 DPS 46 Late Registration Deadline

A) DPS FEDERAL RELATIONSHIP SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING

DPS Advocacy Activities: Update and Context

Wednesday, 12 November 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Arizona Ballroom 1 – 4

The DPS Federal Relationship Subcommittee will host a meeting to review its activities over the past year, and set a course for the coming year. All are welcome! The DPS committee will provide lunch this year. Pre-registration at http://bit.ly/FRS_Lunch_2014 is required due to space limitations by 17 October, so we can get an accurate head count..

Please remember also that after the FRS meeting, we will have the Members meeting at the same place from 1 to 2:30 pm. You’re all invited !

B) WOMEN IN PLANETARY SCIENCE LUNCH

Hosted by: DPS Professional Development subcommittee
Organizers: Sondy Springmann, Maggie McAdam, Kelsi Singer

Please join us for an informal meeting and discussion hour over lunch on Tuesday, November 11th 2014, from 12:00-1:30 p.m. This year’s topics will revolve around the ideas of powerful communication and how to be an ally to minority community members. We will have presentation material interspersed with plenty of discussion time. Please feel free to bring any information/announcements related to women in astronomy and planetary science to share.

Thanks to the generosity of the DPS committee, we will be able to provide lunch this year. All are welcome(!), but pre-registration athttp://bit.ly/DPS_WIPS_2014
is required due to space limitations. Please try to register before October 15th so we can accurately place the lunch order.

C) OPAG DOWN HALL MEETING

We will be holding an OPAG townhall meeting at the DPS this year. The townhall will be Thursday from noon to 1:30 pm. The topic of the townhall will be to get your feedback on the new OPAG science goals document.

A draft of the new OPAG science goals document is posted on the OPAG website homepage: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/opag/ . As we discussed at the last OPAG meeting, this draft has been pulled together by the OPAG steering committee to give us a starting point. We’d now like to get your input, comments and feedback. Thank you to our colleagues who have already responded!

We have set up an email alias to make it easy to send your comments to the committee:
[email protected]

Also of interest to this community is the last RPS provisioning study, posted at http://www.lpi.usra.edu/PSD-RPS/RPS-Provisioning-Study-Cassani-Report-May 2001.pdf. Though events of the last 13 years have changed the environment this report still gives valuable insight into the issues surrounding RPS power systems. For example, Appendix O provides insight into the evolution of funding arrangements up to that time. The latter has, of course, evolved yet again with the language of the FY14 budget, which transferred responsibility of infrastructure costs to NASA. DPS members who are interested in RPS power will find this document and the others on the PSD-RPS website (lpi.usra.edu/PSD-RPS) to be helpful context for understanding ongoing discussions.

Finally, we have decided on the date for the next OPAG meeting: it will take place 19-20 February 2015, at Ames. Please mark your calendars!

Thanks,
Candy Hansen
[email protected]
OPAG Chair

D) NRAO COMMUNITY EVENT

Thursday, November 13th, 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm, Tucson Ballroom G

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) cordially invites you to an NRAO Community Event at the 46th DPS meeting. This event is specifically designed for the planetary science community, and in particular for those who do not regularly utilize radio wavelength data in their research. If you would like to learn more about the planetary science that is possible with NRAO facilities, this session is for you. We will provide a brief overview of the NRAO telescopes and their instruments followed by broad talks describing the possible planetary science using them at submm, mm and cm wavelengths by I. de Pater (Berkeley) and I. Crossfield (U. Arizona). We will also provide practical information on how to prepare proposals for the VLA, GBT and ALMA.

No registration is required to attend the event but we will provide lunch for the first 30 attendees registering on our website (https://science.nrao.edu/facilities/alma/naasc-workshops/nrao-cd-dps2014). We strongly encourage early registration so that we can best organize the event and add you to the event e-mail list for further communication.

We look forward to seeing you at the DPS!

The organizers – A.Moullet, B. Butler and A. Ford

E) DPS 2014 OPENING RECEPTION AND DIA DE LOS MUERTOS CELEBRATION!
Sunday, 9 Nov. 6:30–8:00 pm

You won’t want to miss this year’s opening reception at the JW Starr Pass Marriott, which coincides with Tucson’s annual celebration of the Mexican Dia de los Muertos holiday! Tucson’s celebration consists of the All Souls Procession, which typically draws about 100,000 people for a parade through downtown Tucson to the Mercado San Agustin, involving dancers, costumes, musicians, strange home-made floats, etc. As many of our meeting organizers and locals would have normally participated in the Procession, we would like to bring some of that atmosphere to this year’s reception. We will honor the holiday with Mexican buffet and traditional music, and don’t be surprised if some of your fellow space cases show up in unusual outfits! As this is a chance to celebrate the lives of those who have come before us, we would like to display photos of DPS members who have left us, recently or not so recently. Please send contributions to [Joe Spitale; link to AAS directory entry]. If you prefer to consume your announcements in FAQ form, keep reading!

2014 DPS opening reception FAQ:

Q: Will I want to miss the DPS 2014 opening reception?
A: No you won’t!

Q: When is it?
A: Sunday, 9 Nov. 6:30–8:00 pm!

Q: Where is it?
A: On the patio at the JW Starr Pass Marriott, Tucson, AZ, USA, Earth!

Q: Will there be food?
A: There will be a Mexican buffet!

Q: What is the Day of the Dead?
A: http://www.google.com!

Q: What is the All Souls Procession?
A: See http://allsoulsprocession.org/history

Q: Is there a dress code?
A: There are no dress codes in Tucson!

Q: Will the reception be scary?
A: Only if you are afraid of receptions!

Q: Is this going to be like some kind of depressing funeral?
A: It will not! The Day of the Dead is about celebrating life!

Q: Will this reception involve that thing where you’re talking to a more senior scientist and then another more senior scientist shows up and then suddenly you’re invisible?
A: Yup, it probably will. That would be a good time to hit the buffet!

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SPITZER CYCLE-11 PROPOSAL DEADLINE 29 OCTOBER

Dear Planetary Community,

We want to remind you that the Spitzer Cycle-11 proposal deadline is this month on October 29. Both the NASA Astrophysics and the Planetary Sciences Divisions are providing support for Spitzer operations.

Priority in the selection of Cycle-11 will be given to programs that highlight :
                 — Astro2010 science themes
                 — Planetary science programs observing targets in our Solar System.
•       — Investigations that concentrate on developing the scientific landscape that JWST will explore, or will help maximize the JWST scientific return.

In this cycle proposers are especially encouraged to consider compelling planetary science campaigns (long-term/multiple observations) that focus on the changing nature of solar system objects over time. Many of these objects are possible future mission targets as outlined in the most recent planetary decadal survey. Proposers should identify how these observations contribute to the body of scientific knowledge needed to help refine objectives for future missions and aid in the understanding of the origin or evolution of the targeted body. These major observing projects should be of lasting importance to the broad planetary community with the Spitzer observational data yielding a substantial and coherent database that can also be used by subsequent planetary researchers.

The Cycle-11 CP solicits Exploration Science (ES) General Observer, regular General Observer (GO) and Snapshot proposals. Cycle-11 programs will execute in the February 2015 – September 2016 timeframe. We expect to select 6,700 – 9,200 hours of scheduling priority 1 programs and 1,000 hours of priority 2 snapshot programs. Major changes in the Cycle-11 call for proposals, compared to previous cycles, are summarized in the Executive Summary.

All programmatic and technical information for Cycle-11 is available electronically from the Proposal Kit section of the Spitzer Science Center website at

http://ssc.spitzer.caltech.edu/warmmission/propkit/

Investigators worldwide from all types of institutions are eligible to submit proposals in response to this CP. Joint HST or Chandra observations can be proposed as part of a Spitzer Cycle-11 proposal.

Proposal Deadline: 29 October 2014, 4:00 PM PDT

All proposals must be submitted electronically using Spot, the SSC proposal planning and submission software. The S19 version of Spot is available from the SSC website and via the auto-update feature in Spot. Proposers must use this version of the software to submit their proposals.
The required Cycle-11 proposal templates will be available at the Proposal Kit website in late August and the proposal submission system will also open at that time.

If you have any questions or need advice on planning your solar system observations with Spitzer, please just contact our Helpdesk at

[email protected]

Yours sincerely,

Lisa Storrie-Lombardi
Assistant Director for Community Affairs
Spitzer Science Center

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JOBS/POSITIONS OPPORTUNITIES

For all Job opportunities, please visit jobs
and also consider posting a job by filling out the jobs submission form at:
node/add/job

You can send any comments, questions, or suggestions to the DPS Jobs Czar at: [email protected]

A) 2015 GERALD A. SOFFREN MEMORIAL FUND TRAVEL GRANT APPLICATION OPPORTUNITY

Dear Colleague:
Please distribute this announcement to deserving undergraduate and graduate students in your department or your Space Grant programs.

The Gerald A. Soffen Memorial Fund is pleased to announce the last 2014 Travel Grant application opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing studies in fields of space science and engineering.

The Travel Grants, in the amount of $500, enable student recipients to attend professional meetings to present their research. The Fall 2014 Travel Grant application deadline is October 15, 2014. Jerry Soffen, a biologist by training, led a distinguished career in NASA, including serving as the Project Scientist for Viking and as an architect for the NASA Astrobiology Institute. The Travel Grant continues Jerry’s dedication to educating and involving future generations in space science and engineering pursuits. The electronic application materials and instructions are located on the Soffen Fund website:
http://SoffenFund.org

Questions regarding the application or application process may be sent to:
[email protected]

B) FACULTY POSITION IN PLANETARY SCIENCE, DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND SPACE SCIENCES – FLORIDA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

The Department of Physics and Space Sciences at Florida Institute of Technology invites applications for a permanent faculty position, beginning August 2015. This position is at the rank of assistant professor, but higher ranks may be considered for senior or well-established candidates. Candidates working in any planetary science field are encouraged to apply, including those affiliated with space missions, solar system observations or theory, and/or exoplanet research. The successful candidate will have guaranteed access to the Ortega telescope in Florida and the SARA facilities at Kitt Peak, Cerro Tololo, and La Palma. Candidates should be committed to excellence in teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and to developing or bringing a leading research program in planetary science. Florida Tech’s new Planetary Science undergraduate degree is one of only a few in the world. The candidate will also mentor and train students in our Space Sciences masters and doctoral programs.

Florida Tech is located on the east coast of central Florida, just south of the Kennedy Space Center. Information about the department and its current research activities can be found at http://cos.fit.edu/pss/. For more information, interested candidates should contact Dr. Daniel Batcheldor, PSS Interim Department Head. To apply, email [email protected] with the subject “Position # PSS802”. In a single PDF, provide a cover letter, CV, statements of research and teaching experience and interests, and the names and contact information of at least three references. Review of applications will begin on January 5, but applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Highly qualified applicants may consider applying to our open position for the permanent department head. Florida Tech is an equal opportunity employer.

C) 2015 SAGAN FELLOWSHIPS

The NASA Exoplanet Science Institute announces the 2015 Sagan Postdoctoral Fellowship Program and solicits applications for fellowships to begin in the fall of 2015.

The Sagan Fellowships support outstanding recent postdoctoral scientists to conduct independent research that is broadly related to the science goals of the NASA Exoplanet Exploration program. The primary goal of missions within this program is to discover and characterize planetary systems and Earth-like planets around nearby stars.

The proposed research may be theoretical, observational, or instrumental. This program is open to applicants of any nationality who have earned (or will have earned) their doctoral degrees on or after January 1, 2012, in astronomy, physics, or related disciplines. The fellowships are tenable at U.S. host institutions of the fellows’ choice, subject to a maximum of one new fellow per host institution per year. The duration of the fellowship is up to three years: an initial one-year appointment and two annual renewals contingent on satisfactory performance and availability of NASA funds.

The Announcement of Opportunity, which includes detailed program
policies and application instructions is available at the web site: http://nexsci.caltech.edu/sagan/fellowship.html
Applicants must follow the instructions given in this Announcement.
Inquiries about the Sagan Fellowships may be directed to [email protected].

The deadline for applications, letters of reference and the institutional letter(s) of endorsement is Thursday, November 6, 2014. Offers will be made before February 1, 2015, and new appointments are expected to begin on or about September 1, 2015.

D) CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: IMPRS PHD SCHOLARSHIPS IN SOLAR SYSTEM SCIENCE IN GÖTTINGEN, GERMANY

Deadline November 15, 2014

The International Max Planck Research School for Solar System Science
at the University of Göttingen in Germany (Solar System School) offers
a research-oriented doctoral programme covering the physical aspects of
Solar system science. It is jointly run by the Max Planck Institute
for Solar System Research (MPS) and the University of Göttingen.
Research at the MPS covers three main research areas: ”Sun and
Heliosphere”, ”Solar and Stellar Interiors” and ”Planets and Comets”.
Solar System School students collaborate with leading scientists in
these fields and graduates are awarded a doctoral degree from the
renowned University of Göttingen or, if they choose, another university.

The Solar System School is open to students from all countries and
offers an international three-year PhD programme in an exceptional
research environment with state-of-the-art facilities on the Göttingen
Research Campus. Successful applicants receive an attractive scholarship
covering relocation support, housing and living expenses and are exempt
from tuition fees.

The language of the structured graduate programme is English, with German
language courses offered (optional). The programme includes an inspiring
curriculum of scientific lectures and seminars as well as advanced training
workshops and provides travel funds to attend international conferences.

Applicants to the Solar System School should have a keen interest in
Solar system science and a record of academic excellence. They must
have, or must be about to obtain, an M.Sc. degree or equivalent in
physics or a related field, including a written Masters thesis (or a
scientific publication), and must document a good command of the
English language.

*** Applications may be submitted from October 1 through our online
*** application portal. Review of applications for a starting date
*** of September 2015 will begin on 15 November 2014.

To apply, please navigate to:

Solar System School http://www.solar-system-school.de
Open PhD projects    https://www.mps.mpg.de/3698433/projects
PhD applications     https://www.mps.mpg.de/1448604/application
Applications 2014    https://www.mps.mpg.de/3773654/application2014

Dr. Sonja Schuh <[email protected]>
IMPRS Scientific Coordinator

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UPCOMING MEETINGS

A) CALL FOR PAPERS, TUTORIALS, PANELS SPACOMM 2015,
The Seventh International Conference on Advances in Satellite and Space Communications

April 19 – 23, 2015 – Barcelona, Spain
General page: http://www.iaria.org/conferences2015/SPACOMM15.html

Call for Papers: http://www.iaria.org/conferences2015/CfPSPACOMM15.html

Submission page: http://www.iaria.org/conferences2015/SubmitSPACOMM15.html

Contributions:
– regular papers [in the proceedings, digital library]
– short papers (work in progress) [in the proceedings, digital library]
– ideas: two pages [in the proceedings, digital library]
– extended abstracts: two pages [in the proceedings, digital library]
– posters: two pages [in the proceedings, digital library]
– posters: slide only [slide-deck posted at www.iaria.org]
– presentations: slide only [slide-deck posted at www.iaria.org]
– demos: two pages [posted at www.iaria.org]
– doctoral forum submissions: [in the proceedings, digital library]

Proposals for:
– symposia: see http://www.iaria.org/symposium.html
– workshops: see http://www.iaria.org/workshop.html
– tutorials: [slide-deck posed on www.iaria.org]
– panels: [slide-deck posed on www.iaria.org]

Submission deadline: November 24, 2014