DPS has been closely following the process by which the Universities Space Research Association (USRA) has been implementing the Executive Order (EO) 14151 regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in the US federal government, specifically with respect to websites maintained by the Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) on behalf of planetary science community and its Assessment/Analysis groups (AGs).
LPI has been removing links to and mentions of conference abstracts and AG documents from past years, if they include statements about diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility or related workforce issues – including the full workforce session that was just solicited and convened at the 2025 LPSC. An Astrophysics Data System/Science Explorer (ADS/SciX) team has identified around 1,000 broken links to LPI-hosted content associated with LPSC and other meeting abstracts, though the number of affected documents may be smaller. A large segment of the planetary community received a statement from USRA regarding the removal of DEI Content from LPI Websites on 8 May (link hereafter), which does not satisfy the community’s concerns and questions.
On May 19, DPS leadership met with the USRA and LPI leadership to further understand these actions. USRA confirmed that these actions were recommended by their own legal counsel as necessary to comply with the aforementioned EO, and that neither NASA or any other federal agency had provided direction to take these actions. In order to determine which abstracts and other materials to remove, LPI staff searched on all permutations of DEI(A) and component words and synonyms. Tagged materials were then reviewed by a person to confirm that they referred to DEI work. Links were removed, but saved in a list and can be restored at a future time. USRA has released a Fact Sheet clarifying the sequence of events during removal of DEI content.
The conference and AG programs, abstracts, and other documents held by LPI constitute a vital record of past community work in research, community development, and consensus building that needs to be available for current and future researchers. USRA plans to reach out to first authors of affected materials and provide them with copies of the files. However, the impacts are not limited to the authors, but to the entire science community who looks at the record. While DPS recognizes that USRA believes that it acted in the interest of protecting its stakeholders, the removal of this record is nevertheless a violation of the individual and collective intellectual record of planetary science and of community trust.
Community-led efforts are underway to preserve this record, such as by the ADS/SciX team. The DPS encourages the planetary science community to check their own and colleagues’ records, to foster this restoration. If you discover a broken link to your LPI abstract or other scientific publication, email [email protected] so that they can investigate and, if possible, restore access to the content.
DPS has been working with AAS and investigating possibilities to alleviate the consequences of these removals. In the meantime, planetary science members within academia may ascertain whether their institution is a member of USRA and consider raising this issue with their institutional representative(s): https://www.usra.edu/about-usra/university-oversight/
REGISTRATION IS OPEN FOR THE EPSC-DPS 2025 MEETING
TAKE ACTION NOW IN RESPONSE TO THE FY2026 PRESIDENT’S BUDGET REQUEST
DPS ELECTIONS AND PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE DPS BYLAWS
RENEW YOUR AAS AND DPS MEMBERSHIP TODAY
URGENT CALL FOR DONATIONS TO THE DPS STUDENT TRAVEL GRANTS
SUPPORT REQUESTED FOR DPS PARTNER: THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF BLACK PHYSICISTS (NSBP)
DEPENDENT CARE GRANT APPLICATION FOR 2025 EPSC-DPS
DPS COMMITTEE SEEKS APPLICANTS FOR PUBLICATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR TO BEGIN TERM IN FALL 2025
PROGRAM AND REGISTRATION: PROGRESS IN UNDERSTANDING THE PLUTO SYSTEM: 10 YEARS AFTER FLYBY
GOOGLE GROUP FOR COMMUNICATION AMONG SMALL BODIES COMMUNITY
NASA SMALL BODIES ASSESSMENT GROUP (SBAG) STEERING COMMITTEE SOLICITATION
[AGU 2025, NEW ORLEANS, 15-19 DEC] SESSION P044 – TITAN AT EQUINOX: SEASONAL CHANGES ON AN OCEAN WORLD
CALL FOR ABSTRACTS – AGU 2025 SESSION ON VOLATILES AND PLANETARY HABITABILITY
THE SOLAR SYSTEM IN CONTEXT – FINAL CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
REGISTRATION OPEN FOR INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON INSTRUMENTATION FOR PLANETARY MISSIONS (IPM-2025)
SUBMIT LUNAR EXPLORATION ABSTRACTS TO THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA (GSA) CONNECTS 2025 MEETING
EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE LEADERSHIP: A NEW WORKSHOP ON STRATEGIES FOR UNLOCKING INDIVIDUAL POTENTIAL
SAVE-THE-DATE: ORIGINS 2026 JULY 5-10, PARIS
AGU SESSION: THE NEXUS FOR EXOPLANET SYSTEM SCIENCE (NExSS) – BUILDING A COMMUNITY FOR INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH ACROSS NASA SCIENCE DIVISIONS (SESSION NUMBER P042)
MERCURY LABORATORY WORKSHOP 2025: CALL FOR ABSTRACT
JOVIAN ICY MOONS WORKSHOP: ABSTRACT SUBMISSION & TRAVEL GRANT DEADLINE
5TH MedGU, 10–13 NOVEMBER 2025, ATHENS, GREECE
20 YEARS OF CELEBRATION OF THE HUYGENS LANDING AND THE CASSINI MISSION’S SUCCESSES
CURRENT TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR ICARUS AND THE PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL
JOBS, POSITIONS, AND OPPORTUNITIES
+——————————————————————————————–+
1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1——-
REGISTRATION IS OPEN FOR THE EPSC-DPS 2025 MEETING
Registration is open for the EPSC-DPS Joint 2025 Meeting in Finlandia Hall Helsinki, Finland from September 7-12, 2025. Registration is required for all EPSC-DPS 2025 participants including presenting authors of submitted and accepted abstracts, session conveners, and solicited speakers. Registration fees cover access to all scientific events, as well as refreshments during the coffee breaks and networking events.
Registration at early rates will be possible through July 31, 2025. The early registration payment can be made by bank transfer, credit card (Mastercard, VISA, JCB or American Express), or PayPal. As of 1 August 2025, the late registration rates will be applied and payment of your registration will only be possible by credit card or PayPal.
Please use the following link to access the registration page where you can find more information about the rates and the in person or virtual registration process.
TAKE ACTION NOW IN RESPONSE TO THE FY2026 PRESIDENT’S BUDGET REQUEST
With the details of the FY2026 President’s Budget Request (PBR) now released, grass roots advocacy is more important than ever. During uncertain and unprecedented times of social and economic crisis, YOU can still raise your voice and TAKE ACTION to protect NASA, NSF, and DOE planetary science funding.
The DPS has provided an example e-mail and phone script to help you craft your message when reaching out to Congressional offices. There is also space to share a “personal message” about your federally funded planetary science research and the impacts of proposed budget cuts on you personally. You can access these forms at the following link.
Please email the AAS Public Policy Office ([email protected]) if you have any questions prior to reaching out to your Senators and Representatives. The AAS Public Policy Office can also provide email addresses of the relevant Congressional staffers who cover NASA, NSF, and DOE Science. The AAS DPS FRS is also available as an advocacy resource and can be reached at: [email protected]. Please note that any messages with crude or inflammatory language will not be passed on, and please be respectful during any communications with Congressional offices (messages should align with the AAS Mission and Vision Statement and AAS Code of Ethics).
Thank you for advocating for the U.S. planetary science community!
3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3——-
DPS ELECTIONS AND PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE DPS BYLAWS
All active DPS members recently received a ballot for a double vote: The ballot concerns both the 2025 DPS elections and necessary amendments in the DPS bylaws. This e-mail was sent to the address you used when registering with AAS/DPS. If you do not see a ballot link in your mailbox, please check your spam/junk folder and also check that your DPS membership has not lapsed. DPS Membership – AAS Division for Planetary Sciences
This year we are voting for a new Vice-Chair and two DPS Committee Members. The Vice-Chair will become Chair in October 2026. For more information about current officers and committee members, please visit the leadership section of the DPS website.
Information and position statements for the candidates have been collected into this single PDF. The same information is also accessible on your ballot. Details about the proposed amendment to the DPS Bylaws is also included in the links that were sent through the ballot.
If you have not received a ballot, and your DPS membership is current, please research out to Diane Frendak at [email protected] or 202-328-2010 x109 for help. The election will close on July 22, 2025.
4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4——-
RENEW YOUR AAS AND DPS MEMBERSHIP TODAY
The DPS Committee and the AAS staff and community thank you for being an AAS/DPS member. For those who have not yet renewed for 2025, it’s not too late!
If you are unsure of your membership status, it’s easy to check. Go to my.aas.org and log in with your AAS username and password. Look for the framed Profile-at-a-Glance section on the right and confirm the Paid through date. If it’s 31 December 2024 or earlier, it’s time to renew.
If you have questions about your benefits or need assistance with your login or renewal, please email the membership team or call (202) 328-2010 x109. You can also send an e-mail to dpssec.org
5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5——-
URGENT CALL FOR DONATIONS IN SUPPORT OF DPS STUDENT TRAVEL GRANTS
During these challenging times, many graduate students are losing access to their funding and are unable to travel to professional meetings to present their research. The Division for Planetary Science (DPS) Hartmann Student Travel Grant and Underrepresented Minorities (URM) Travel Grant exist to support student presentations at the annual DPS meeting. The need this year has been very great, and our ability to help the applicants is limited by the amount of money available in the Hartmann and URM grant funds.
Community donations are critical for the health of these awards and our ability to fund students. Each fund functions as an endowment. Please consider making a donation today. For immediate effect for this coming joint DPS-EPSC meeting, give by logging into your AAS account through this link and submitting an undesignated donation to the DPS Division. For longer-term donations to build up the endowments, select either the Hartmann Student Travel Grants or the URM Travel Grants.
6———6———6———6———6———6———6———6———
SUPPORT REQUESTED FOR DPS PARTNER: THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF BLACK PHYSICISTS (NSBP)
DPS has been proud to partner with the Earth and Planetary Systems Sciences (EPSS) section of the National Society of Black Physicists (NSBP), supporting a presentation from the DPS-NSBP Speaker Awardee at the DPS annual meeting as well as travel of a few planetary scientists to the NSBP annual meeting. For the latter, DPS has generally focused on sending postdocs and early career scientists to the NSBP meeting as, historically, NSBP has been able fully support the travel for most of the students who attend the conference. However, recent cuts to funding from traditional federal partners have drastically reduced NSBP’s ability to support most of the students to attend their conference so they are soliciting for community donations; on average, the cost to cover a student’s travel and lodging is $1500. The link to donate directly to NSBP is below; alternatively, if you prefer to donate through DPS, community contributions, the DPS URM Travel Grant fund will also be used to support travel to the NSBP meeting. Donations through either path should be U.S. tax deductible. Many thanks to all who support these future planetary scientists!
DEPENDENT CARE GRANT APPLICATION FOR 2025 EPSC-DPS
The DPS’s Susan Niebur Professional Development Fund provides financial assistance to qualifying DPS members in order to facilitate their meeting attendance by offsetting costs for childcare, elder care, spousal care, etc. at the meeting location or at home during DPS conferences. We are now accepting applications for the EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2025 in Helsinki, Finland. First Deadline: Tuesday, August 5, 2025. Review of submissions will begin on the first deadline; further requests will be accepted and reviewed, funding and eligibility permitting. For more information and to apply for the grant, visit: https://dps.aas.org/development/dps-dependent-care-grant-application
8———8———8———8———8———8———8———8———8——-
DPS COMMITTEE SEEKS APPLICANTS FOR PUBLICATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR TO BEGIN TERM IN FALL 2025
The Publications Subcommittee Chair will serve a three-year term starting with the EPSC-DPS meeting in September 2025. The Publications Subcommittee is responsible for managing the relationship between DPS and its designated publications, Icarus and the Planetary Science Journal, and also stays aware of issues in planetary science publications more generally. The Publications Subcommittee regularly reviews the publication policies of journals that the DPS endorses and supports.
If you’re interested, please send a CV and a brief statement of interest to [email protected]
9———9———9———9———9——–9———9———9———9——-
PROGRAM AND REGISTRATION: PROGRESS IN UNDERSTANDING THE PLUTO SYSTEM: 10 YEARS AFTER FLYBY
The Progress in Understanding the Pluto System: 10 Years After Flyby meeting is scheduled for July 14–18, 2025, at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU APL), in Laurel, Maryland, with virtual participation available (https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/plutosystem2025/).
Detailed information about the program is available by viewing the program and abstracts. Authors should review the author index for abstracts accepted for presentation to see where they have been scheduled. If authors’ names in the index need to be updated, email [email protected]. Authors should also review all presenter information for oral and/or poster presentations.
In-person and virtual registration is open on the relevant page at the meeting website. Before the meeting, all registrants will receive an email from Houston Meeting Info with virtual connection information.
Optional events are available for meeting attendees.
10———10———10———10———10———10———10———10———10——-
GOOGLE GROUP FOR COMMUNICATION AMONG SMALL BODIES COMMUNITY
A Google group has been created to communicate important announcements to the small bodies community independent of any agency or institution. If you are interested in receiving such informational mailings and want to stay in touch with the small bodies community during this time of uncertainty, please join us at the following link:
At this time, the group is moderated by a volunteer and is meant primarily for one-way communication and announcements relevant to small bodies science, research, technology, workforce, and support. Contact the moderator through the group if you have an announcement to be shared. The purpose of this group will adapt to the needs of the community and may eventually become a fully open dialog forum.
11———11———11———11———11———11———11———11———
NASA SMALL BODIES ASSESSMENT GROUP (SBAG) STEERING COMMITTEE SOLICITATION
SBAG facilitates and mediates the relationship between the small bodies and planetary defense science and technology communities; identifies, collects, and represents the priorities of these communities; and acts as a bridge between the small bodies community and NASA. SBAG is led by its Steering Committee (SC). Historically, the SC organizes two SBAG meetings per year, writes official SBAG findings, and takes a leadership role in activities requiring community input.
The SBAG SC is currently soliciting two new general members and a Planetary Defense Lead. Members of the small bodies community from any career stage, including international members, are welcome to apply. The nominal term of service is three years, starting in August 2025.
All applications require: 1) a two-page CV, including a description of participation in SBAG, other small bodies organizations, or related work, and 2) a short (300 words maximum) statement of interest. Criteria for selection are participation in small bodies community organizations/commissions/committees/etc., demonstrated leadership experience, and relevant research or mission experience.
Additionally, the Planetary Defense Lead serves as the lead representative for the interface between small bodies science and planetary defense activities and leads SC activities related to the joint concerns of these topics. The application should (i) meet the requirements of the general member application, (ii) indicate a preference for the Planetary Defense Lead position, and (iii) include relevant planetary defense experience.
Send application packages to Lori Feaga ([email protected]) by July 11, 2025, 8:00 PM EDT. The new SC members will be announced in August.
[AGU 2025, NEW ORLEANS, 15-19 DEC] SESSION P044 – TITAN AT EQUINOX: SEASONAL CHANGES ON AN OCEAN WORLD
On May 6th 2025 the Saturn system passed through Northern Fall Equinox, and the peak sunlight moved from Titan’s northern to southern hemisphere. Thus commenced a period of expected upheaval and change, when Titan’s atmospheric circulation will slowly begin to reverse direction and may be accompanied by intense methane rainstorms as seen soon after the last equinoctial passage in 2009. This year also marks another major milestone: the 20th year since the Huygens landing on Titan and the return to Earth of its incredible in situ dataset. This topical Titan session solicits novel presentations on all aspects of Titan science, including recent observations, new modeling and laboratory work, and related analog and field work.
Conveners: Conor Nixon, Kathleen Mandt, Kendra Farnsworth, Samuel Birch
13———13———13———13———13———13———13———13———
CALL FOR ABSTRACTS – AGU 2025 SESSION ON VOLATILES AND PLANETARY HABITABILITY
We invite submissions to our AGU 2025 session: Fate of Volatiles During Magmatic Processes in Planetary Interiors: Implications on the Origins of Habitability
Abstract Deadline: 30 July 2025 23:59 EDT/03:59 +1 GMT
This session focuses on how life-enabling elements (e.g., C, S, N, O, H) are acquired, mobilized, and retained within terrestrial planets through magmatic processes such as core formation, magma ocean convection and crystallization, volcanic outgassing, and subduction. These processes are key to understanding the internal distribution of volatiles and how they shape planetary habitability.
We welcome interdisciplinary contributions from fields including:
Cosmochemistry and experimental petrology
Thermodynamic, molecular, and fluid dynamics modeling
Smoothed-particle hydrodynamics simulations
Machine learning or AI-based approaches in planetary research
Early-career researchers and those working at the intersection of multiple disciplines are especially encouraged to contribute.
For questions or more information, feel free to contact the conveners:
Please share with colleagues who may be interested. We look forward to your submissions!
14———14———14———14———14———14———14———14———
THE SOLAR SYSTEM IN CONTEXT – FINAL CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
The 2025 NOIRLab Science Conference, The Solar System in Context, which will take place on 29 September – 2 October in Tucson, Arizona. The conference will be focused on the interdisciplinarity of the formation and evolution of the Solar System, exoplanetary systems, and their stars.
Main topics include: disks; stellar evolution; planet-star connections; (exo)planets; planetary demographics; habitability; planet formation, migration, & evolution; rocky small bodies & (exo)moons; active asteroids & (exo)comets; interstellar objects; instrumentation & software tools, and more.
Registration for the conference can be completed using the registration form or through the website. In-person and virtual attendance options are available. The registration deadline is 15 September.
REGISTRATION OPEN FOR INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON INSTRUMENTATION FOR
PLANETARY MISSIONS (IPM-2025)
Registration is now open for the sixth International Workshop on Instrumentation for Planetary Missions (IPM-2025), which will be held in Boulder, Colorado on August 4 – 6, 2025. This workshop will convene scientists, engineers, students and other stakeholders who develop or
use instrumentation onboard planetary missions to discuss key planetary science questions and the technology that is required to address these questions.
The in-person registration fee is $225, and the deadline for in-person registration is July 10. Remote registration is free and the deadline for remote registration is July 25, 2025.
SUBMIT LUNAR EXPLORATION ABSTRACTS TO THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA (GSA) CONNECTS 2025 MEETING
The GSA Connects 2025 meeting will be hosted in San Antonio, TX on 19–22 October 2025. One of the three themes for this meeting is “From Earth to the Cosmos: Geoscience Beyond Our Planet”. We encourage those with active scientific studies of the Moon, involvement in lunar missions, and those developing goals, concepts, or instrumentation for future lunar exploration to submit abstracts to the GSA session: T168. Lunar Science and Exploration in the Artemis Era.
EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE LEADERSHIP: A NEW WORKSHOP ON STRATEGIES FOR UNLOCKING INDIVIDUAL POTENTIAL
August 18-20, 2025, 4 hours daily, 11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm EST (entirely virtual)
We invite planetary scientists to join us for our reinvigorated workshop. We offer best-practices to meet current challenges while uplifting potential in ourselves and that of our professional partners. If you are seeking expanded approaches to engage with colleagues, groups, teams, committees, etc. with understanding and ethics, this is your workshop. The content also includes specific strategies to meet present challenges, including additional resources, staying motivated, and avoiding burnout. Participants at all career stages and experience levels are welcome, as well as those who have previously attended past workshops. This offering (~25 people or less, to encourage interaction) provides the basic tools needed to enact positive change in personal and professional spheres. Entirely on-line. Visit website (below) for more details and to fill out the indication of interest form.
“Well organized and well-facilitated, great breadth and depth of topics, and good novel interactive components as well. The content was expertly curated and extremely well presented …” Participant, Nov. 2022
Facilitators: Drs. Julie Rathbun (she/her/hers) and JA Grier (ee/em/eir)
We are pleased to announce Origins 2026, jointly organized by the International Society for the Study of the Origins of Life – The International Astrobiology Society (ISSOL) and the Astrobiology Commission of the International Astronomical Union (IAU). The meeting will take place from 5 to 10 July 2026 in Paris, France.
This event will bring together experts from diverse fields, including chemistry, biology, planetary science, and astrophysics, to explore the origins of life and habitability on Earth and beyond. Hosted at the prestigious Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle and Sorbonne University, the conference will highlight interdisciplinary research on the transition from non-living to living systems, focusing on early Earth environments, evolutionary processes, and the search for biosignatures in the universe.
The program will feature the latest discoveries in prebiotic chemistry, the evolution of early life, and habitability across the Solar System and exoplanets, as well as philosophical and historical perspectives. Special emphasis will be placed on the contributions of early-career researchers. This landmark event aims to strengthen international collaborations and advance our understanding of the emergence of life.
Registration and abstract submission will open in October 2025, but you can already sign up here (https://forms.gle/5MQj1RroTqD5hrMX8) to receive up-to-date information.
19———19———19———19———19———19———19———19———
AGU SESSION: THE NEXUS FOR EXOPLANET SYSTEM SCIENCE (NExSS) – BUILDING A COMMUNITY FOR INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH ACROSS NASA SCIENCE DIVISIONS (SESSION NUMBER P042)
Exoplanet research has provided unique opportunities to promote multidisciplinary work, as it requires expertise from the fields of Earth Science, Planetary Science, Heliophysics, and Astrophysics. NExSS was created to bring together teams that are associated with these corresponding divisions of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. NExSS’s goal is to make interdisciplinary connections possible, promoting activities that increase communication and collaboration between research teams and individuals, and streamline research objectives across its science community. The session will cover both NExSS activities as well as general topics on interdisciplinary research. In the spirit of broadening connections, we encourage submissions not only about unique NExSS activities or NExSS-related projects, but also non-NExSS projects that demonstrate the unique value of highly interdisciplinary research; effective means to create and encourage interdisciplinary research within the AGU community; the value of interdisciplinary research in public outreach; or the benefits of interdisciplinary research for science education.
The Mercury Laboratory Workshop 2025 is hosted by the University of Helsinki, Finland on 15-17 September, 2025. The aim of the workshop is to discuss the laboratory experiments available and/or desiderable worldwide relevant to Mercury and to connect laboratory researchers working on related Mercury research.
The abstract submission deadline is July 15th at 11 pm (CEST) and the registration is open until August 23rd.
JOVIAN ICY MOONS WORKSHOP: ABSTRACT SUBMISSION & TRAVEL GRANT DEADLINE
This is a friendly reminder that the deadline for abstract submissions and travel grant applications for the Jovian Icy Moons Workshop is approaching: July 28, 2025 at 23:59 CET.
The workshop will take place from November 3-7, 2025, at ESA/ESAC in Madrid, Spain, and will bring together researchers to explore the surface-environment interactions of Jupiter’s icy moons.
We are also thrilled to welcome a distinguished lineup of invited speakers, including:
– Scott Bolton (Southwest Research Institute)
– Oliver King (University of Leicester)
– Haje Korth (Johns Hopkins University)
– Alice Lucchetti (INAF – Astronomical Observatory of Padova)
We look forward to your contributions and to welcoming you to the workshop!
22———22———22———22———22———22———22———22———
5TH MedGU, 10–13 NOVEMBER 2025, ATHENS, GREECE
The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens in Greece will host the 2025 MedGU Annual Meeting.You are invited to participate and share your most recent research contributions.
Kindly note that for security reasons the venue hall can host maximum 100 participants. Thus, participation will be warranted on a first come first served basis.
Contributed papers are accepted as posters, please submit an abstract.
Registration and abstract submission DEADLINE: 15 July 2025.
For the SOC : Athena Coustenis, Marcello Fulchignoni, Jean-Pierre Lebreton, Panayotis Lavvas
24———24———24———24———24———24———24———24———
CURRENT TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR ICARUS AND THE PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL
The current issues for both DPS-affiliated journals are here:
Full details for several new positions can be found on the DPS job board.
A summary of recent job announcements and postdoc opportunities are listed below.
NEO Surveyor Moving Object Scientist at IPAC
IPAC at Caltech invites applications for the position of Moving Object Scientist for the NEO Surveyor Survey Data System (NSDS). IPAC is building and will operate the NSDS for NASA’s NEO Surveyor (NEOS) mission. The NSDS ingests imaging and engineering data from the flight system, processes those data into calibrated image and source detection products, performs automated searches for moving Solar System objects, assesses the quality of the survey data, and distributes data products to NASA archives and the user community, including sending moving object tracklets to the Minor Planet Center. A key part of the NSDS is the Moving Object Detection Pipeline (MODP), a software subsystem that is in an advanced state of development and currently undergoing regular performance testing and analysis.
Tenure-Track Faculty Position at University of Iowa
The School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability (SEES) at The University of Iowa seeks a tenure-track appointment at the rank of assistant or associate professor with expertise in solid Earth geology, focused on structural geology, tectonics, geochronology, thermochronology, critical minerals, or geodynamics. Required teaching duties will include structural geology, field courses, tectonics, and other courses within the successful applicant’s expertise. We will consider all areas of research but encourage candidates with strong field-based programs and interest in Earth and planetary processes as well as in the interplay between solid earth dynamics and environmental conditions in the hydrosphere, biosphere, or atmosphere.
Deadline for full consideration is September 15, 2025. Screening of applications will begin in early September. The application window will remain open until the position is satisfactorily filled.
Direct questions regarding this position to Dr. Emily Finzel, [email protected].
Graduate Student / Researcher Position in Asteroid Science at TU Braunschweig (Germany)
The Institute of Geophysics and Extraterrestrial Physics at the TU Braunschweig is seeking to fill a three-year researcher position (100% FTE, suitable to work towards obtaining a PhD degree) in asteroid science. Details of the position can be found here:
Post-doc Opportunity at Washington University in St. Louis
The Experimental Studies of Planetary Materials group at Washington University, St. Louis is asking for help identifying potential candidates for a postdoctoral position.
Our lab investigates the rheology and physical properties of Earth and planetary materials through laboratory experiments and microstructural analysis. Broadly, we seek to understand the dynamics of Earth’s interior and other planetary bodies, with particular emphasis on the
processes that govern plate tectonics, lithosphere dynamics, mantle convection, and deformation across multiple scales.
I am eager to work with scholars from a variety of backgrounds, including those with limited experimental experience. This postdoc would be a great opportunity for someone with a recent PhD in planetary geology or planetary interiors, who would like to diversify their skill set before entering the faculty job market.
Please feel free to share this opportunity with any students or colleagues who may be interested.
Post-doc Position at University of Central Florida
The McKeown Group in the University of Central Florida (UCF) Department of Physics in the College of Sciences seeks to hire a Postdoctoral Scholar to help set up the new FROSTIE lab, aimed at investigating icy planetary surface processes under simulated planetary conditions. The postdoctoral scholar will have the opportunity to research icy geomorphological signatures of seasonal processes on Mars and transient liquid water activity relevant for icy airless worlds. The successful candidate will lead design, integration and testing of cryo-vacuum regulation and data acquisition systems. Experience working with cryogenic thermal-vacuum systems is necessary. The scholar’s technical expertise will be integral to the successful completion of cutting-edge experiments investigating the roles of ice sublimation and endogenic liquid water activity in modifying the surfaces of Mars, Europa and small bodies. The scholar would begin the position as soon as possible and serve for 24 months, extendable upon the availability of funds and mutual agreement of the scholar and the supervisor.
SOLICITING DONATIONS FOR STUDENT TRAVEL GRANTS TO THE DPS-EPSC JOINT MEETING IN FALL 2025
2025 DPS TRAVEL GRANT APPLICATION FORM IS OPEN
DPS COMMITTEE SEEKS APPLICANTS FOR PUBLICATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR TO BEGIN TERM IN FALL 2025
AAS NEEDS YOUR VOICE TO SUPPORT FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THE SCIENCES
PLANETARY SOCIETY – ADD YOUR NAME TO SAVE NASA SCIENCE
20 YEARS OF CELEBRATION OF THE HUYGENS LANDING AND THE CASSINI MISSION’S SUCCESS
PLANETARY DATA TRAINING WORKSHOP, AUGUST 12-15, 2025, ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT: JUICE SCHOOL AT LES HOUCHES (FRANCE), 25-30 JANUARY 2026
SOUTH POLE-AITKEN BASIN FOCUS ISSUE IN PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL
33RD MEETING OF THE NASA SMALL BODIES ASSESSMENT GROUP (SBAG)
THE SOLAR SYSTEM IN CONTEXT – CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
ICARUS SPECIAL ISSUE: CARBON IN PLANETARY ENVIRONMENTS
DASHBOARD: ECONOMIC IMPACT OF NASA SCIENCE ACROSS AMERICA
[ICG 2026] CALL FOR ABSTRACTS: PLANETARY GEOMORPHOLOGY
EUROPA CLIPPER PRESENTATION MOVED TO JUNE 17
HWO25 REGISTRATION OPENS MAY 19, 2025
ANNOUNCING MERCURY LABORATORY WORKSHOP 2025
HWO DRAFT SCIENCE CASES OPEN FOR ENDORSEMENT AND COMMENT
STATEMENT ON MENTAL HEALTH
CURRENT TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR ICARUS AND THE PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL
JOBS, POSITIONS, AND OPPORTUNITIES
+——————————————————————————————–+
1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1——-
THE 2025 DPS ELECTIONS WILL BE OPENING SOON
This week you will receive a ballot to vote in the 2025 DPS elections. This email will be sent to the address you used when registering with AAS/DPS. If you do not see a ballot by the end of the week, please check your spam/junk folder and also check that your DPS membership has not lapsed. https://dps.aas.org/membership/
.
LEADERSHIP: This year we are choosing a new Vice-Chair and two DPS Committee Members. The Vice-Chair will become Chair in October 2026. For more information about current officers and committee members, please visit the leadership section of the DPS website.
CANDIDATES: You will be voting for one candidate for DPS Vice-Chair and up to two candidates for DPS Committee Member. The individuals running this year are:
Vice-Chair
Ralph McNutt – Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory
Paul Hartogh – Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research
JA Grier – Planetary Science Institute
DPS Committee Members
Stephanie Jarmak – NASA ADS
Eddie Schwieterman – University of California at Riverside
Carver Bierson – Scottsdale Community College
Arianna Piccialli – Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy
Biographical statements for each candidate will be included in the ballot and future DPS newsletters.
In addition you will be voting on a proposed change to the DPS bylaws. Details will be included within the ballot
2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2——-
SOLICITING DONATIONS FOR STUDENT TRAVEL GRANTS TO THE DPS-EPSC JOINT MEETING IN FALL 2025
Division for Planetary Science (DPS) Hartmann Student Travel Grants support student presentations at the annual DPS meeting. (Postdoctoral scholars may also be eligible, but students are prioritized.) Underrepresented Minority (URM) Communities in Planetary Science Travel Grants support attendance by students and professionals who are members of groups that have had inadequate access to the planetary science community, such as students and professionals hailing from colleges and non-R1 academic or research institutions that have not traditionally benefited from connections to the planetary science community, and/or students and professionals with degrees in broader STEM disciplines (e.g., chemistry, physics, engineering, mathematics) who are new to the planetary science community.
Community donations are critical to support these awards. To donate, please log in to your AAS account, and select the grant you wish to support. Thank you SO MUCH in advance!
The DPS Travel Grant application form is open to support participation in the joint meeting of the Europlanet Science Congress and DPS (EPSC-DPS 2025) in Helsinki, Finland 7-12 September 2025, or the National Society of Black Physicists-National Society of Hispanics Physicists annual meeting, via the Hartmann and the Under-Represented Minority (URM) Travel grants.
The Hartmann Student Travel Grant supports student presentations at the annual DPS-EPSC meeting. (Postdoctoral scholars may also be eligible, but students are prioritized.)
The Underrepresented Minority (URM) Communities in Planetary Science Travel Grant supports attendance by students and professionals who are members of groups that have had inadequate access to the planetary science community, in an effort to ensure broad engagement and access to planetary science. Applications are especially encouraged from members of group(s) whose contributions to STEM may have been overlooked, students and professionals hailing from colleges and non-R1 academic or research institutions* that have not traditionally benefited from connections to the planetary science community, and/or students and professionals with degrees in broader STEM disciplines (e.g., chemistry, physics, engineering, mathematics) who are new to the planetary science community — to support in-person or virtual attendance at the joint DPS-EPSC or joint NSBP-NSHP meetings.
* Relevant institutions include small colleges and universities, primarily undergraduate institutions, and minority serving institutions (MSIs), including but not limited to Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Native American-Serving Non-Tribal Institutions, and Tribal Colleges and Universities.“
Note: Members of Europlanet should apply for Europlanet awards through the abstract submission form.
4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4——-
DPS COMMITTEE SEEKS APPLICANTS FOR PUBLICATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR TO BEGIN TERM IN FALL 2025
The Publications Subcommittee Chair will serve a three-year term starting with the EPSC-DPS meeting in September 2025. The Publications Subcommittee is responsible for managing the relationship between DPS and its designated publications, Icarus and the Planetary Science Journal, and also stays aware of issues in planetary science publications more generally. The Publications Subcommittee regularly reviews the publication policies of journals that the DPS endorses and supports.
If you’re interested, please send a CV and a brief statement of interest to [email protected]
5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5——-
AAS NEEDS YOUR VOICE TO SUPPORT FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THE SCIENCES
AAS Needs Your Voice to Support Federal Funding for the Sciences. The President’s Budget Request includes significant cuts to science funding, but Congress has the final say. Contact your members of Congress today and urge them to support robust funding for the sciences. If you have already sent an email to your congressional offices, take five minutes today to make a phone call (switch to the “Phone” tab on the form). The AAS public policy team is happy to help connect you directly with science staffers in your congressional offices, and to help you set up Zoom or in-district meetings. Please reach out to [email protected] if there’s anything we can do to facilitate your advocacy.
6———6———6———6———6———6———6———6———
PLANETARY SOCIETY – ADD YOUR NAME TO SAVE NASA SCIENCE
The full White House budget proposal for FY 2026 is out, and it decimates the NASA Science Mission Directorate. Not only are productive, healthy spacecraft turned off, but the pipeline of new missions, radioisotope power systems, and research opportunities are shuttered. This is a crisis for the future of space science and exploration.
The Planetary Society is pushing back and has launched a petition that will go directly to Congress as part of the official budget process. Anyone from anywhere can sign, and Congress needs to hear from you. The more names on the petition, the more impact it will have in showing
Congress the immense public support for space science.
If you’ve already signed, consider sharing with your friends, neighbors, and colleagues.
7———7———7———7———7———7———7———7———7——-
20 YEARS OF CELEBRATION OF THE HUYGENS LANDING AND THE CASSINI MISSION’S SUCCESS
PLEASE JOIN US !
20 years celebration of the Huygens landing and the Cassini mission’s success
16-18 September 2025
Paris Observatory, France
RATIONALE :
Twenty years ago, on 14 January 2005, the Huygens probe, carried into the Saturnian system by the Cassini probe, landed on the surface of Titan, its largest satellite, after a 2.5-hour parachute descent. Launched in 1997, after 7.5 years of interplanetary travel, the Cassini-Huygens space mission delivered 13 years of exploration of an extremely complex planet-satellites-ring system with unique dynamic processes and couplings. Huygens demonstrates the exceptional capabilities of the European Space Agency and European laboratories in the exploration of the solar system, in association with many partners around the world. The results of this mission are numerous, rich and continue to provide us with new information to this day.
We propose to take advantage of the 20th anniversary of the Huygens landing to look back on this remarkable event, which marked the history of space exploration, review the information obtained during this exceptional exploration and discuss the future projects of space agencies at the dawn of programs such as ESA’s Voyage 2050 or NASA’s Decadal Survey (Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey 2023-2032). During this three-day symposium, we will discuss the origins and discoveries of this international mission (ESA, NASA, ASI) in terms of science and technological processes, but we also look to the future with the increasingly ambitious programs of the space agencies, for a return to Titan and also to Enceladus, Saturn’s other satellite with extraordinary characteristics.
Indeed, in the decades to come, our knowledge, not only of Titan (thanks to the Dragonfly mission which will be launched in 2028), but also of the other satellites and of icy worlds in general, in particular Enceladus, the preferred target of future flagship missions (NASA’s “Flagship” or ESA’s L4), will be manifold. The same is true for the Saturnian system and our solar system in general. Cassini-Huygens is still cited today as an example of a successful international collaboration by space agencies and experts, who praise its scientific merit and the inspiration it provides for future generations. It can act as a bridge to the future and its legacy will certainly ensure a scientific return of great importance for generations to come.
You can find more information and register or submit an abstract at this web site:
For the SOC : Athena Coustenis, Marcello Fulchignoni, Jean-Pierre Lebreton, Panayotis Lavvas
8———8———8———8———8———8———8———8———8——-
PLANETARY DATA TRAINING WORKSHOP, AUGUST 12-15, 2025, ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
This in-person only workshop is designed to provide an introduction into using planetary spatial data in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software, with a focus on studies of terrestrial planets and icy satellite surface research. The workshop will include a combination of lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on exercises with the software. Computer work stations will be provided by ASU, or you may bring your own laptop. Topics will include: JMARS (Day 1), ArcGIS Pro (Day 2), ISIS3 for image processing (Day 3 morning), Planetary Data Management and an introduction to NASA’s Planetary Data System (Day 3 afternoon), and an introduction to planetary geologic mapping (Day 4, hands-on). The instructors of each of these activities are experts in their respective fields, some of which were staff of the former NASA Regional Planetary Information Facilities (RPIFs), and have years of experience in the use of digital planetary data for research.
This workshop is offered by the Planetary Data Training program, funded through NASA’s Topical Workshops, Symposia, and Conferences (TWSC), and is facilitated by the Ronald Greeley Center for Planetary Studies, School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona.
Two $2000 travel grants are offered to promote workforce enhancement in planetary science and STEM. These are for domestic travel only by US citizens or foreign nationals at US institutions. Applications due June 30, 2025.
SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT: JUICE SCHOOL AT LES HOUCHES (FRANCE), 25-30 JANUARY 2026
This school is targeted (but not limited) to early career scientists. It will cover the main science topics of the JUICE mission with the goal to best prepare the future exploitation and interpretation of its data. Key topics include Jupiter, its atmosphere and magnetosphere, the
icy Galilean moons (with an emphasis on Ganymede), minor moons and the dust and ring system. Ground- and space-based observations recently obtained on the Jupiter system, as well as links with exoplanet science, will also be presented. The format of the school includes tutorials, seminar-like presentations, inspirational evening talks, a poster session, a workshop on science planning and archive, and a roundtable on future missions to outer planets.
Deadline for registration and request for grants: 15 August 2025
SPA is central to a diverse range of outstanding questions in lunar geologic history and to planetary science. These include the early impact history of the inner Solar System, initial differentiation and thermal evolution of the lunar interior, and the nature of the lunar dichotomy.
The goal of this Focus Issue is to inspire and compile a diverse set of new analyses of the basin, leveraging modern data and updated analysis techniques. The collection of scientific work in this focus issue will provide essential context for identifying and interpreting SPA samples and will help to inform future sample return strategies.
Feel free to reach out to the Focus Issue editors, Jenny Whitten ([email protected]) and Dan Moriarty ([email protected]), with any questions. PSJ Focus Issues accept and publish papers as they are submitted and reviewed; there is no wait for one manuscript upon
another, and submissions are accepted at any time.
11———11———11———11———11———11———11———11———
33RD MEETING OF THE NASA SMALL BODIES ASSESSMENT GROUP (SBAG)
The 33rd Meeting of the NASA Small Bodies Assessment Group (SBAG) is scheduled for June 24–25, 2025, at theArvada Center in Arvada, Colorado. The meeting will include opportunities for virtual participation. Theagenda is now available. Please check the website for updates as the meeting date approaches. Registration fees are not being collected for this meeting, butregistration is required. Registration will be available through June 25. Before the meeting, all registrants will receive an email from Houston Meeting Info with virtual connection information.
We are happy to announce the 2025 NOIRLab Science Conference: The Solar System in Context, which will take place on 29 September – 2 October in Tucson, Arizona. The conference will be focused on the interdisciplinarity of the formation and evolution of the Solar System, exoplanetary systems, and their stars.
Main topics include: disks; stellar evolution; planet-star connections; (exo)planets; planetary demographics; habitability; planet formation, migration, & evolution; rocky small bodies & (exo)moons; active asteroids & (exo)comets; interstellar objects; instrumentation & software tools, and more.
Please join us as we deepen our understanding of the formation and evolution of planetary systems and broaden our perspectives on the context of our Solar System.
ICARUS SPECIAL ISSUE: CARBON IN PLANETARY ENVIRONMENTS
Icarus is now accepting submissions of manuscripts to be published in a special issue entitled “Carbon in Planetary Environments: Sources and Evolution.” Guest editors are Dr. Kelly Miller (SwRI), Dr. Nora Hänni (Univ. of Bern), Dr. Fabian Klenner (Univ. of Washington), Prof. Brett McGuire (MIT) and Prof. Joshua Krissansen-Totton (Univ. of Washington). This cross-disciplinary issue will cover topics related to carbon in the solar system and beyond, including exoplanet and astrochemical environments. Submissions related to space missions, modeling and laboratory work are welcomed. The submission deadline is 30 November 2025. Manuscripts will be published online when they are accepted, and we expect the print issue to be published in the first half of 2026. Submitted manuscripts must be unpublished and should not be under consideration elsewhere. More information is available here:
DASHBOARD: ECONOMIC IMPACT OF NASA SCIENCE ACROSS AMERICA
This new, interactive dashboard displays the breadth and scope of benefits from NASA’s science activities, with detail at the state and congressional levels. It additionally provides custom-generated economic impact reports for every state and impacted district, providing detailed spending highlights and potential consequences of the cuts. These are a great reference for outreach to congressional representatives.
[ICG 2026] CALL FOR ABSTRACTS: PLANETARY GEOMORPHOLOGY
Abstract submission is now open for the International Conference on Geomorphology to be held in Christchurch, New Zealand (Otautahi, Aotearoa) from 2-6 February 2026. We invite you to submit to our session on planetary geomorphology.
Planetary missions over the past decade have shown that while surface conditions on planetary bodies across the Solar System vary widely, their landscapes often mirror features found on Earth. Understanding how geophysical flows-such as wind, water, ice, and sediment transport-shape these landscapes is key to interpreting both current and past climatic conditions. This session welcomes abstracts on any aspect of planetary geomorphology, including but not restricted to: Earth analogues, laboratory experiments, numerical models, planetary comparison, mapping, in situ data or remote sensing studies. Studies are welcome that concern rocky or icy solid bodies of the Solar System as well as exoplanets. By bringing together researchers from both planetary science and Earth surface processes, this session aims to foster collaboration and deeper insights into how diverse environments, both on Earth and beyond, respond to physical forces.
We hope to see you in New Zealand!
Conveners: Susan Conway, Alex Morgan, Lonneke Roelofs, Marisa Palucis
16———16———16———16———16———16———16———16———
EUROPA CLIPPER PRESENTATION MOVED TO JUNE 17
Join the LPI for a hybrid presentation (offered in-person and virtually) by Dr. Walter Kiefer, Director of the LPI. Dr. Kiefer will discuss NASA’s Europa Clipper mission and its 1.8-billion-mile journey to Jupiter’s moon, Europa. Launched in October 2024, Europa Clipper is the first mission designed to conduct a detailed study of Europa. A vast ocean lies beneath Europa’s icy shell, and there is scientific evidence that the ingredients for life may exist on Europa right now.
We are pleased to announce the inaugural open community event for NASA’s Habitable Worlds Observatory, to be held at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Center in Washington, DC, from July 28‐31, 2025. This milestone event will bring together scientists, engineers, industry and community stakeholders to propel the development of HWO, a mission expected to usher in a new era of astrophysics discovery and address one of humanity’s oldest questions “Are we alone?” A tentative agenda can be found here: https://www.stsci.edu/files/live/sites/www/files/home/events/event-assets/2025/_documents/TentativeHWO25PlenarySchedule.pdf
Important Dates
May 15
Abstract Acceptance Notifications (these are on-going and are expected to conclude by May 15)
May 19
In-Person and Virtual Registration Opens
May 19
Preliminary Program Released
Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
Science
Galaxy Growth: Intergalactic & Circumgalactic Medium, Active Galactic Nuclei & Black Holes
Evolution of the Elements: Stars & Stellar Populations, Star Formation & Interstellar Medium, Cosmic Explosions
Cosmology: Nature of Dark Matter & Dark Energy, Distance Scale, Hubble Tension
Planetary Systems: Formation, Evolution, Architectures, Our Solar System, Exoplanet Demographics
Search for Life: Target Stars & Systems, Biosignatures, Habitability
Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning for mission development, engineering, science research
Accepted presenters will be invited to contribute to the HWO25 conference proceedings, which will serve as the foundation for the first HWO Community Science Book.
Keep apprised of updates through our HWO mailing list, save the date, and be part of this exciting journey!
18———18———18———18———18———18———18———18———
ANNOUNCING MERCURY LABORATORY WORKSHOP 2025
We are excited to announce that the second edition of the Mercury Laboratory Workshop will be held from September 15 to 17, 2025, in Helsinki, Finland. After the success of our first workshop in Berlin which brought together almost 60 participants, we are looking forward to another engaging and productive workshop on our favorite planet!
The goal of this workshop is to bring together researchers, scientists, and professionals to:
Present recent advances in laboratory studies related to Mercury,
Discuss key findings and ongoing research on Mercury’s analogs and science,
Foster collaborations and design future joint experiments and studies,
Prepare for upcoming BepiColombo observations.
Registration is open until August 23!
For further details, including the registration process, abstract submission, and last year program, please visit our website:
The 2025 edition is sponsored by ESA, the University of Helsinki, and Europlanet.
We hope to see you in Helsinki for this exciting workshop!
Antti Penttila, Mikko Vuori and Oceane Barraud
19———19———19———19———19———19———19———19———
HWO DRAFT SCIENCE CASES OPEN FOR ENDORSEMENT AND COMMENT
The Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) is NASA’s next flagship space telescope mission after Roman and is currently being planned. The HWO scientific community has written 60+ Science Case Development Documents (SCDDs) to inform HWO’s science objectives and investigations. Many of these cases focus on HWO’s role in advancing Solar System science and astrobiology. These documents are now available for public viewing, endorsement, and comment.
To read the SCDDs and endorse or offer comments on them, please visit the HWO 2025 conference website:
The endorsement and commentary period will end on June 22, 2025.
20———20———20———20———20———20———20———20———
STATEMENT ON MENTAL HEALTH
Accomplishing NASA’s science objectives is currently being challenged by rapidly changing federal priorities. Significant changes have been proposed for the next fiscal year’s federal budget, and the delay of the Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 2025 call has created immense funding uncertainty for our community of planetary scientists. Additionally, varied interpretations of U.S. Executive Orders have resulted in situations where certain types of work remain unfunded and/or censored.
The present workplace climate adds to the already highstresses of our vocation, which often calls upon us to work long hours and commit to volunteer efforts to advance our understanding of the solar system. This heightened stress comes about against a backdrop of broader societal and political unrest and fears. As a result of these ongoing events, many members of our community are understandably feeling anxious or stressed.
The Professional Climate and Culture Subcommittee encourages everyone to take a moment, whenever possible, to acknowledge that times are overwhelmingly difficult right now. We urge you to consider ways to be extra kind to yourselves and to others. Pausing when things feel difficult and overwhelming can put them in perspective. Many institutions offer mental health support services, and we encourage the members of our community to utilize any resources they may need.
21———21———21———21———20———21———20———21———
CURRENT TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR ICARUS AND THE PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL
The current issues for both DPS-affiliated journals are here:
Full details for several new positions can be found on the DPS job board.
A summary of recent job announcements and postdoc opportunities are listed below.
Post-doc Position at University of Central Florida
The McKeown Group in the University of Central Florida (UCF) Department of Physics in the College of Sciences seeks to hire a Postdoctoral Scholar to help set up the new FROSTIE lab, aimed at investigating icy planetary surface processes under simulated planetary conditions. The postdoctoral scholar will have the opportunity to research icy geomorphological signatures of seasonal processes on Mars and transient liquid water activity relevant for icy airless worlds. The successful candidate will lead design, integration and testing of cryo-vacuum regulation and data acquisition systems. Experience working with cryogenic thermal-vacuum systems is necessary. The scholar’s technical expertise will be integral to the successful completion of cutting-edge experiments investigating the roles of ice sublimation and endogenic liquid water activity in modifying the surfaces of Mars, Europa and small bodies. The scholar would begin the position as soon as possible and serve for 24 months, extendable upon the availability of funds and mutual agreement of the scholar and the supervisor.
Purdue Hiring For Electron Microprobe Staff Scientist
Purdue University is seeking candidates for a Staff Scientist position to operate and maintain the JXA-iHP200F FE-EPMA laboratory and other relevant electron microscopy instrumentation. The successful candidate will provide technical training to researchers, students, and external collaborators, and support cutting-edge research in Earth, planetary, and synthetic materials. The Staff Scientist will join a multidisciplinary team at Purdue’s Electron Microscopy Center (PEMC), including Research Assistants and Staff Scientists with a wide array of
expertise. This role will include providing expert consultation and research support for consortium-style and highly coordinated investigations conducted as part of the newly established NASA Planetary Science Enabling Facility: Purdue Resources Empowering
Coordinated Investigations for Sample Exploration (PRECISE). Here the successful candidate will professionally liaise with external collaborators to strengthen academic, industry, and government partnerships. Additional details can be found on the application page at:
Postdoc Position in ML Supported Cloud Formation Modelling
The successful candidate will be part of Prof Christiane Helling’s research group “Exoplanets: Weather & Climate” at the Space Research Institute in Graz. The project is conducted in collaboration with Prof. Robert Peharz from the Graz University of Technology.
In this project, we are interested in understanding cloud formation in exoplanets and specifically the formation of molecular cluster as pre-coursers of cloud formation in the diversity of exoplanets. We aim to explore advanced neural network architectures, particularly Graph
Neural Networks (GNNs) and generative models, to predict the 3D structures and thermo-chemical properties of large molecular clusters-tasks that are computationally prohibitive using traditional methods like Density functional theory (DFT) and molecular dynamics. Our modelling efforts support JWST and CHEOPS in physically interpreting observational data. We further contribute to science case studies and science preparation for PLATO, the high-energy space mission NewATHENA as well as HWO.
Which domain competence are we looking for:
Astrochemistry (including carbo-hydrates),
Cloud formation modelling (including the Solar System, exoplanets, brown dwarfs, AGB stars),
Computational chemistry (including molecular cluster simulations), or
Theoretical physics (quantum chemistry, material sciences).
DPS ELECTIONS AND PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE DPS BYLAWS
DPS ELECTIONS CANDIDATE SLATE
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE DPS BYLAWS
+——————————————————————————————–+
1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1——-
DPS ELECTIONS AND PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE DPS BYLAWS
Dear DPS Members,
We require your attention in a very important process concerning our community. The DPS Committee is asking you to vote and express your preference on two critical items of our activities: the new Committee members and the proposed changes in our bylaws that will allow us to operate more effectively.
All active DPS members recently received a ballot for a double vote: The ballot concerns both the 2025 DPS elections and necessary amendments in the DPS bylaws. This e-mail was sent to the address you used when registering with AAS/DPS. If you do not see a ballot link in your mailbox, please check your spam/junk folder and also check that your DPS membership has not lapsed. DPS Membership – AAS Division for Planetary Sciences
Please see hereafter the details for both requests of expression of opinion by the DPS membership. The deadline for the voting process is July 22, 2025.
2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2——-
DPS ELECTIONS CANDIDATE SLATE
.
LEADERSHIP: This year we are choosing a new Vice-Chair and two DPS Committee Members. The Vice-Chair will become Chair in September 2026. For more information about current officers and committee members, please visit the leadership section of the DPS website.
CANDIDATES: Information and position statements for the candidates have been collected into this single PDF; however, if you prefer the information separately, please click on each candidate’s name in this section. The same information is also accessible on your ballot.
NEED HELP? Please contact Diane Frendak at [email protected] or 202-328-2010 x109.
3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3——-
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE DPS BYLAWS
As the DPS Committee has expanded the scope of its activities, Article III Section 9 of the DPS bylaws has been used to create 3-year special appointments to the Committee through the creation of new Subcommittees or tasks. The appointments have persisted but the officers holding them do not currently have voting rights.
As a consequence, the current DPS Committee has a sizable minority of non-voting members.
To restore equal voting rights, the Committee discussed, debated, and on March 27 2025 approved several changes to the bylaws as follows:
Reclassified existing special appointments as voting members. This concerns the Publication Subcommittee Chair, the Environmental Subcommittee Chair, the Nominations Subcommittee Chair, the Professional Development Subcommittee Chair and the Historian.
Enumerated their terms as presently being served
Added descriptions of new voting officers’ roles and responsibilities and enhanced past ones
Increased the quorum for Committee business, and specified that a majority of Committee members forming the quorum must be elected
No change will affect the committee’s ability to create new special appointments or in the duration of the terms.
The new bylaws proposed here have also been approved by the AAS Board of Trustees on 7 June 2025.
+———————————
Send submissions to: Denise Stephens, DPS Secretary, at this address [email protected]
EARLY REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN FOR THE EPSC-DPS 2025 MEETING
TAKE ACTION NOW IN RESPONSE TO THE FY2026 PRESIDENT’S BUDGET REQUEST
UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT OF THE FY26 PRESIDENT’S BUDGET REQUEST AND MATERIALS TO SUPPORT YOUR LOBBYING EFFORTS
INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE COUNCIL (ISC) STATEMENT ON INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATION: VITAL YET VULNERABLE
SOLICITING DONATIONS FOR STUDENT TRAVEL GRANTS TO THE EPSC-DPS JOINT MEETING IN FALL 2025
SUPPORT REQUESTED FOR DPS PARTNER: THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF BLACK PHYSICISTS (NSBP)
2025 DPS TRAVEL GRANT APPLICATION FORM IS OPEN
DPS COMMITTEE SEEKS APPLICANTS FOR PUBLICATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR TO BEGIN TERM IN FALL 2025
DEPENDENT CARE GRANT APPLICATION FOR 2025 EPSC-DPS
PROGRAM AND REGISTRATION: PROGRESS IN UNDERSTANDING THE PLUTO SYSTEM: 10 YEARS AFTER FLYBY
NASA SMALL BODIES ASSESSMENT GROUP (SBAG) STEERING COMMITTEE SOLICITATION
20 YEARS OF CELEBRATION OF THE HUYGENS LANDING AND THE CASSINI MISSION’S SUCCESS
DPS PCCS STATEMENT ON MENTAL HEALTH
PLANETARY MISSION SENIOR REVIEW
REGISTRATION OPEN FOR INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON INSTRUMENTATION FOR PLANETARY MISSIONS (IPM-2025)
PLANETARY DATA TRAINING WORKSHOP, AUGUST 12-15, 2025, ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT: JUICE SCHOOL AT LES HOUCHES (FRANCE), 25-30 JANUARY 2026
THE SOLAR SYSTEM IN CONTEXT – CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
[AGU 2025, NEW ORLEANS, 15-19 DEC] SESSION P008 – CREATING SUSTAINABLE HABITATS AND ECOSYSTEMS BEYOND EARTH
[AGU 2025] P049: URANUS ORBITER AND PROBE MISSION DESIGN: ADVANCES SINCE THE DECADAL SURVEY
MERCURY LABORATORY WORKSHOP 2025: CALL FOR ABSTRACT
CURRENT TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THE PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL AND ICARUS
JOBS, POSITIONS, AND OPPORTUNITIES
+——————————————————————————————–+
1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1——-
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN FOR THE EPSC-DPS 2025 MEETING
Registration is now open for the EPSC-DPS Joint 2025 Meeting in Finlandia Hall Helsinki, Finland from September 7-12, 2025. Registration is required for all EPSC-DPS 2025 participants including presenting authors of submitted and accepted abstracts, session conveners, and solicited speakers. Registration fees cover access to all scientific events, as well as refreshments during the coffee breaks and networking events.
Registration at early registration rates will be possible through July 31, 2025. The early registration payment can be made by bank transfer, credit card (Mastercard, VISA, JCB or American Express), or PayPal. As of 1 August 2025, the late registration rates will be applied and payment of your registration will only be possible by credit card or PayPal.
Please use the following link to access the registration page where you can find more information about the rates and the in person or virtual registration process.
TAKE ACTION NOW IN RESPONSE TO THE FY2026 PRESIDENT’S BUDGET REQUEST
With the details of the FY2026 President’s Budget Request (PBR) now released, grass roots advocacy is more important than ever. Proposed budgetary levels for the planetary sciences represent an existential threat to our field. If the requested budget is enacted, the U.S. will cede space exploration leadership and reliable partnership to other spacefaring nations, curtail substantial economic activity across the country, and undermine the broader U.S. workforce of students and researchers in all 50 states and territories across academic, industry, government, and nonprofit sectors. Furthermore, if the U.S. is to achieve our current aspirational objectives of returning to the Moon with human and robotic assets, putting the first human on Mars, and exploring beyond the inner solar system, we cannot afford to adopt the funding levels proposed in the PBR. During these uncertain and unprecedented times of social and economic crisis, YOU can still raise your voice and TAKE ACTION to protect NASA, NSF, and DOE planetary science funding.
Below is an example email and phone script to help craft your message when reaching out to Congressional offices. There is also space to share a “personal message” about your federally funded planetary science research and the impacts of proposed budget cuts on you personally. It is most effective to both email and call your members of Congress; however, a phone call is more likely to have an immediate impact. When you use the Call button below, the system will call the phone number you entered to connect you with all three of your members of Congress in succession, so please end each call with the star (*) button instead of the end-call button to be automatically directed to the next office.
Please email the AAS Public Policy Office ([email protected]) if you have any questions prior to reaching out to your Senators and Representatives. The AAS Public Policy Office can also provide email addresses of the relevant Congressional staffers who cover NASA, NSF, and DOE Science. The AAS DPS FRS is also available as an advocacy resource and can be reached at: [email protected]. Please note that any messages with crude or inflammatory language will not be passed on, and please be respectful during any communications with Congressional offices (messages should align with the AAS Mission and Vision Statement and AAS Code of Ethics).
Thank you for advocating for the U.S. planetary science community!
Email Message (also converted into phone call talking points):
I am reaching out to express my grave concern about the deep cuts to federal funding for the planetary sciences that are proposed in the FY2026 President’s Budget Request. As a research scientist, my work depends on consistent and stable funding of the federal science agencies, including NASA, NSF, and DOE, which is also crucial for my personal economic stability and that of my fellow Americans in individual districts and states across the country.
I urge you to not to accept the proposed funding levels for the planetary sciences in the FY2026 PBR. Stable funding for planetary science ensures that the U.S. can maintain an extensive national foundation for leadership in space exploration, which is of strategic importance to our nation, and investments in space agencies can continue to deliver scientific and technological breakthroughs that benefit our society.
If the budget cuts proposed in the PBR are enacted, American leadership in space and space exploration will be jeopardized and conceded to our global competitors. These cuts will create long-lasting setbacks to our space program and irreparably damage the reputation of the U.S. in the space exploration community. As a representative of the planetary science community, I am also troubled by the ongoing loss of crucial talent from the U.S., to other nations around the world, which we need to retain here at home to maintain leadership in science and technology.
3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3——-
UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT OF THE FY26 PRESIDENT’S BUDGET REQUEST AND MATERIALS TO SUPPORT YOUR LOBBYING EFFORTS
The Planetary Society has produced a helpful supplement to the NASA FY23 economic report that you can use to highlight the benefits of NASA science in your state and district as you reach out to your representatives. https://dashboards.planetary.org/nasa-science.html
The House Science Committee Minority Staff is seeking information from scientists whose grants have been cancelled. If you would like to share information about your cancelled grants, you can do so here.
4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4——-
INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE COUNCIL (ISC) STATEMENT ON INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATION: VITAL YET VULNERABLE
As global challenges grow more complex, the foundations of international scientific collaboration are increasingly under threat. In a statement issued 20 June, the International Science Council’s Governing Board underscores the urgent need to protect and strengthen global cooperation in science – essential not only for advancing knowledge and innovation, but for safeguarding the wellbeing of people and planet alike.
Science is a special form of globally shared knowledge which the world needs more than ever in addressing the challenges that all face. The international collaboration that is at its heart has been created over many decades, but is now vulnerable and fragile. Given the enormous importance of science to national and global wellbeing, the International Science Council appeals to all decision makers to ensure that the principles of science and its institutions are protected, and that international scientific cooperation is maintained and ideally strengthened.
SOLICITING DONATIONS FOR STUDENT TRAVEL GRANTS TO THE EPSC-DPS JOINT MEETING IN FALL 2025
Division for Planetary Science (DPS) Hartmann Student Travel Grants support student presentations at the annual DPS meeting (postdoctoral scholars may also be eligible, but students are prioritized). Underrepresented Minority (URM) Communities in Planetary Science Travel Grants support attendance by students and professionals who are members of groups that have had inadequate access to the planetary science community, such as students and professionals hailing from colleges and non-R1 academic or research institutions that have not traditionally benefited from connections to the planetary science community, and/or students and professionals with degrees in broader STEM disciplines (e.g., chemistry, physics, engineering, mathematics) who are new to the planetary science community.
Community donations are critical to support these awards. To donate, please log in to your AAS account, and select the grant you wish to support. Thank you VERY MUCH in advance!
SUPPORT REQUESTED FOR DPS PARTNER: THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF BLACK PHYSICISTS (NSBP)
DPS has been proud to partner with the Earth and Planetary Systems Sciences (EPSS) section of the National Society of Black Physicists (NSBP), supporting a presentation from the DPS-NSBP Speaker Awardee at the DPS annual meeting as well as travel of a few planetary scientists to the NSBP annual meeting. For the latter, DPS has generally focused on sending postdocs and early career scientists to the NSBP meeting as, historically, NSBP has been able fully support the travel for most of the students who attend the conference. However, recent cuts to funding from traditional federal partners have drastically reduced NSBP’s ability to support most of the students to attend their conference so they are soliciting for community donations; on average, the cost to cover a student’s travel and lodging is $1500. The link to donate directly to NSBP is below; alternatively, if you prefer to donate through DPS, community contributions, the DPS URM Travel Grant fund will also be used to support travel to the NSBP meeting. Donations through either path should be U.S. tax deductible. Many thanks to all who support these future planetary scientists!
The DPS Travel Grant application form is open to support participation in the joint meeting of the Europlanet Science Congress and DPS (EPSC-DPS 2025) in Helsinki, Finland 7-12 September 2025, or the National Society of Black Physicists-National Society of Hispanics Physicists annual meeting, via the Hartmann and the Under-Represented Minority (URM) Travel grants.
The Hartmann Student Travel Grant supports student presentations at the annual DPS-EPSC meeting. (Postdoctoral scholars may also be eligible, but students are prioritized.)
The Underrepresented Minority (URM) Communities in Planetary Science Travel Grant supports attendance by students and professionals who are members of groups that have had inadequate access to the planetary science community, in an effort to ensure broad engagement and access to planetary science. Applications are especially encouraged from members of group(s) whose contributions to STEM may have been overlooked, students and professionals hailing from colleges and non-R1 academic or research institutions* that have not traditionally benefited from connections to the planetary science community, and/or students and professionals with degrees in broader STEM disciplines (e.g., chemistry, physics, engineering, mathematics) who are new to the planetary science community — to support in-person or virtual attendance at the joint DPS-EPSC or joint NSBP-NSHP meetings.
* Relevant institutions include small colleges and universities, primarily undergraduate institutions, and minority serving institutions (MSIs), including but not limited to Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Native American-Serving Non-Tribal Institutions, and Tribal Colleges and Universities.“
Note: Members of Europlanet should apply for Europlanet awards through the abstract submission form.
8———8———8———8———8———8———8———8———8——-
DPS COMMITTEE SEEKS APPLICANTS FOR PUBLICATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR TO BEGIN TERM IN FALL 2025
The Publications Subcommittee Chair will serve a three-year term starting with the EPSC-DPS meeting in September 2025. The Publications Subcommittee is responsible for managing the relationship between DPS and its designated publications, Icarus and the Planetary Science Journal, and also stays aware of issues in planetary science publications more generally. The Publications Subcommittee regularly reviews the publication policies of journals that the DPS endorses and supports.
If you’re interested, please send a CV and a brief statement of interest to [email protected]
9———9———9———9———9——–9———9———9———9——-
DEPENDENT CARE GRANT APPLICATION FOR 2025 EPSC-DPS
The DPS’s Susan Niebur Professional Development Fund provides financial assistance to qualifying DPS members in order to facilitate their meeting attendance by offsetting costs for childcare, elder care, spousal care, etc. at the meeting location or at home during DPS conferences. We are now accepting applications for the EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2025 in Helsinki, Finland. First Deadline: Tuesday, August 5, 2025. Review of submissions will begin on the first deadline; further requests will be accepted and reviewed, funding and eligibility permitting. For more information and to apply for the grant, visit: https://dps.aas.org/development/dps-dependent-care-grant-application
10———10———10———10———10———10———10———10———10——-
PROGRAM AND REGISTRATION: PROGRESS IN UNDERSTANDING THE PLUTO SYSTEM: 10 YEARS AFTER FLYBY
The Progress in Understanding the Pluto System: 10 Years After Flyby meeting is scheduled for July 14–18, 2025, at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU APL), in Laurel, Maryland, with virtual participation available (https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/plutosystem2025/).
Detailed information about the program is available by viewing the program and abstracts. Authors should review the author index for abstracts accepted for presentation to see where they have been scheduled. If authors’ names in the index need to be updated, email [email protected]. Authors should also review all presenter information for oral and/or poster presentations.
In-person and virtual registration is open on the relevant page at the meeting website. Before the meeting, all registrants will receive an email from Houston Meeting Info with virtual connection information.
Optional events are available for meeting attendees.
11———11———11———11———11———11———11———11———
NASA SMALL BODIES ASSESSMENT GROUP (SBAG) STEERING COMMITTEE SOLICITATION
SBAG facilitates and mediates the relationship between the small bodies and planetary defense science and technology communities; identifies, collects, and represents the priorities of these communities; and acts as a bridge between the small bodies community and NASA. SBAG is led by its Steering Committee (SC). Historically, the SC organizes two SBAG meetings per year, writes official SBAG findings, and takes a leadership role in activities requiring community input.
The SBAG SC is currently soliciting two new general members and a Planetary Defense Lead. Members of the small bodies community from any career stage, including international members, are welcome to apply. The nominal term of service is three years, starting in August 2025.
All applications require: 1) a two-page CV, including a description of participation in SBAG, other small bodies organizations, or related work, and 2) a short (300 words maximum) statement of interest. Criteria for selection are participation in small bodies community organizations/commissions/committees/etc., demonstrated leadership experience, and relevant research or mission experience.
Additionally, the Planetary Defense Lead serves as the lead representative for the interface between small bodies science and planetary defense activities and leads SC activities related to the joint concerns of these topics. The application should (i) meet the requirements of the general member application, (ii) indicate a preference for the Planetary Defense Lead position, and (iii) include relevant planetary defense experience.
Send application packages to Lori Feaga ([email protected]) by July 11, 2025, 8:00 PM EDT. The new SC members will be announced in August.
20 YEARS OF CELEBRATION OF THE HUYGENS LANDING AND THE CASSINI MISSION’S SUCCESS
PLEASE JOIN US !
20 years celebration of the Huygens landing and the Cassini mission’s success
16-18 September 2025, Paris Observatory, France
RATIONALE :
Twenty years ago, on 14 January 2005, the Huygens probe, carried into the Saturnian system by the Cassini probe, landed on the surface of Titan, its largest satellite, after a 2.5-hour parachute descent. Launched in 1997, after 7.5 years of interplanetary travel, the Cassini-Huygens space mission delivered 13 years of exploration of an extremely complex planet-satellites-ring system with unique dynamic processes and couplings. Huygens demonstrates the exceptional capabilities of the European Space Agency and European laboratories in the exploration of the solar system, in association with many partners around the world. The results of this mission are numerous, rich and continue to provide us with new information to this day.
We propose to take advantage of the 20th anniversary of the Huygens landing to look back on this remarkable event, which marked the history of space exploration, review the information obtained during this exceptional exploration and discuss the future projects of space agencies at the dawn of programs such as ESA’s Voyage 2050 or NASA’s Decadal Survey (Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey 2023-2032). During this three-day symposium, we will discuss the origins and discoveries of this international mission (ESA, NASA, ASI) in terms of science and technological processes, but we also look to the future with the increasingly ambitious programs of the space agencies, for a return to Titan and also to Enceladus, Saturn’s other satellite with extraordinary characteristics.
Indeed, in the decades to come, our knowledge, not only of Titan (thanks to the Dragonfly mission which will be launched in 2028), but also of the other satellites and of icy worlds in general, in particular Enceladus, the preferred target of future flagship missions (NASA’s “Flagship” or ESA’s L4), will be manifold. The same is true for the Saturnian system and our solar system in general. Cassini-Huygens is still cited today as an example of a successful international collaboration by space agencies and experts, who praise its scientific merit and the inspiration it provides for future generations. It can act as a bridge to the future and its legacy will certainly ensure a scientific return of great importance for generations to come.
You can find more information and register or submit an abstract at this web site:
For the SOC : Athena Coustenis, Marcello Fulchignoni, Jean-Pierre Lebreton, Panayotis Lavvas
13———13———13———13———13———13———13———13———
DPS PCCS STATEMENT ON MENTAL HEALTH
Accomplishing NASA’s science objectives is currently being challenged by rapidly changing federal priorities. Significant changes have been proposed for the next fiscal year’s federal budget, and the delay of the Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 2025 call has created immense funding uncertainty for our community of planetary scientists. Additionally, varied interpretations of U.S. Executive Orders have resulted in situations where certain types of work remain unfunded and/or censored.
The present workplace climate adds to the already high stresses of our vocation, which often calls upon us to work long hours and commit to volunteer efforts to advance our understanding of the solar system. This heightened stress comes about against a backdrop of broader societal and political unrest and fears. As a result of these ongoing events, many members of our community are understandably feeling anxious or stressed.
The DPS Professional Climate and Culture Subcommittee (PCCS) encourages everyone to take a moment, whenever possible, to acknowledge that times are overwhelmingly difficult right now. We urge you to consider ways to be extra kind to yourselves and to others. Pausing when things feel difficult and overwhelming can put them in perspective. Many institutions offer mental health support services, and we encourage the members of our community to utilize any resources they may need.
14———14———14———14———14———14———14———14———
PLANETARY MISSION SENIOR REVIEW
As required by Congress, the Planetary Mission Senior Review (PMSR) was conducted by NASA’s Planetary Science Division (PSD) in early 2025 to evaluate proposals requesting extended operations in FY26 through FY28 for: Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), Mars Odyssey (ODY), Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), Mars Science Laboratory (MSL), Mars
Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN), and Juno. A Final Report of all reviewed missions, written by the Review Chairs, was delivered to NASA PSD on March 26, 2025. The Final Report has been posted publicly at:
While the senior review is an important factor in NASA decisions on the future of these missions, these decisions are currently deferred until further notice.
15———15———15———15———15———15———15———15———
REGISTRATION OPEN FOR INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON INSTRUMENTATION FOR
PLANETARY MISSIONS (IPM-2025)
Registration is now open for the sixth International Workshop on Instrumentation for Planetary Missions (IPM-2025), which will be held in Boulder, Colorado on August 4 – 6, 2025. This workshop will convene scientists, engineers, students and other stakeholders who develop or
use instrumentation onboard planetary missions to discuss key planetary science questions and the technology that is required to address these questions.
The in-person registration fee is $225, and the deadline for in-person registration is July 10. Remote registration is free and the deadline for remote registration is July 25, 2025.
PLANETARY DATA TRAINING WORKSHOP, AUGUST 12-15, 2025, ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
This in-person only workshop is designed to provide an introduction into using planetary spatial data in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software, with a focus on studies of terrestrial planets and icy satellite surface research. The workshop will include a combination of lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on exercises with the software. Computer work stations will be provided by ASU, or you may bring your own laptop. Topics will include: JMARS (Day 1), ArcGIS Pro (Day 2), ISIS3 for image processing (Day 3 morning), Planetary Data Management and an introduction to NASA’s Planetary Data System (Day 3 afternoon), and an introduction to planetary geologic mapping (Day 4, hands-on). The instructors of each of these activities are experts in their respective fields, some of which were staff of the former NASA Regional Planetary Information Facilities (RPIFs), and have years of experience in the use of digital planetary data for research.
This workshop is offered by the Planetary Data Training program, funded through NASA’s Topical Workshops, Symposia, and Conferences (TWSC), and is facilitated by the Ronald Greeley Center for Planetary Studies, School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona.
Two $2000 travel grants are offered to promote workforce enhancement in planetary science and STEM. These are for domestic travel only by US citizens or foreign nationals at US institutions. Applications due June 30, 2025.
SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT: JUICE SCHOOL AT LES HOUCHES (FRANCE), 25-30 JANUARY 2026
This school is targeted (but not limited) to early career scientists. It will cover the main science topics of the JUICE mission with the goal to best prepare the future exploitation and interpretation of its data. Key topics include Jupiter, its atmosphere and magnetosphere, the
icy Galilean moons (with an emphasis on Ganymede), minor moons and the dust and ring system. Ground- and space-based observations recently obtained on the Jupiter system, as well as links with exoplanet science, will also be presented. The format of the school includes tutorials, seminar-like presentations, inspirational evening talks, a poster session, a workshop on science planning and archive, and a roundtable on future missions to outer planets.
Deadline for registration and request for grants: 15 August 2025
We are happy to announce the 2025 NOIRLab Science Conference: The Solar System in Context, which will take place on 29 September – 2 October in Tucson, Arizona. The conference will be focused on the interdisciplinarity of the formation and evolution of the Solar System, exoplanetary systems, and their stars.
Main topics include: disks; stellar evolution; planet-star connections; (exo)planets; planetary demographics; habitability; planet formation, migration, & evolution; rocky small bodies & (exo)moons; active asteroids & (exo)comets; interstellar objects; instrumentation & software tools, and more.
Please join us as we deepen our understanding of the formation and evolution of planetary systems and broaden our perspectives on the context of our Solar System.
[AGU 2025, NEW ORLEANS, 15-19 DEC] SESSION P008 – CREATING SUSTAINABLE HABITATS AND ECOSYSTEMS BEYOND EARTH
If we decide in the future to create sustainable habitats and ecosystems beyond Earth, then science will have a critical role to play. As the cost of access to space continues to fall, a fresh look at the research agenda for this topic is timely. We encourage contributions on all aspects of both local and global terraforming, including planetary atmospheres, climate modeling and climate feedbacks, monitoring of climate change beyond Earth, spacecraft data analysis, hydrology, soil/regolith composition and suitability (or otherwise) for life, biogeochemistry, in-situ resource utilization, oxygen production, ecology, and space physics and space environment
monitoring, as well as the exploration and distribution of terraforming-relevant resources. Submissions on technologies and techniques that support terraforming goals are also encouraged.
Conveners: Edwin Kite, Robin Wordsworth, Nina Lanza, and Chuanfei Dong
20———20———20———20———20———20———20———20———
[AGU 2025] P049: URANUS ORBITER AND PROBE MISSION DESIGN: ADVANCES SINCE THE DECADAL SURVEY
The Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey recommended the Uranus Orbiter and Probe as the top priority Flagship for the decade 2023-2032. We invite contributions on updated mission design concepts; trajectory work; mission architecture trades, challenges, and solutions that enable robust exploration of the Uranian system; and innovative, but feasible, concepts that enhance the science return of the mission. We encourage submissions to include how cross-disciplinary science synergies are enabled by the updated work (e.g., cruise science), but discussions of specific instrumentation or science priorities do not fall under the purview of this session.
The Mercury Laboratory Workshop 2025 is hosted by the University of Helsinki, Finland on 15-17 September, 2025. The aim of the workshop is to discuss the laboratory experiments available and/or desiderable worldwide relevant to Mercury and to connect laboratory researchers working on related Mercury research.
The abstract submission deadline is July 15th at 11 pm (CEST) and the registration is open until August 23rd.
Full details for several new positions can be found on the DPS job board.
A summary of recent job announcements and postdoc opportunities are listed below.
Graduate Student / Researcher Position in Asteroid Science at TU Braunschweig (Germany)
The Institute of Geophysics and Extraterrestrial Physics at the TU Braunschweig is seeking to fill a three-year researcher position (100% FTE, suitable to work towards obtaining a PhD degree) in asteroid science. Details of the position can be found here:
Post-doc Opportunity at Washington University in St. Louis
The Experimental Studies of Planetary Materials group at Washington University, St. Louis is asking for help identifying potential candidates for a postdoctoral position.
Our lab investigates the rheology and physical properties of Earth and planetary materials through laboratory experiments and microstructural analysis. Broadly, we seek to understand the dynamics of Earth’s interior and other planetary bodies, with particular emphasis on the
processes that govern plate tectonics, lithosphere dynamics, mantle convection, and deformation across multiple scales.
I am eager to work with scholars from a variety of backgrounds, including those with limited experimental experience. This postdoc would be a great opportunity for someone with a recent PhD in planetary geology or planetary interiors, who would like to diversify their skill set before entering the faculty job market.
Please feel free to share this opportunity with any students or colleagues who may be interested.
Post-doc Position at University of Central Florida
The McKeown Group in the University of Central Florida (UCF) Department of Physics in the College of Sciences seeks to hire a Postdoctoral Scholar to help set up the new FROSTIE lab, aimed at investigating icy planetary surface processes under simulated planetary conditions. The postdoctoral scholar will have the opportunity to research icy geomorphological signatures of seasonal processes on Mars and transient liquid water activity relevant for icy airless worlds. The successful candidate will lead design, integration and testing of cryo-vacuum regulation and data acquisition systems. Experience working with cryogenic thermal-vacuum systems is necessary. The scholar’s technical expertise will be integral to the successful completion of cutting-edge experiments investigating the roles of ice sublimation and endogenic liquid water activity in modifying the surfaces of Mars, Europa and small bodies. The scholar would begin the position as soon as possible and serve for 24 months, extendable upon the availability of funds and mutual agreement of the scholar and the supervisor.
Purdue Hiring For Electron Microprobe Staff Scientist
Purdue University is seeking candidates for a Staff Scientist position to operate and maintain the JXA-iHP200F FE-EPMA laboratory and other relevant electron microscopy instrumentation. The successful candidate will provide technical training to researchers, students, and external collaborators, and support cutting-edge research in Earth, planetary, and synthetic materials. The Staff Scientist will join a multidisciplinary team at Purdue’s Electron Microscopy Center (PEMC), including Research Assistants and Staff Scientists with a wide array of
expertise. This role will include providing expert consultation and research support for consortium-style and highly coordinated investigations conducted as part of the newly established NASA Planetary Science Enabling Facility: Purdue Resources Empowering
Coordinated Investigations for Sample Exploration (PRECISE). Here the successful candidate will professionally liaise with external collaborators to strengthen academic, industry, and government partnerships. Additional details can be found on the application page at:
Postdoc Position in ML Supported Cloud Formation Modelling
The successful candidate will be part of Prof Christiane Helling’s research group “Exoplanets: Weather & Climate” at the Space Research Institute in Graz. The project is conducted in collaboration with Prof. Robert Peharz from the Graz University of Technology.
In this project, we are interested in understanding cloud formation in exoplanets and specifically the formation of molecular cluster as precursors of cloud formation in the diversity of exoplanets. We aim to explore advanced neural network architectures, particularly Graph
Neural Networks (GNNs) and generative models, to predict the 3D structures and thermo-chemical properties of large molecular clusters-tasks that are computationally prohibitive using traditional methods like Density functional theory (DFT) and molecular dynamics. Our modelling efforts support JWST and CHEOPS in physically interpreting observational data. We further contribute to science case studies and science preparation for PLATO, the high-energy space mission NewATHENA as well as HWO.
Which domain competence are we looking for:
Astrochemistry (including carbo-hydrates),
Cloud formation modelling (including the Solar System, exoplanets, brown dwarfs, AGB stars),
Computational chemistry (including molecular cluster simulations), or
Theoretical physics (quantum chemistry, material sciences).
Take Action Now in Response to the FY2026 President’s Budget Request
With the details of the FY2026 President’s Budget Request (PBR) now released, grass roots advocacy is more important than ever. Proposed budgetary levels for the planetary sciences represent an existential threat to our field. If the requested budget is enacted, the U.S. will cede space exploration leadership and reliable partnership to other spacefaring nations, curtail substantial economic activity across the country, and undermine the broader U.S. workforce of students and researchers in all 50 states and territories across academic, industry, government, and nonprofit sectors. Furthermore, if the U.S. is to achieve our current aspirational objectives of returning to the Moon with human and robotic assets, putting the first human on Mars, and exploring beyond the inner solar system, we cannot afford to adopt the funding levels proposed in the PBR. During uncertain and unprecedented times of social and economic crisis, YOU can still raise your voice and TAKE ACTION to protect NASA, NSF, and DOE planetary science funding.
Below is an example email and phone script to help craft your message when reaching out to Congressional offices. There is also space to share a “personal message” about your federally funded planetary science research and the impacts of proposed budget cuts on you personally. It is most effective to both email and call your members of Congress; however, a phone call is more likely to have an immediate impact. When you use the Call button below, the system will call the phone number you entered to connect you with all three of your members of Congress in succession, so please end each call with the star (*) button instead of the end-call button to be automatically directed to the next office.
Please email the AAS Public Policy Office ([email protected]) if you have any questions prior to reaching out to your Senators and Representatives. The AAS Public Policy Office can also provide email addresses of the relevant Congressional staffers who cover NASA, NSF, and DOE Science. The AAS DPS FRS is also available as an advocacy resource and can be reached at: [email protected]. Please note that any messages with crude or inflammatory language will not be passed on, and please be respectful during any communications with Congressional offices (messages should align with the AAS Mission and Vision Statement and AAS Code of Ethics).
Thank you for advocating for the U.S. planetary science community!
LPI REMOVAL OF ACCESS TO PRESENTATIONS AND ABSTRACTS WITH DEI CONTENT
COMMUNITY LETTER FROM THE AG CHAIRS
DPS FEDERAL RELATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE REPORT
AAS NEEDS YOUR VOICE TO SUPPORT FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THE SCIENCES
SOLICITING BROAD ENGINEERING MEMBERSHIP IN THE AAS DIVISION FOR PLANETARY SCIENCES
SOLICITING DONATIONS FOR STUDENT TRAVEL GRANTS TO THE DPS/EPSC JOINT MEETING IN FALL 2025
2025 DPS TRAVEL GRANT APPLICATION FORM IS OPEN
DPS COMMITTEE SEEKS APPLICANTS FOR PUBLICATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR TO BEGIN TERM IN FALL 2025
DPS 2025 ELECTION : CANDIDATE SLATE
JOIN US FOR A PUBLIC EVENT: EXPLORING EUROPA
33RD MEETING OF THE NASA SMALL BODIES ASSESSMENT GROUP (SBAG)
NASA IRTF/KECK USERS GROUP SEEKING COMMUNITY INPUT
THE KEYS OF (AG)NESS
THE SOLAR SYSTEM IN CONTEXT – CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
ICARUS SPECIAL ISSUE: CARBON IN PLANETARY ENVIRONMENTS
CLIPPER AND JUICE: POTENTIAL FOR SCIENTIFIC SYNERGIES
[ICG 2026] CALL FOR ABSTRACTS: PLANETARY GEOMORPHOLOGY
NASA POSTDOCTORAL PROGRAM UPDATE
HWO25 REGISTRATION OPENS MAY 19, 2025
CURRENT TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THE PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL AND ICARUS
JOBS, POSITIONS, AND OPPORTUNITIES
+——————————————————————————————–+
1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1——-
LPI REMOVAL OF ACCESS TO PRESENTATIONS AND ABSTRACTS WITH DEI CONTENT
DPS has been closely following the process by which the Universities Space Research Association (USRA) has been implementing the Executive Order (EO) 14151 regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in the US federal government, specifically with respect to websites maintained by the Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) on behalf of planetary science community and its Assessment/Analysis groups (AGs).
LPI has been removing links to and mentions of conference abstracts and AG documents from past years, if they include statements about diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility or related workforce issues – including the full workforce session that was just solicited and convened at the 2025 LPSC. An Astrophysics Data System/Science Explorer (ADS/SciX) team has identified around 1,000 broken links to LPI-hosted content associated with LPSC and other meeting abstracts, though the number of affected documents may be smaller. A large segment of the planetary community received a statement from USRA regarding the removal of DEI Content from LPI Websites on 8 May (link hereafter), which does not satisfy the community’s concerns and questions.
On May 19, DPS leadership met with the USRA and LPI leadership to further understand these actions. USRA confirmed that these actions were recommended by their own legal counsel as necessary to comply with the aforementioned EO, and that neither NASA or any other federal agency had provided direction to take these actions. In order to determine which abstracts and other materials to remove, LPI staff searched on all permutations of DEI(A) and component words and synonyms. Tagged materials were then reviewed by a person to confirm that they referred to DEI work. Links were removed, but saved in a list and can be restored at a future time. USRA has released a Fact Sheet clarifying the sequence of events during removal of DEI content.
The conference and AG programs, abstracts, and other documents held by LPI constitute a vital record of past community work in research, community development, and consensus building that needs to be available for current and future researchers. USRA plans to reach out to first authors of affected materials and provide them with copies of the files. However, the impacts are not limited to the authors, but to the entire science community who looks at the record. While DPS recognizes that USRA believes that it acted in the interest of protecting its stakeholders, the removal of this record is nevertheless a violation of the individual and collective intellectual record of planetary science and of community trust.
Community-led efforts are underway to preserve this record, such as by the ADS/SciX team. The DPS encourages the planetary science community to check their own and colleagues’ records, to foster this restoration. If you discover a broken link to your LPI abstract or other scientific publication, email [email protected] so that they can investigate and, if possible, restore access to the content.
DPS has been working with AAS and investigating possibilities to alleviate the consequences of these removals. In the meantime, planetary science members within academia may ascertain whether their institution is a member of USRA and consider raising this issue with their institutional representative(s): https://www.usra.edu/about-usra/university-oversight/
2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2——-
COMMUNITY LETTER FROM THE AG CHAIRS
To members of the planetary science community:
Given the considerable uncertainty about the future NASA Science budget, the Chairs of the Analysis/Assessment groups (AGs) linked to the Planetary Science Division (PSD) want to reiterate for our communities the incredibly positive impact of science at NASA and crucial role it plays in our society, including:
Exploration and research in planetary science enables us to better understand the history of the Solar System, as well as our planet and origins;
Deep space exploration is a tremendous source of innovation in science and technology having applications well beyond space science research, including in the commercial sector, where over 60 years of investment and development have placed the US at the forefront of research and technological advancements in general;
Planetary and space science research has served as an inspiration for generations of present and future scientists and engineers. NASA’s science and exploration contribute to our national posture, where US leadership in planetary science is a source of geopolitical soft power;
NASA’s spaceflight missions and associated scientific research are thoughtfully developed and carefully prioritized, being guided by reports from the independent National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine; these reports are written by top scientists and engineers and represent the consensus view of their respective communities as to the activities that will be of greatest value to science and the American taxpayer over decadal timespans;
Science at NASA engages some of the brightest minds of the nation to develop solutions to problems of human survival and growth based on fact-based inquiry and analysis – although life and civilization are robust, the geologic record shows the Earth’s and the Solar System’s history of catastrophe and global change, from extinction-level impacts to solar storms to ice ages and hot-houses and science enables us to understand these better; and
At the broadest level, science everywhere represents fundamental human curiosity, helping us to understand the world around us and develop innovative solutions to problems, enabling us to become more productive, and make informed decisions about societal concerns.
The President’s top-level recommendations on discretionary funding levels for fiscal year (FY) 2026, or so-called “skinny budget”, were released on 2 May 2025 and includes major cuts to the Science Mission Directorate budget, calling out specifically the top Decadal priority flagship mission, Mars Sample Return for cancellation. The extent of the proposed cuts to, or cancellation of, missions and programs, including research and analysis, will not be known until the full budget is released. That budget will make its way through Congress, where changes of unknown magnitude are likely to be made and we won’t know the final FY26 budget for some time to come.
Carl Sagan observed, “Cutting off fundamental, curiosity-driven science is like eating the seed corn. We may have a little more to eat next winter but what will we plant so we and our children will have enough to get through the winters to come?” Abandoning our most ambitious efforts, such as Mars Sample Return, which already have substantial investment, will cede this position of leadership to other nations, such as China. Science at NASA deserves full-throated support from our community and the public. The AG chairs are working diligently to represent the PSD community in this time of change, but we encourage you to make your voice heard, and the more voices, the more powerful the impact will be.
Signed,
Philipp Heck, Chair, ExMAG
Ben Greenhagen, Chair, LEAG
Julie Stopar, Chair, MAPSIT
Vicky Hamilton, Chair, MEPAG
Carolyn Ernst, Chair, MExAG
Morgan Cable and Carol Paty, Co-Chairs, OPAG
Lori Feaga, Chair, SBAG
Noam Izenberg, Chair, VExAG
3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3——-
DPS FEDERAL RELATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE REPORT
The American Astronomical Society (AAS) Division for Planetary Sciences (DPS) Federal Relations Subcommittee (FRS) (DPS Federal Relations Subcommittee – AAS Division for Planetary Sciences) conducted its annual space science advocacy visits in early May 2025. During this year’s visits, the FRS met with NASA SMD PSD leadership, House and Senate appropriators, and a series of key House and Senate member offices to discuss ongoing planetary science community concerns and priorities including: the impacts of the Executive Branch FY26 discretionary funding request on the planetary science community, FY26 appropriations requests for both NASA and NSF, and the importance of investing in basic research in the United States to maintain world leadership in science and technology. These FRS advocacy visits follow the early March 2025 DPS Committee advocacy visits. The FRS will continue to serve as a resource for the DPS community by leading advocacy efforts throughout the calendar year (e.g., DPS Action Alerts). Additional advocacy resources can be found on the DPS public policy page here: Public Policy – AAS Division for Planetary Sciences. The FRS also accepts new members at any time, and if you are interested in learning more about planetary science advocacy or would like to join the FRS, please contact [email protected].
4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4——-
AAS NEEDS YOUR VOICE TO SUPPORT FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THE SCIENCES
The President’s Budget Request includes significant cuts to science funding, but Congress has the final say. Contact your members of Congress today and urge them to support robust funding for the sciences. If you have already sent an email to your congressional offices, take five minutes today to make a phone call (switch to the “Phone” tab on the form). The AAS public policy team is happy to help connect you directly with science staffers in your congressional offices, and help you set up zoom or in-district meetings. Please reach out to [email protected] if there’s anything we can do to facilitate your advocacy.
5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5——-
SOLICITING BROAD ENGINEERING MEMBERSHIP IN THE AAS DIVISION FOR PLANETARY SCIENCES
Are you concerned about the future of planetary science? The American Astronomical Society (AAS) Division for Planetary Sciences (DPS) is a broad umbrella organization of professionals interested in planetary science, and conducts effective advocacy with the U.S. government (https://dps.aas.org/public_policy) and hosts an annual professional meeting covering all aspects of planetary science. We offer low-cost affiliate memberships for non-scientist members of related professional societies including but not limited to:
American Chemical Society
American Geophysical Union
American Indian Science & Engineering Society
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
American Meteorological Society
American Physical Society
Geological Society of America
International Astronomical Union
Meteoritical Society
National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals
National Society of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers
National Society of Black Physicists
National Society of Hispanic Physicists
Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans
SOLICITING DONATIONS FOR STUDENT TRAVEL GRANTS TO THE DPS-EPSC JOINT MEETING IN FALL 2025
Division for Planetary Science (DPS) Hartmann Student Travel Grants support student presentations at the annual DPS meeting. (Postdoctoral scholars may also be eligible, but students are prioritized.) Underrepresented Minority (URM) Communities in Planetary Science Travel Grants support attendance by students and professionals who are members of groups that have had inadequate access to the planetary science community, such as students and professionals hailing from colleges and non-R1 academic or research institutions that have not traditionally benefited from connections to the planetary science community, and/or students and professionals with degrees in broader STEM disciplines (e.g., chemistry, physics, engineering, mathematics) who are new to the planetary science community.
Community donations are critical to support these awards. To donate, please log in to your AAS account, and select the grant you wish to support. Thank you SO MUCH in advance!
The DPS Travel Grant application form is open to support participation in the joint meeting of the Europlanet Science Congress and DPS (EPSC-DPS 2025) in Helsinki, Finland 7-12 September 2025, or the National Society of Black Physicists-National Society of Hispanics Physicists annual meeting, via the Hartmann and the Under-Represented Minority (URM) Travel grants.
The Hartmann Student Travel Grant supports student presentations at the annual DPS-EPSC meeting. (Postdoctoral scholars may also be eligible, but students are prioritized.)
The Underrepresented Minority (URM) Communities in Planetary Science Travel Grant supports attendance by students and professionals who are members of groups that have had inadequate access to the planetary science community, in an effort to ensure broad engagement and access to planetary science. Applications are especially encouraged from members of group(s) whose contributions to STEM may have been overlooked, students and professionals hailing from colleges and non-R1 academic or research institutions* that have not traditionally benefited from connections to the planetary science community, and/or students and professionals with degrees in broader STEM disciplines (e.g., chemistry, physics, engineering, mathematics) who are new to the planetary science community — to support in-person or virtual attendance at the joint DPS-EPSC or joint NSBP-NSHP meetings.
* Relevant institutions include small colleges and universities, primarily undergraduate institutions, and minority serving institutions (MSIs), including but not limited to Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Native American-Serving Non-Tribal Institutions, and Tribal Colleges and Universities.“
Note: Members of Europlanet should apply for Europlanet awards through the abstract submission form.
8———8———8———8———8——–8———8———8———8——-
DPS COMMITTEE SEEKS APPLICANTS FOR PUBLICATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR TO BEGIN TERM IN FALL 2025
The Publications Subcommittee Chair will serve a three-year term starting with the EPSC-DPS meeting in September 2025. The Publications Subcommittee is responsible for managing the relationship between DPS and its designated publications, Icarus and the Planetary Science Journal, and also stays aware of issues in planetary science publications more generally. The Publications Subcommittee regularly reviews the publication policies of journals that the DPS endorses and supports.
If you’re interested, please send a CV and a brief statement of interest to [email protected]
9———9———9———9———9———9———9———9———9——-
DPS 2025 ELECTION : CANDIDATE SLATE
The DPS Nominating Subcommittee has identified the following candidates for the 2025 DPS elections for Vice Chair and Committee Members
Vice Chair (1 to be elected):
JA Grier – Planetary Science Institute
Paul Hartogh – Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research
Ralph McNutt – Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory
Committee (2 to be elected):
Arianna Piccialli – Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy
Carver Bierson – Scottsdale Community College
Eddie Schwieterman – University of California at Riverside
Stephanie Jarmak – NASA ADS
The DPS Committee thanks the members of the Nominating Subcommittee for their dedicated service to the DPS:
Tim Livengood (chair), Jessica Noviello, and Therese Encrenaz
10———10———10———10———10———10———10———10———
JOIN US FOR A PUBLIC EVENT: EXPLORING EUROPA
Join the LPI for a hybrid presentation (offered in-person and virtually) by Dr. Walter Kiefer, Director of the LPI. Dr. Kiefer will discuss NASA’s Europa Clipper mission and its 1.8-billion-mile journey to Jupiter’s moon, Europa. Launched in October 2024, Europa Clipper is the first mission designed to conduct a detailed study of Europa. A vast ocean lies beneath Europa’s icy shell, and there is scientific evidence that the ingredients for life may exist on Europa right now.
33RD MEETING OF THE NASA SMALL BODIES ASSESSMENT GROUP (SBAG)
The 33rd Meeting of the NASA Small Bodies Assessment Group (SBAG) is scheduled for June 24–25, 2025, at the Arvada Center in Arvada, Colorado. The meeting will include opportunities for virtual participation. The agenda is now available. Please check the website for updates as the meeting date approaches. Registration fees are not being collected for this meeting, but registration is required. Registration will be available through June 25. Before the meeting, all registrants will receive an email from Houston Meeting Info with virtual connection information.
NASA IRTF/KECK USERS GROUP SEEKING COMMUNITY INPUT
Dear [Potential] Keck User,
My name is Statia Cook, and I write to you in my capacity as chair of the NASA IRTF and Keck Users Group (NIKUG). The NIKUG reviews all aspects of the operations of Keck and IRTF, including budgets, observing proposal review, visitor support, telescope performance, maintenance, instrumentation, operational procedures, scientific results, and future plans.
We are currently conducting a survey to better understand which Keck capabilities matter most to you and your science. Your feedback is essential.
As you may know, NASA is a one-sixth partner in the W. M. Keck Observatory (WMKO), which allows all U.S.-based astronomers to apply for NASA time on the Keck telescopes. The WMKO team invites both current and potential NASA-Keck users to share their input on the scientific capabilities—present and future—that are most critical to their research.
Preliminary survey results suggest that the needs and priorities of the NASA-Keck community may differ from those of the other Keck partners. It is therefore vital that we gather broad input from NASA-Keck users and potential users to help WMKO align future planning with our community’s goals.
(If you completed our earlier survey, thank you—your responses highlighted the need for this follow-up. We hope you’ll take a few more minutes to complete this one as well.)
Thank you in advance for your time and input.
Sincerely,
Statia Cook
13———13———13———13———13———13———13———13———
THE KEYS OF (AG)NESS
To members of the planetary science community:
The linked document below, The Keys of AGness, is a product of the collective Planetary Analysis and Assessment Groups (AGs), presented by their Chairs and vetted through their respective Steering/Executive Committees, and with community feedback. It captures what the community sees as the key pillars and important role of the AGs in the advancement of planetary science now and as we move into the future. The intended audience is multifold and includes NASA leadership, who are in the process of re-imagining the AG structure and support mechanism, and the broader planetary science community as a general reference and reminder of the forums, community building, support, repositories, and voice that the AGs provide.
We are happy to announce the 2025 NOIRLab Science Conference: The Solar System in Context, which will take place on 29 September – 2 October in Tucson, Arizona. The conference will be focused on the interdisciplinarity of the formation and evolution of the Solar System, exoplanetary systems, and their stars.
Main topics include: disks; stellar evolution; planet-star connections; (exo)planets; planetary demographics; habitability; planet formation, migration, & evolution; rocky small bodies & (exo)moons; active asteroids & (exo)comets; interstellar objects; instrumentation & software tools, and more.
Please join us as we deepen our understanding of the formation and evolution of planetary systems and broaden our perspectives on the context of our Solar System.
ICARUS SPECIAL ISSUE: CARBON IN PLANETARY ENVIRONMENTS
Icarus is now accepting submissions of manuscripts to be published in a special issue entitled “Carbon in Planetary Environments: Sources and Evolution.” Guest editors are Dr. Kelly Miller (SwRI), Dr. Nora Hänni (Univ. of Bern), Dr. Fabian Klenner (Univ. of Washington), Prof. Brett McGuire (MIT) and Prof. Joshua Krissansen-Totton (Univ. of Washington). This cross-disciplinary issue will cover topics related to carbon in the solar system and beyond, including exoplanet and astrochemical environments. Submissions related to space missions, modeling and laboratory work are welcomed. The submission deadline is 30 November 2025. Manuscripts will be published online when they are accepted, and we expect the print issue to be published in the first half of 2026. Submitted manuscripts must be unpublished and should not be under consideration elsewhere. More information is available here:
CLIPPER AND JUICE: POTENTIAL FOR SCIENTIFIC SYNERGIES
27 May 2025
8:00 a.m. PDT, 11:00 a.m. EDT, 17.00 CEST
The Europa Clipper and JUICE missions, en route to Jupiter, are teaming up to provide mission updates to the science community, with discussion of the potential for unprecedented scientific synergies in the Jovian system.
Speakers: Robert Pappalardo (JPL), Claire Vallat (ESA), Emma Bunce (Space Park Leicester), and Mathieu Choukroun (JPL)
[ICG 2026] CALL FOR ABSTRACTS: PLANETARY GEOMORPHOLOGY
Abstract submission is now open for the International Conference on Geomorphology to be held in Christchurch, New Zealand (Otautahi, Aotearoa) from 2-6 February 2026. We invite you to submit to our session on planetary geomorphology.
Planetary missions over the past decade have shown that while surface conditions on planetary bodies across the Solar System vary widely, their landscapes often mirror features found on Earth. Understanding how geophysical flows-such as wind, water, ice, and sediment transport-shape these landscapes is key to interpreting both current and past climatic conditions. This session welcomes abstracts on any aspect of planetary geomorphology, including but not restricted to: Earth analogues, laboratory experiments, numerical models, planetary comparison, mapping, in situ data or remote sensing studies. Studies are welcome that concern rocky or icy solid bodies of the Solar System as well as exoplanets. By bringing together researchers from both planetary science and Earth surface processes, this session aims to foster collaboration and deeper insights into how diverse environments, both on Earth and beyond, respond to physical forces.
We hope to see you in New Zealand!
Conveners: Susan Conway, Alex Morgan, Lonneke Roelofs, Marisa Palucis
18———18———18———18———18———18———18———18———
NASA POSTDOCTORAL PROGRAM UPDATE
NASA has decided to extend the July 1, 2025, application cycle. The current application cycle will remain open and accept applications through November 1, 2025.
The next application deadline is November 1st 2025.
The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) offers a unique and inspiring environment for Fellows to conduct world-class research with leading scientists across the United States. The diverse scientific and technological fellowships offered at NASA are one-of-a-kind educational experiences that prepare future leaders for NASA and the academic community.
NPP Fellows are selected through a competitive peer review process and execute appointments (for up to three years) that advance research across NASA’s space and Earth science missions.
The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) consists of two components—the NASA Postdoctoral Research Program and the NASA Postdoctoral Management Program. As the NPP is a resident program, Fellows are located at a NASA Center, NASA Headquarters, or at a NASA-affiliated research institute during the appointment. The current opportunities can be found at this link: https://npp.orau.org/applicants/opportunities.html
19———19———19———19———19———19———19———19———
HWO25 REGISTRATION OPENS MAY 19, 2025
We are pleased to announce the inaugural open community event for NASA’s Habitable Worlds Observatory, to be held at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Center in Washington, DC, from July 28‐31, 2025. This milestone event will bring together scientists, engineers, industry and community stakeholders to propel the development of HWO, a mission expected to usher in a new era of astrophysics discovery and address one of humanity’s oldest questions “Are we alone?” A tentative agenda can be found here: https://www.stsci.edu/files/live/sites/www/files/home/events/event-assets/2025/_documents/TentativeHWO25PlenarySchedule.pdf
Important Dates
May 15
Abstract Acceptance Notifications (these are on-going and are expected to conclude by May 15)
May 19
In-Person and Virtual Registration Opens
May 19
Preliminary Program Released
Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
Science
Galaxy Growth: Intergalactic & Circumgalactic Medium, Active Galactic Nuclei & Black Holes
Evolution of the Elements: Stars & Stellar Populations, Star Formation & Interstellar Medium, Cosmic Explosions
Cosmology: Nature of Dark Matter & Dark Energy, Distance Scale, Hubble Tension
Planetary Systems: Formation, Evolution, Architectures, Our Solar System, Exoplanet Demographics
Search for Life: Target Stars & Systems, Biosignatures, Habitability
Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning for mission development, engineering, science research
Accepted presenters will be invited to contribute to the HWO25 conference proceedings, which will serve as the foundation for the first HWO Community Science Book.
Full details for several new positions can be found on the DPS job board.
A summary of recent job announcements and postdoc opportunities are listed below.
Assistant/Associate Researcher – Space Sciences Lab – Due June 8, 2025
The Space Sciences Laboratory (SSL) at UC Berkeley is seeking one or two Assistant/Associate Researcher(s) for the Planetary and Exobiology Group. These roles are designed for candidates with expertise in giant planet atmospheric composition and dynamics.
Successful candidates will be involved in observation, modeling, and sample analysis. They will conduct acquisition, processing, analysis, and interpretation of imaging and spectroscopic remote sensing data. They will also run numerical simulations of atmospheric dynamics, apply radiative transfer modeling, and leverage machine learning techniques to support research objectives.
More information on the position, including qualifications, compensation range, benefits and how to apply are provided in the full position description:
Post-doc Position at University of Central Florida
The McKeown Group in the University of Central Florida (UCF) Department of Physics in the College of Sciences seeks to hire a Postdoctoral Scholar to help set up the new FROSTIE lab, aimed at investigating icy planetary surface processes under simulated planetary conditions. The postdoctoral scholar will have the opportunity to research icy geomorphological signatures of seasonal processes on Mars and transient liquid water activity relevant for icy airless worlds. The successful candidate will lead design, integration and testing of cryo-vacuum regulation and data acquisition systems. Experience working with cryogenic thermal-vacuum systems is necessary. The scholar’s technical expertise will be integral to the successful completion of cutting-edge experiments investigating the roles of ice sublimation and endogenic liquid water activity in modifying the surfaces of Mars, Europa and small bodies. The scholar would begin the position as soon as possible and serve for 24 months, extendable upon the availability of funds and mutual agreement of the scholar and the supervisor.
Full-time staff scientist to work with Roman team at IPAC
IPAC, part of the Physics, Math, and Astronomy Division at Caltech, provides science operations, user support, data and archive services, and scientific vision to enhance discovery with observatories both in space and on the ground. IPAC invites applications from highly qualified individuals for a full-time position at the junior scientist level to work with the Roman team at IPAC.
The Roman Space Telescope is a NASA observatory designed to address key questions in the areas of dark energy, exoplanets, and infrared astrophysics. It is slated for launch in late 2026. The Roman Science Support Center (SSC) at IPAC is part of the Roman Ground Data System, providing algorithm and software development and data processing for the Galactic Bulge Time Domain Survey and all Roman spectroscopic data. In addition, the SSC will support the operations of the Coronagraph Instrument, manage the Roman General Investigator Program proposal solicitations and related data analysis funding, and provide community support for exoplanet and wide-field spectroscopy science with Roman.
Postdoctoral Scholar: Asteroid Radar – University of Central Florida
The incumbent will be expected to participate in data analysis, physical and dynamical characterization of near-Earth asteroids using radar and optical data, and support archiving asteroid shape models in the Planetary Data System (PDS). This position is open until filled.
EPSC-DPS JOINT MEETING 2025: ABSTRACT DEADLINE MAY 7, 13:00 CEST (7:00 EST)
2025 DPS TRAVEL GRANT APPLICATION FORM IS OPEN
DPS COMMITTEE SEEKS APPLICANTS FOR PUBLICATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR TO BEGIN TERM IN FALL 2025
DPS 2025 ELECTION : CANDIDATE SLATE
JOIN US FOR A PUBLIC EVENT: EXPLORING EUROPA
33RD MEETING OF THE NASA SMALL BODIES ASSESSMENT GROUP (SBAG)
CHEOPS GUEST OBSERVER TIME DEADLINE MAY 8 AT 12:00 CEST
BINARIES IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM VI – CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
THREE PHD POSITIONS IN SPACE PHYSICS AT UMEA UNIVERSITY, SWEDEN
[EPSC-DPS 2025] SESSION ODAA3: DIVERSITY AND INCLUSIVENESS IN PLANETARY SCIENCES
ABSTRACT DEADLINE REMINDER: INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON INSTRUMENTATION FOR PLANETARY MISSIONS 6
[NASA] SMDP: OPPORTUNITY FOR AN INTERDISCIPLINARY SCIENTIST AND GUEST INVESTIGATORS IN THE BEPICOLOMBO MISSION
[EPSC-DPS] SESSION MITM11: SYNERGIES BETWEEN SPACE MISSIONS AND GROUND-BASED OBSERVATIONS
[EPSC-DPS] SESSION ODAA6: OPEN PLANETARY SCIENCE FOR EFFECTIVE KNOWLEDGE CO-CREATION AND DISSEMINATION
[EPSC-DPS] SESSION SB1: INTERSTELLAR OBJECTS – FROM THEORY TO OBSERVATIONS
[EPSC-DPS] SESSION TP2: ATMOSPHERES AND EXOSPHERES OF TERRESTRIAL BODIES
CURRENT TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR ICARUS AND THE PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL
JOBS, POSITIONS, AND OPPORTUNITIES
+——————————————————————————————–+
1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1——-
AAS WEEK OF ACTION MAY 5 – MAY 9
Friday May 2 AAS President Dara Norman sent an e-mail discussing the President’s Budget Request and introducing the AAS week of action. Her letter is included below. The AAS is hosting a week of action, and we ask all of our DPS members to take a few minutes each day this week to engage in advocacy.
Dear Colleague,
As you may have seen, the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request* was released today. This budget request provides suggestions for the level of funding that Congress should appropriate for federal programs. The plan proposes slashing $163 billion in federal spending for the next fiscal year, which includes a 56% cut to the National Science Foundation, a 47% cut to NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, and a 14% cut to the Department of Energy’s Office of Science. These proposed cuts are certainly alarming, and the AAS Board of Trustees has releaseda statement highlighting the potential impacts if such cuts were to be enacted. If you are interested in reading more, Colin Hamill has writtena blog post explaining today’s budget request in more detail.
While the proposed cuts to our science agencies are deeply concerning, it is important to remember that the President’s Budget Request is not law, it is only a proposal. Congress holds the power of the purse and will ultimately pass bills that set the funding levels for FY26. During the first Trump administration, we saw large cuts to science funding in the budget request, but Congress largely ignored those cuts and chose to increase federal funding for the sciences. However, for a multitude of reasons, we cannot assume the current Congress will do the same this time. The President’s Budget Request should serve as a call to action for our community — we are facing an existential threat, and we must actively engage with Congress to show why the work that we do is meaningful for the nation.
[The week of May 5] AAS will behosting a week of action, calling on all of us to take a few minutes each day to engage in advocacy, whether that be calling and emailing your members of Congress, or educating yourself on federal science funding through a journal club. You can find details for the week of actionhere, and keep an eye out on AAS social media channels for daily guidance. I also encourage you to request a Zoom or local meeting with your congressional offices and consider inviting a congressional staffer to your institution/department. I met with my own congressional office in Tucson a week ago, and earlier this week, the faculty at Michigan State University invited a staffer from their Representative’s office to visit the department. We need more voices to do the same. Please reach out to the AAS public policy team ([email protected]) and they would be thrilled to assist you with setting up such meetings. If you would like to opt-in to regular communications from the AAS policy team about advocacy actions you can take, please fill out thisshort form.
We are in unprecedented times of risk for scientific research. These times call for extraordinary action if we want our elected representatives and the public to continue to support this critical work. Please engage with us at the AAS to make our voices heard!
— Dara Norman, AAS President
* Note that the request released on May 2 is a “skinny” budget, which generally does not include proposed budgets at the division or program level for these agencies. We expect more detailed information to be released later this month.
2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2——-
EPSC-DPS JOINT MEETING 2025: ABSTRACT DEADLINE MAY 7, 13:00 CEST (7:00 EST)
The EPSC committee, the DPS Committee, the Scientific Organizing Committee and Copernicus Meetings invite the world-wide community of planetary scientists to submit an abstract for presentation of their recent work at the EPSC-DPS2025 meeting, which will take place at the Finlandia Hall Helsinki, Finland, 7–12 September 2025. EPSC-DPS2025 will be organised as a fully hybrid meeting and will allow virtual access to all oral and poster sessions. EPSC-DPS2025
We are looking forward to meeting everyone in person this year in Helsinki. The ethos for EPSC-DPS2025 is to create a simple, flexible, and inclusive meeting that provides multiple opportunities for interaction, scientific discussion, and networking. The programme of the congress will contain oral and poster sessions, as well as workshops and panel discussions.
The current list of sessions is organised around the following Programme Groups:
Small Bodies (comets, KBOs, rings, asteroids, meteorites, dust) (SB)
Exoplanets, Origins of Planetary Systems and Astrobiology (EXOA)
Outreach, Diversity, Amateur Astronomy (ODAA)
Submit your abstract now by accessing the scientific programme and the abstract submission tool. Please browse the list of sessions and identify the session that most closely matches your area of interest; your abstract can be submitted directly to that session.
Abstract deadline: 7 May 2025, 13:00 CEST (7:00 US Eastern Time)
For future deadlines including (early) registration, refer to the deadlines & milestones of the conference. Information on registration (which will open in early June) and social events, as well as a separate online form for requesting splinter meetings & workshops will also be available soon on the meeting website.
We look forward to seeing you in Helsinki!
Lena Noack & Noah Jäggi on behalf of the EPSC committee
Athena Coustenis & Scott Murchie on behalf of the DPS committee
Stavro Ivanovski, Ákos Kereszturi, Connor Nixon, and James Roberts on behalf of the Scientific Organizing Committee
Katrin Krüger on behalf of Copernicus Meetings
3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3——-
2025 DPS TRAVEL GRANT APPLICATION FORM IS OPEN
The DPS Travel Grant application form is open to support participation in the joint meeting of the Europlanet Science Congress and DPS (EPSC-DPS 2025) in Helsinki, Finland 7-12 September 2025, or the National Society of Black Physicists- National Society of Hispanics Physicists annual meeting, via the Hartmann and the Under-Represented Minority (URM) Travel grants.
The Hartmann Student Travel Grant supports student presentations at the annual DPS-EPSC meeting. (Postdoctoral scholars may also be eligible, but students are prioritized.)
The Underrepresented Minority (URM) Communities in Planetary Science Travel Grant supports attendance by students and professionals who are members of groups that have had inadequate access to the planetary science community, in an effort to ensure broad engagement and access to planetary science. Applications are especially encouraged from members of group(s) whose contributions to STEM may have been overlooked, students and professionals hailing from colleges and non-R1 academic or research institutions* that have not traditionally benefited from connections to the planetary science community, and/or students and professionals with degrees in broader STEM disciplines (e.g., chemistry, physics, engineering, mathematics) who are new to the planetary science community — to support in-person or virtual attendance at the joint DPS-EPSC or joint NSBP-NSHP meetings.
* Relevant institutions include small colleges and universities, primarily undergraduate institutions, and minority serving institutions (MSIs), including but not limited to Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Native American-Serving Non-Tribal Institutions, and Tribal Colleges and Universities.“
DPS COMMITTEE SEEKS APPLICANTS FOR PUBLICATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR TO BEGIN TERM IN FALL 2025
The Publications Subcommittee Chair will serve a three-year term starting with the EPSC-DPS meeting in September 2025. The Publications Subcommittee is responsible for managing the relationship between DPS and its designated publications, Icarus and the Planetary Science Journal, and also stays aware of issues in planetary science publications more generally. The Publications Subcommittee regularly reviews the publication policies of journals that the DPS endorses and supports.
If you’re interested, please send a CV and a brief statement of interest to [email protected]
5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5——-
DPS 2025 ELECTION : CANDIDATE SLATE
The DPS Nominating Subcommittee has identified the following candidates for the 2025 DPS elections for Vice Chair and Committee Members
Vice Chair (1 to be elected):
Paul Hartogh – Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research
Ralph McNutt – Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory
Committee (2 to be elected):
Arianna Piccialli – Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy
Carver Bierson – Scottsdale Community College
Eddie Schwieterman – University of California at Riverside
Stephanie Jarmak – NASA ADS
Per the DPS Bylaws, additional candidates for Vice Chair or Committee Member, supported by a petition of at least 20 DPS members, may be nominated by May 21, 2025. Please send any nominations to DPS secretary, Denise Stephens, at [email protected]
The DPS Committee thanks the members of the Nominating Subcommittee for their dedicated service to the DPS:
Tim Livengood (chair), Jessica Noviello, and Therese Encrenaz
6———6———6———6———6———6———6———6———6——-
JOIN US FOR A PUBLIC EVENT: EXPLORING EUROPA
Join the LPI for a hybrid presentation (offered in-person and virtually) by Dr. Walter Kiefer, Director of the LPI. Dr. Kiefer will discuss NASA’s Europa Clipper mission and its 1.8-billion-mile journey to Jupiter’s moon, Europa. Launched in October 2024, Europa Clipper is the first mission designed to conduct a detailed study of Europa. A vast ocean lies beneath Europa’s icy shell, and there is scientific evidence that the ingredients for life may exist on Europa right now.
33RD MEETING OF THE NASA SMALL BODIES ASSESSMENT GROUP (SBAG)
The 33rd Meeting of the NASA Small Bodies Assessment Group (SBAG) is scheduled for June 24–25, 2025, at the Arvada Center in Arvada, Colorado. The meeting will include opportunities for virtual participation. The agenda is now available. Please check the website for updates as the meeting date approaches. Registration fees are not being collected for this meeting, but registration is required. Registration will be available through June 25. Before the meeting, all registrants will receive an email from Houston Meeting Info with virtual connection information.
CHEOPS GUEST OBSERVER TIME DEADLINE MAY 8 AT 12:00 CEST
On the 8th of May at 12:00 CEST, ESA’s CHEOPS mission will close its 6th Announcement of Opportunity (AO-6) to the Guest Observers (GO) Programme. If you are planning to submit observing proposals to obtain high-precision optical time-series data of your targets of interest, please remember to register to the CHEOPS Guest Observers programme at https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/cheops-guest-observers-programme/registration
And to the ESA Datalabs platform (with invitation code “cheops-datalabs”) at: https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/datalabs/self-registration at least two days before you will work on your proposal. This is the typical time needed for your Datalabs accounts to be authorised. You will need that account to calculate object visibility and scheduling feasibility without having to install any software.
Collaborative Synergies: The timely overlap of several space- and ground-based missions may provide exciting opportunities for synergies with NASA/ESA/CSA JWST, NASA/ESA HST, NASA TESS, ESO ground-based facilities, and more. For example, the figure below presents a preliminary estimate of how data from CHEOPS might support the physical modeling of atmospheric observations of transiting exoplanets by JWST (adapted from Moran et al., 2023). While simultaneous observations can potentially be scheduled on a best-effort basis, we emphasise that asynchronous observations also offer significant advantages.
Simple step by step proposal submission tutorials: You can find below simple video tutorials on how to submit a CHEOPS GO proposal below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKsBT54nlVQ
Explore interactively CHEOPS public level-2 light-curves: you can also explore interactively and download public undetrended CHEOPS level-2 light curves from ESASky to prepare your proposal. Remember that all public and proprietary data can only be found at the CHEOPS archive, which should be checked before submitting a proposal. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Obbavv7EsCE
BINARIES IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM VI – CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
We invite the community of binary asteroids scientists to submit an abstract to the Binaries in the Solar System VI, which will take place at the Côte d’Azur Observatory in Nice, France, from 15 to 17 September 2025. We welcome abstracts on all topics related to binary systems in the Solar system, from their characterization (remote or in situ) to theories on their formation and evolution.
The abstract submission is free of charge. It must be submitted on the Abstract Submission form in a simple text format containing up to 300 words by 25 May 2025.
More information about the conference guidelines, registration, program and practical info about the venue can be found on the meeting website: https://bam-vi.sciencesconf.org/
Please forward this message to colleagues who may be interested.
THREE PHD POSITIONS IN SPACE PHYSICS AT UMEA UNIVERSITY, SWEDEN
The Department of Physics at Umea University, Sweden, invites applications for three PhD positions in space physics. These positions involve advanced numerical simulations and analysis of spacecraft data. The positions are full-time and 100% funded for four years. The
expected start date is September 1, 2025, or as agreed. The application deadline is May 23, 2025.
The three PhD projects are:
Project 1: Plasma interaction with Mercury’s magnetosphere
[EPSC-DPS 2025] SESSION ODAA3: DIVERSITY AND INCLUSIVENESS IN PLANETARY
SCIENCES
The benefits of diversity and inclusiveness in the scientific community are incontrovertible. Following the success of previous years, this session aims to foster debate within the planetary sciences community about the reasons behind the under-representation of different groups
(gender, cultural, ethnic origin, and national) and best practices to make the research environment more inclusive identifying and addressing barriers to equality.
We invite abstracts focusing on under-representation (gender, cultural, ethnic origin, and nationality biases) supported by statistics and data; outreach and education activities to reach broad and diverse audiences, best practices to support inclusiveness; and case studies on
The deadline abstract submission is 7 May 2025, 13:00 CEST
We look forward to welcoming you in Helsinki in September, and online!
The conveners:
Arianna Piccialli, Solmaz Adeli, James Roberts, Jarita Holbrook
12———12———12———12———12———12———12———12———
ABSTRACT DEADLINE REMINDER: INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON INSTRUMENTATION
FOR PLANETARY MISSIONS 6
The abstract submission deadline for the International Workshop on Instrumentation for Planetary Missions 6 (IPM-2025) is approaching, with a final deadline of May 12.
We are soliciting abstracts that address lessons learned from previous planetary instruments, a survey of current state-of-the-art instruments and enabling technologies (including software), and emerging capabilities in planetary instrumentation. The IPM-2025 will be held August 4-6, 2025, in Boulder, Colorado. A remote attendance option will be provided, although presenting authors must attend in person. For more information, go to: https://lasp.colorado.edu/meetings/ipm-2025/
[NASA] SMDP: OPPORTUNITY FOR AN INTERDISCIPLINARY SCIENTIST AND GUEST INVESTIGATORS IN THE BEPICOLOMBO MISSION
Important Dates: Mandatory Letters of Intent are due to ESA by 12:00 pm CEST on May 20, 2025. Emails requesting a NASA letter of endorsement must be received by NASA no later than May 30, 2025. Full proposals are due to ESA by 12:00 pm CEST on June 10, 2025.
Proposals from investigators at U.S. organizations will require letters of endorsement for full proposals. Endorsement is not required for Letters of Intent. Please see below for additional information, including the NASA Point of Contact (POC).
Scope of Program: An Announcement of Opportunity for an Interdisciplinary Scientist and Guest Investigators in the BepiColombo Mission was released by ESA on April 22, 2025. The Announcement of Opportunity (AO) solicits proposals from scientists to augment the scientific return of BepiColombo.
BepiColombo is an interdisciplinary mission to the planet Mercury, carried out as a joint project between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), with NASA participation, executed under ESA leadership.
[EPSC-DPS] SESSION MITM11: SYNERGIES BETWEEN SPACE MISSIONS AND
GROUND-BASED OBSERVATIONS
Space missions to study bodies throughout the Solar System up-close have led to significant advances in understanding how our planetary system formed and evolved. A host of current and upcoming missions will further revolutionise our knowledge of the Solar System’s structure and
history e.g., the characterisation of numerous Jupiter Trojans by the Lucy flybys, the Hera mission to assess the Didymos-Dimorphos system following the DART impact, and the first ever up-close study of a long period comet by Comet Interceptor. In addition to these small-body
missions, there are missions flying or in development to visit all the major planets from Mercury to Jupiter, and discussions about future missions to the ice giants. Each of these missions are greatly enhanced by the support of ground-based facilities to provide necessary context
through remote sensing and target characterisation. This session invites contributions from researchers undertaking telescopic observations related to mission targets, including pre-encounter characterisation, parallel ground and space observations, or follow up studies.
[EPSC-DPS] SESSION ODAA6: OPEN PLANETARY SCIENCE FOR EFFECTIVE KNOWLEDGE CO-CREATION AND DISSEMINATION
With yet another call for abstracts in the EPSC-DPS joint meeting in Helsinki September 7-12 in this newsletter, we would like to draw your attention to a session about Open Science.
Planetary scientists, astronomers, researchers, citizen science practitioners, and other stakeholders are encouraged to present new projects and the developments of previous ones, in the context of promoting open, participatory, and public science. Science education initiatives are also welcome.
We are looking forward to seeing presentations on efforts related to open space/planetary science from any aspect!
[EPSC-DPS] SESSION SB1: INTERSTELLAR OBJECTS – FROM THEORY TO OBSERVATIONS
Interstellar objects (ISOs) have become a novel field of Galactic small body studies, connecting the formation history of our Solar System to the processes of planetesimal creation and evolution that play out in planetary systems across the Milky Way.
The known population of ISOs is expected to increase soon, following 1I/`Oumuamua in 2017 and 2I/Borisov in 2019, as the planetary science community reaps the benefits of a new generation of survey telescopes. At the given epoch, the intrinsic ISO population remains observationally unconstrained; theoretical predictions are equally influential as observed physical characteristics on our understanding.
This session explores the past, present, and future research on interstellar objects, and is therefore open to contributions from a wide range of topics, including (but not limited to):
Planetesimal formation and ejection mechanisms
ISO dynamics in the Galaxy
Evolutionary processing of small bodies e.g. in the interstellar medium or tidal disruption
The relationships of Solar System populations to ISOs
Observational characterisation of the known ISO population
Population modelling & predictions for future ISO discoveries
Space missions have provided a wealth of data on the atmospheres and aeronomy of rocky planets and moons, from the lower layers up to the external envelopes in direct contact with the solar wind. This session solicits contributions that investigate processes at work (chemistry,
energetics, dynamics, electricity, escape, surface-atmosphere interactions, etc…) in the lower, middle and upper atmosphere of the terrestrial bodies of the Solar System. Contributions based on analysis of recent spacecraft and ground- based observations, comparative planetology studies, numerical modelling and relevant laboratory investigations are particularly welcome. In view of the three future Venus missions selected by ESA and NASA, papers discussing contemporary Venus atmospheric science in preparation for these missions are also
encouraged. The session will consist of invited and contributed oral talks as well as posters.
See you in Helsinki!
The conveners:
Anni Maattanen, Francisco Gonzalez-Galindo, Gabriella Gilli, Orkun
Temel, Tanguy Bertrand
18———18———18———18———18———18———18———18———
CURRENT TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR ICARUS AND THE PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL
The current issues for both DPS-affiliated journals are here:
Full details for several new positions can be found on the DPS job board.
A summary of recent job announcements and postdoc opportunities are listed below.
Full-time staff scientist to work with Roman team at IPAC
IPAC, part of the Physics, Math, and Astronomy Division at Caltech, provides science operations, user support, data and archive services, and scientific vision to enhance discovery with observatories both in space and on the ground. IPAC invites applications from highly qualified individuals for a full-time position at the junior scientist level to work with the Roman team at IPAC.
The Roman Space Telescope is a NASA observatory designed to address key questions in the areas of dark energy, exoplanets, and infrared astrophysics. It is slated for launch in late 2026. The Roman Science Support Center (SSC) at IPAC is part of the Roman Ground Data System, providing algorithm and software development and data processing for the Galactic Bulge Time Domain Survey and all Roman spectroscopic data. In addition, the SSC will support the operations of the Coronagraph Instrument, manage the Roman General Investigator Program proposal solicitations and related data analysis funding, and provide community support for exoplanet and wide-field spectroscopy science with Roman.
Postdoctoral Scholar: Asteroid Radar – University of Central Florida
The incumbent will be expected to participate in data analysis, physical and dynamical characterization of near-Earth asteroids using radar and optical data, and support archiving asteroid shape models in the Planetary Data System (PDS). This position is open until filled.
Reported unprecedented damaging cuts in the President’s 2026 budget for NASA science in Fiscal Year 2026 can only be avoided if there is a strong reaction from the space sciences community. There are several ways to register such a response. The DPS committee has issued a call for action (https://dps.aas.org/dpscom-message-apr2025-call-for-action/) and the DPS Federal Relations Subcommittee Advocacy section on our web site contains a lot of practical information on how to get involved and make a difference in these challenging times (https://dps.aas.org/public_policy).
The DPS committee members went to meet their congressional representatives on March 6, and the DPS FRS subcommittee members will meet with additional representatives on 8 and 9 May.
See below for additional information on AAS advocacy and some other actions proposed by the AAS.
AAS REQUEST – ASK MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO SIGN BIPARTISAN LETTER IN SUPPORT OF NASA SCIENCE
AAS ADVOCACY – REMINDER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS BACK IN THEIR HOME STATES/DISTRICTS BETWEEN APRIL 14-25
DPS 2025 ELECTION : CANDIDATE SLATE
IT IS NEVER TOO LATE – RENEW YOUR AAS/DPS MEMBERSHIP
DPS COMMITTEE SEEKS APPLICANTS FOR PUBLICATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR TO BEGIN TERM IN FALL 2025
TWO ONLINE WORKSHOPS FOR EDUCATORS IN APRIL HOSTED BY AAS
EPSC-DPS JOINT MEETING 2025: ABSTRACT SUBMISSION IS OPEN
2025 DPS TRAVEL GRANT APPLICATION FORM IS OPEN
SCIENTIFIC DATA ANALYST WITH THE MAVEN IMAGING ULTRAVIOLET SPECTROGRAPH TEAM
EPSC-DPS 2025 ABSTRACT SUBMISSION CALL FOR THE SESSION “SYNERGIES BETWEEN SPACE MISSIONS AND GROUND-BASED OBSERVATIONS”
EPSC-DPS 2025 ABSTRACT SUBMISSION CALL FOR THE SESSION “INTERSTELLAR OBJECTS: FROM THEORY TO OBSERVATIONS”
RESEARCHER POSITIONS IN THE PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES GROUP AT THE INSTITUTE FOR BASIC SCIENCE, SOUTH KOREA
GERALD A. SOFFEN MEMORIAL FUND SPRING 2025 TRAVEL GRANT
PSJ FOCUS ISSUE ON MARS RESOURCES AND SCIENCE TARGETS FOR HUMAN EXPLORATION
NEW HORIZONS SCIENCE SPOTLIGHT WEBINAR
EPSC-DPS SESSION EXOA13: BRIDGING GEOSCIENCES AND ASTRONOMY TO INTERPRET ROCKY (EXO)PLANET OBSERVATIONS
EUROPLANET JUICE WEBINAR
CURRENT TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THE PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL AND ICARUS
JOBS, POSITIONS, AND OPPORTUNITIES
+——————————————————————————————–+
1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1——-
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
Reported unprecedented damaging cuts in the President’s 2026 budget for NASA science in Fiscal Year 2026 can only be avoided if there is a strong reaction from the space sciences community. There are several ways to register such a response. The DPS committee has issued a call for action (https://dps.aas.org/dpscom-message-apr2025-call-for-action/) and the DPS Federal Relations Subcommittee Advocacy section on our web site contains a lot of practical information on how to get involved and make a difference in these challenging times (https://dps.aas.org/public_policy).
The DPS committee members went to meet their congressional representatives on March 6, and the DPS FRS subcommittee members will meet with additional representatives on 8 and 9 May.
See below for additional information on AAS advocacy and some other actions proposed by the AAS.
Athena Coustenis
DPS Chair
2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2——-
AAS REQUEST – ASK MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO SIGN BIPARTISAN LETTER IN SUPPORT OF NASA SCIENCE
The American Astronomical Society is gravely concerned by the deep cuts to NASA science fundingreported to be in the draft President’s Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2026. If enacted, the nearly 50% cut to the NASA Science Mission Directorate would be catastrophic to our nation’s leadership in the space sciences, damaging a broad range of research areas and significantly impacting our nation’s STEM workforce. Read more here.
Take Action Now by asking your members of Congress to sign a bipartisan letter in support of NASA science.
3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3——-
AAS ADVOCACY – REMINDER THAT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ARE BACK IN THEIR HOME STATES/DISTRICTS BETWEEN APRIL 14-25
Members of Congress will be back in their home states/districts between April 14 – 25, and this will be a great opportunity to meet with your representatives and/or invite them to your institution to see all the world-leading science taking place in their state / district. AAS also encourages you to attend townhalls and open meetings with Members of Congress taking place in your district and ask questions there. For more information about how to set up these meetings, please see these slides or contact [email protected].
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions as you schedule Zoom and/or in-district meetings with your senators and representatives. AAS would also be happy to share contact information for staff in your Congressional offices if you reach out to them at [email protected]. Please share the information about your meetings with AAS here.
If you haven’t already, consider filling out your congressional constituent request formshere. One of the most effective ways to make your voice heard is through a constituent appropriations request — essentially, asking your congressional representative to direct funding toward a particular area.
Here are the currentHouse andSenate members in the Commerce, Justice, and Science Subcommittees in the respective Appropriations Committees. Also, here are some useful websites to gather the impact of certain federal agencies in your state / district:
District-level data for NSF, DOE Office of Science, NIH and USDA funding fromFASEB.
The AAS Public Policy and Education staff will be making themselves available for discussions and to provide information through regular office hours that will be updated regularly. Upcoming offices hours will be:
Please feel free to reach out to AAS at [email protected] if you have any further questions, or if there is additional information we can provide. Thank you for advocacy!
For general awareness, the AAS DPS Federal Relations Subcommittee (https://dps.aas.org/leadership/frs) will also be continuing planetary science advocacy in Washington, D.C. on May 8th and May 9th, 2025. The FRS can be reached at [email protected].
4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4——-
DPS 2025 ELECTION : CANDIDATE SLATE
The DPS Nominating Subcommittee has identified the following candidates for the 2025 DPS elections for Vice Chair and Committee Members
Vice Chair (1 to be elected):
Paul Hartogh – Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research
Ralph McNutt – Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory
Committee (2 to be elected):
Arianna Piccialli – Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy
Carver Bierson – Scottsdale Community College
Eddie Schwieterman – University of California at Riverside
Stephanie Jarmak – NASA ADS
Per the DPS Bylaws, additional candidates for Vice Chair or Committee Member, supported by a petition of at least 20 DPS members, may be nominated by May 21, 2025. Please send any nominations to DPS secretary, Denise Stephens, at [email protected]
The DPS Committee thanks the members of the Nominating Subcommittee for their dedicated service to the DPS:
Tim Livengood (chair), Jessica Noviello, and Therese Encrenaz
5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5——-
IT IS NEVER TOO LATE – RENEW YOUR AAS/DPS MEMBERSHIP
Membership in the Division for Planetary Sciences (DPS) is open to all active members of the American Astronomical Society (AAS).
If you are an active AAS member, the DPS dues are $25 for Full, International Affiliate, Educator Affiliate, Alumni Affiliate, and Amateur Affiliate Members, $0 for Graduate Student and Undergraduate Student Members and Emeritus Members. The classes and benefits of AAS membership are describedhere.
To join and pay by credit card (VISA, MasterCard, American Express), simply fax your request and the following card data: card number; name of card holder as it appears on card; expiration date; authorized charge amount. Please direct your transmittal to the attention of AAS Membership Services at (202) 588-1351, remembering to include a daytime telephone number for contact purposes.
To join and pay by check or money order, you may mail your request and payment drawn on a U.S. bank in U.S. currency to:
Checks or money orders should be payable to the American Astronomical Society.
You should allow a minimum of 5 business days for your request and payment to be processed and your DPS membership established.
If you wish to join the DPS and the AAS at the same time, download theAAS Membership Form; provide all required information; indicate your intent to join the DPS (section 8); and return your completed form and payment to the AAS.
You should allow a minimum of 5 business days for your request and payment to be processed and your AAS and DPS memberships established.
Further information regarding the AAS and AAS membership benefits is available atAAS andAAS Membership respectively. Questions regarding joining the DPS as an AAS member should be directed to theAAS Membership Department.
6———6———6———6———6———6———6———6———6——-
DPS COMMITTEE SEEKS APPLICANTS FOR PUBLICATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR TO BEGIN TERM IN FALL 2025
The Publications Subcommittee Chair will serve a three-year term starting with the EPSC-DPS meeting in September 2025. The Publications Subcommittee is responsible for managing the relationship between DPS and its designated publications, Icarus and the Planetary Science Journal, and also stays aware of issues in planetary science publications more generally. The Publications Subcommittee regularly reviews the publication policies of journals that the DPS endorses and supports.
If you’re interested, please send a CV and a brief statement of interest to [email protected]
7———7———7———7———7———7———7———7———7——-
TWO ONLINE WORKSHOPS FOR EDUCATORS IN APRIL HOSTED BY AAS
The AAS is co-hosting two online workshops for educators in the astronomy and physics communities: “Intro to Equity-Minded Mentoring” on April 22 and “How to Design a Curriculum for the Modern World” on April 29.
EPSC-DPS JOINT MEETING 2025: ABSTRACT SUBMISSION IS OPEN
The EPSC committee, the DPS Committee, the Scientific Organizing Committee and Copernicus Meetings invite the world-wide community of planetary scientists to submit an abstract for presentation of their recent work at the EPSC-DPS2025 meeting, which will take place at the Finlandia Hall Helsinki, Finland, 7–12 September 2025. EPSC-DPS2025 will be organised as a fully hybrid meeting and will allow virtual access to all oral and poster sessions. EPSC-DPS2025
We are looking forward to meeting everyone in person this year in Helsinki. The ethos for EPSC-DPS2025 is to create a simple, flexible, and inclusive meeting that provides multiple opportunities for interaction, scientific discussion, and networking. The programme of the congress will contain oral and poster sessions, as well as workshops and panel discussions.
The current list of sessions is organised around the following Programme Groups:
Small Bodies (comets, KBOs, rings, asteroids, meteorites, dust) (SB)
Exoplanets, Origins of Planetary Systems and Astrobiology (EXOA)
Outreach, Diversity, Amateur Astronomy (ODAA)
Submit your abstract now by accessing the scientific programme and the abstract submission tool. Please browse the list of sessions and identify the session that most closely matches your area of interest; your abstract can be submitted directly to that session.
Abstract deadline: 7 May 2025, 13:00 CEST.
For future deadlines including (early) registration, refer to the deadlines & milestones of the conference. Information on registration and social events, as well as a separate online form for requesting splinter meetings & workshops will also be available soon on the meeting website.
We look forward to seeing you in Helsinki!
Lena Noack & Noah Jäggi on behalf of the EPSC committee
Athena Coustenis & Scott Murchie on behalf of the DPS committee
Stavro Ivanovski, Ákos Kereszturi, Connor Nixon, and James Roberts on behalf of the Scientific Organizing Committee
Katrin Krüger on behalf of Copernicus Meetings
9———9———9———9———9———9———9———9———9——-
2025 DPS TRAVEL GRANT APPLICATION FORM IS OPEN
The DPS Travel Grant application form is open to support participation in the joint meeting of the Europlanet Science Congress and DPS (EPSC-DPS 2025) in Helsinki, Finland 7-12 September 2025, or the National Society of Black Physicists- National Society of Hispanics Physicists annual meeting, via the Hartmann and the Under-Represented Minority (URM) Travel grants.
The Hartmann Student Travel Grant supports student presentations at the annual DPS-EPSC meeting. (Postdoctoral scholars may also be eligible, but students are prioritized.)
The Underrepresented Minority (URM) Communities in Planetary Science Travel Grant supports attendance by students and professionals who are members of groups that have had inadequate access to the planetary science community, in an effort to ensure broad engagement and access to planetary science. Applications are especially encouraged from members of group(s) whose contributions to STEM may have been overlooked, students and professionals hailing from colleges and non-R1 academic or research institutions* that have not traditionally benefited from connections to the planetary science community, and/or students and professionals with degrees in broader STEM disciplines (e.g., chemistry, physics, engineering, mathematics) who are new to the planetary science community — to support in-person or virtual attendance at the joint DPS-EPSC or joint NSBP-NSHP meetings.
* Relevant institutions include small colleges and universities, primarily undergraduate institutions, and minority serving institutions (MSIs), including but not limited to Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Native American-Serving Non-Tribal Institutions, and Tribal Colleges and Universities.“
SCIENTIFIC DATA ANALYST WITH THE MAVEN IMAGING ULTRAVIOLET SPECTROGRAPH TEAM
The Imaging Ultraviolet Spectrograph (IUVS) team on the MAVEN mission is seeking a talented data analyst. IUVS has made important discoveries about the Mars atmosphere, including escape and evolution, aurora, nightglow, photochemistry, composition, dynamics and cloud formation, and more discoveries are anticipated with your help. Responsibilities include: Data analysis and interpretation, scientific programming, interpretation, presentation of results at conferences and in publications. Mentoring junior team members and software support. Mission operations. Position requirements include: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in astronomy, physics, earth science, computer science or related area. Experience in scientific programming in python. Work with remote sensing data, retrievals, image processing. Experience with graphical data representation and scientific visualization. Desired qualifications include: Familiarity with planetary science, earth science or astrophysics through coursework or experience, and best practices for version control for code and data products. Inquiries to [email protected]
EPSC-DPS 2025 ABSTRACT SUBMISSION CALL FOR THE SESSION “SYNERGIES BETWEEN SPACE MISSIONS AND GROUND-BASED OBSERVATIONS”
The next EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2025 (EPSC-DPS2025) will take place at the Finlandia Hall Helsinki, Finland 7–12 September 2025. The abstract submission is now open, with submission deadline on 7 May 2025, 13:00 CEST.
We encourage you to submit an abstract to the session: “Synergies between space missions and ground-based observations” as part of the “Missions, Instrumentation, Techniques, Modelling” program. Detailed information about the session can be found at:
Space missions to study bodies throughout the Solar System up-close have led to significant advances in understanding how our planetary system formed and evolved. A host of current and upcoming missions will further revolutionise our knowledge of the Solar System’s structure and history e.g. the characterisation of numerous Jupiter Trojans by the Lucy flybys, the Hera mission to assess the Didymos-Dimorphos system following the DART impact, and the first ever
up-close study of a long period comet by Comet Interceptor. In addition to these small-body missions, there are missions flying or in development to visit all the major planets from Mercury to Jupiter, and discussions about future missions to the ice giants. Each of these
missions are greatly enhanced by the support of ground-based facilities to provide necessary context through remote sensing and target characterisation. This session invites contributions from researchers undertaking telescopic observations related to mission targets, including pre-encounter characterisation, parallel ground and space observations, or follow up studies.
Best regards,
Abbie Donaldson, Colin Snodgrass, Richard Binzel, Zuri Gray, Matthew
Knight, Cecilia Tubiana
12———12———12———12———12———12———12———12———
EPSC-DPS 2025 ABSTRACT SUBMISSION CALL FOR THE SESSION “INTERSTELLAR OBJECTS: FROM THEORY TO OBSERVATIONS”
The next EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2025 (EPSC-DPS2025) will take place at the Finlandia Hall Helsinki, Finland 7–12 September 2025. The abstract submission is now open, with submission deadline on 7 May 2025, 13:00 CEST.
We encourage you to submit an abstract to the session: “Interstellar objects: from theory to observations” as part of the “Small Bodies (comets, KBOs, rings, asteroids, meteorites, dust)”
program. Detailed information about the session can be found at:
Interstellar objects (ISOs) have become a novel field of Galactic small body studies, connecting the formation history of our Solar System to the processes of planetesimal creation and evolution that play out in planetary systems across the Milky Way.
The known population of ISOs is expected to increase soon, following 1I/`Oumuamua in 2017 and 2I/Borisov in 2019, as the planetary science community reaps the benefits of a new generation of survey telescopes. At the given epoch, the intrinsic ISO population remains observationally unconstrained; theoretical predictions are equally influential as observed physical characteristics on our understanding.
This session explores the past, present, and future research on interstellar objects, and is therefore open to contributions from a wide range of topics, including (but not limited to):
Planetesimal formation and ejection mechanisms
ISO dynamics in the Galaxy
Evolutionary processing of small bodies e.g. in the interstellar medium or tidal disruption
The relationships of Solar System populations to ISOs
Observational characterisation of the known ISO population, 1I and 2I
Population modelling & predictions for future ISO discoveries
Mission concepts for in-situ ISO observation
Best regards,
Michele Bannister, Rosemary Dorsey, Chris Lintott, Susanna Pfalzner,
Matthew M. Knight, Darryl Seligman, Cyrielle Opitom, Colin Snodgrass
13———13———13———13———13———13———13———13———
RESEARCHER POSITIONS IN THE PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES GROUP AT THE INSTITUTE FOR BASIC SCIENCE, SOUTH KOREA
The Planetary Atmospheres Group (PAG) invites researchers with a high motivation for Venus atmospheric research. The position is initially two years long, with a possible extension. The deadline for the application is May 8, 2025 (KST).
The work involves leading remote sensing data analysis or numerical modeling. Successful applicants are also expected to support the CubeSat Project of PAG as team members and will have opportunities to collaborate with the international consortium of PAG. Our research focus will be on the atmosphere of Venus below 100 km altitude.
GERALD A. SOFFEN MEMORIAL FUND SPRING 2025 TRAVEL GRANT
The Gerald A. Soffen Memorial Fund is pleased to announce the Spring 2025 Travel Grant application opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing studies in fields of space science and engineering.
The Travel Grants enable student recipients to attend professional conferences to present their research. Recipients may use the Grant for either virtual or in-person conferences. The Soffen Fund will award up to $1000 in total, with no individual award greater than $500, to cover expenses related to presenting research at either a virtual or in-person conference. The number of awards will depend on applicants’ needs.
The Spring 2025 Travel Grant application deadline is April 25, 2025. 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:
Questions regarding the application or application process may be sent to: [email protected]
15———15———15———15———15———15———15———15———
PSJ FOCUS ISSUE ON MARS RESOURCES AND SCIENCE TARGETS FOR HUMAN
EXPLORATION
A new Planetary Science Journal focus issue entitled “Human Exploration of Mars: Resources and Science Targets” is now accepting contributions. This focus issue highlights Mars research that seeks to understand potential resources to sustain human missions, as well as pinpointing scientifically intriguing targets that would benefit from direct human exploration on the Martian surface. Contributions to the issue are intended to include a diverse array of data analyses,
modeling, field-analog, and conceptual studies, all geared towards advancing the scientific exploration of Mars.
Join us on 24 April 2025, 2:30-3pm EDT (11:30-12 PDT,12:30-1pm MDT, 1:30-2pm CDT)
New Horizons continues its operation, now at 61au from the Sun. Since 2015 it has made ground-breaking discoveries of the Pluto-Charon system, flown past the small contact KBO binary Arrokoth and collected phase and light curve data for some three dozen additional KBOs and the ice giants. It has also been sampling dust density throughout the Solar System and studying the cosmic optical background. To raise awareness of New Horizon’s scientific impact we are beginning a new spotlight seminar series (30 min, fourth week each month) which we invite you to attend online, or watch recorded at your convenience.
Our speaker will be Al Emran, JPL, and he will be speaking on:
“Kiladze Caldera: A Possible Cryovolcano on Pluto”
For questions, contact New Horizons CoI Susan Benecchi, [email protected]
17———17———17———17———17———17———17———17———
EPSC-DPS SESSION EXOA13: BRIDGING GEOSCIENCES AND ASTRONOMY TO
INTERPRET ROCKY (EXO)PLANET OBSERVATIONS
The coming years will be revolutionary for rocky planet research, with JWST, ELT, ARIEL, and PLATO providing unprecedented observations of rocky exoplanets in our galaxy. At the same time, BepiColombo, the Mars sample return mission, and the Decade of Venus missions will
greatly enhance our understanding of the rocky bodies within the Solar System. This session aims to bring together scientists from astronomy, geosciences, and planetary sciences, to explore how interior-atmosphere interaction shapes rocky (exo)planet surfaces and atmospheres. We welcome contributions spanning experimental work, observational efforts, and modelling studies. By combining insights from exoplanets, which serve as a natural laboratory for rocky world diversity, and Solar System planets, which provide the detailed observations needed to build and validate models, we can develop a robust framework for interpreting observations of any rocky body. We encourage discussions that span all related fields, fostering new collaborative approaches to studying rocky planet evolution.
25 April at 11am CEST (9am UTC): Couplings in the Jovian System: What We Expect to Find With Juice
In this Europlanet Juice webinar, Juice Project Scientist Olivier Witasse (ESA) will present the status of the mission after two years in space, and with the Venus Gravity Assist coming up at the end of August 2025. After that, Michel Blanc (IRAP, Toulouse, France) will talk about the many different couplings – gravitational, magnetospheric – that are at work in the Jovian system, why they are so interesting and how Juice will decipher them.
Full details for several new positions can be found on the DPS job board.
A summary of recent job announcements and postdoc opportunities are listed below.
ESA Archival Research Visitor Programme – Due Apr 30, 2025
To increase the scientific return from its space science missions, the European Space Agency (ESA) welcomes applications from scientists interested in pursuing research projects based on data publicly available in the ESA Space Science Archives (https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/esdc).
The ESA Archival Research Visitor Programme is open to scientists, at all career levels, affiliated with institutes in ESA Member States and Collaborating States, although we will also consider strong applications from outside those states. Early-career scientists (within 10 years of the PhD) and PhD students are particularly encouraged to apply. We encourage applications from women and minorities. The peer-review evaluation process is anonymised to ensure equal opportunities for all applicants.
Applications received before 1 May 2025 will be considered for visits in autumn and winter 2025/2026.
Full-time staff scientist to work with Roman team at IPAC
IPAC, part of the Physics, Math, and Astronomy Division at Caltech, provides science operations, user support, data and archive services, and scientific vision to enhance discovery with observatories both in space and on the ground. IPAC invites applications from highly qualified individuals for a full-time position at the junior scientist level to work with the Roman team at IPAC.
The Roman Space Telescope is a NASA observatory designed to address key questions in the areas of dark energy, exoplanets, and infrared astrophysics. It is slated for launch in late 2026. The Roman Science Support Center (SSC) at IPAC is part of the Roman Ground Data System, providing algorithm and software development and data processing for the Galactic Bulge Time Domain Survey and all Roman spectroscopic data. In addition, the SSC will support the operations of the Coronagraph Instrument, manage the Roman General Investigator Program proposal solicitations and related data analysis funding, and provide community support for exoplanet and wide-field spectroscopy science with Roman.
Postdoctoral Scholar: Asteroid Radar – University of Central Florida
The incumbent will be expected to participate in data analysis, physical and dynamical characterization of near-Earth asteroids using radar and optical data, and support archiving asteroid shape models in the Planetary Data System (PDS). This position is open until filled.
