PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 4, Number 46 (October 24, 2010) PEN Website: http://planetarynews.org Editor: Susan Benecchi Co-Editors: Melissa Lane, Mark V. Sykes Email: pen_editor at psi.edu o-------------------------TABLE OF CONTENTS---------------------------o 1. [NASA] WFIRST Science Definition Team 2. Planetary Protection Policies and Practices 3. Announcing Icarus Special Issue, "Advances in Venus Science" 4. Mount Holyoke College Postdoctoral Fellowship 5. Planetary Meeting Calendar Additions o---------------------------------------------------------------------o 1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1 [NASA] WFIRST SCIENCE DEFINITION TEAM Call for Letters of Application for Membership on the Science Definition Team for the Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) WFIRST will be a wide-field near-infrared space telescope capable of performing imaging and spectroscopic sky surveys with multiple goals including gravitational microlensing surveys for exoplanets, large-area sky survey and deep surveys for research in dark energy, and other extragalactic and Galactic research programs. The members of the WFIRST SDT will provide NASA with scientific assistance during preliminary concept definition (Pre-Phase A) activities. Near-term activities of the SDT members will focus primarily on assessing the scientific approach to achieving the goals of the WFIRST space mission as outlined by the Astro2010 Decadal Survey. The charter for the WFIRST SDT will be posted to: http://wfirst.gsfc.nasa.gov/ in early November 2010. A draft charter will be discussed at a public teleconference of the Astrophysics Subcommittee of the NASA Advisory Council on October 29, 2010; contact Dr. Hashima Hasan for information. (hhasan@nasa.gov; 202-358-0692). Responses to this invitation should be received by the WFIRST Program Scientist no later than November 23, 2010, at: Dr. Rita Sambruna 202-358-2166 rita.m.sambruna@nasa.gov (Editor note: Shortened for length.) 2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2 PLANETARY PROTECTION POLICIES AND PRACTICES NASA's Planetary Protection Office has developed a course on planetary protection policies and practices to familiarize current and future practitioners with NASA and COSPAR planetary protection programs. It provides a comprehensive review of all applicable policies, practices and procedures necessary to implement a successful planetary protection program, emphasizing integration of managerial, administrative, and laboratory activities. The course is supported by the NASA Planetary Protection Office and the NASA Astrobiology Institute. This course is designed for managers, engineers, designers, lab technicians and others interested in learning about the theory behind and application of planetary protection principles. Participants learn how the work of personnel with diverse skills and responsibilities is coordinated to implement successful planetary protection programs. The course also provides hands-on training in microbial sampling and data management. It is taught by experts in the field with years of practical experience in all aspects of planetary protection. Course: "Planetary Protection: Policies and Practices" Location: Space Life Sciences Laboratory, KSC Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899 Course Dates: December 7-9, 2010 Registration Deadline: Nov. 19, 2010 Limited to 20 students For more information about this course, or to register for an upcoming course, contact: Amy Bake, tasalb@msn.com 3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3 ANNOUNCING ICARUS SPECIAL ISSUE, "ADVANCES IN VENUS SCIENCE" The Elsevier Editorial System URL for submitting papers to the Icarus Special Issue, "Advances in Venus science" is now open. Papers emanating from the ESA workshop in Venus in Aussois, France held during 20-26 June 2010 and the VEXAG Workshop on Venus Atmosphere in Madison during 30 August - 2 September 2010 are welcome, along with any other paper presenting new Venus science results". Nominal submission deadline is 31 October 2010. Guest Editors for this issue are P. Drossart, S. Smrekar and S.S. Limaye. The URL for submission is: http://ees.elsevier.com/icarus/default.asp Please choose "Advances in Venus Science" as the article type for your paper to be considered for publication in the special issue. 4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4 MOUNT HOLYOKE COLLEGE POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP The Five College Astronomy Department (FCAD) at Smith, Amherst, Hampshire, and Mount Holyoke Colleges and the University of Massachusetts is offering a 3-year postdoctoral fellowship beginning in Fall 2011 to a recent Ph.D. recipient in astronomy or planetary science. The fellowship, which will be hosted by Mount Holyoke College, combines research and education in a unique and stimulating academic environment. For the research component, the Fellow will be expected to conduct a strong program that is synergistic with existing research programs in the FCAD and that also has a potential for undergraduate contributions. Applicants with experience in planetary science will be given special consideration. The educational component will consist of reinventing the sophomore-level planetary science course to reflect current practice (especially remote sensing and image analysis), and helping to teach the course each year. Applications should include: (1) a curriculum vitae; (2) a statement of research goals and a proposal for a research project that would be conducted in collaboration or close contact with an astronomer from the FCAD; and (3) a statement of educational goals, including an indication of what you would offer to the new course. Applicants should also be prepared to submit three letters of recommendation. Submit applications at: http://jobsearch.mtholyoke.edu Review of applications will begin December 15, 2010 and continue until the position is filled. Questions: Darby Dyar at mdyar@mtholyoke.edu (Editor note: Shortened for length.) 5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5 PLANETARY MEETING CALENDAR ADDITIONS Posted at http://planetarynews.org/meetings.html May 4-6, 2011 Solar System Science Before and After Gaia http://www.oca.eu/workshop/Pise/ Pisa, Italy August 8-11, 2011 AOGS2011 - Asia Oceania Geosciences Society http://www.asiaoceania.org/aogs2011/public.asp?page=home.htm Taipei, Taiwan [Editor Note: If there is a planetary-related meeting, conference or workshop of which your colleagues should be aware, please send the date, title, URL and location to pen_editor at psi.edu.] *********************************************************************** * The Planetary Exploration Newsletter is issued approximately weekly. * Current and back issues are available at http://planetarynews.org * * To subscribe, go to http://planetarynews.org/pen_subscribe.html * * To unsubscribe, go to http://planetarynews.org/pen_unsubscribe.html * * Please send all replies and submissions to pen_editor at psi.edu. * Announcements and other messages should be brief with links to URLs * for extended information, including detailed descriptions for job * announcements. Title plus text is limited to 200 words. Go to * http://planetarynews.org/submission.html for complete submission * directions. * * PEN is a service provided by the Planetary Science Institute * (http://www.psi.edu). ***********************************************************************