PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 5, Number 55 (December 4, 2011) PEN Website: http://planetarynews.org Editor: Melissa Lane Co-Editors: Susan Benecchi, Mark V. Sykes Email: pen_editor at psi.edu o-------------------------TABLE OF CONTENTS---------------------------o 1. Lynn Margulis, 1938-2011 2. Charles Kowal, 1940-2011 3. Planetary Geomorphology Image of the Month 4. Nordic-NASA Summer School 5. 3rd Planetary Crater Consortium to Meet in Flagstaff, AZ 6. Communicating Science: A National Conference on Education and Public Outreach 7. [NASA] PDS: Mars Exploration Rovers Data Release 30 8. Graduate Student Opportunities at Stony Brook University 9. AbSciCon 2012 Call for Abstracts 10. EGU 2012, Vienna, Call for Abstracts 11. Famelab Astrobiology 12. NSF Review and Arecibo 13. [NASA] Postdoctoral Fellowships 14. Postdoctoral Position - University of Michigan 15. Postdoctoral Fellowship - University of Hong Kong 16. Postdoctoral Positions - IPAG in Grenoble, France 17. 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 LYNN MARGULIS, 1938-2011 Lynn Margulis passed away on November 22, 2011, at her home, in Amherst, Massachussetts, aged 73. She was born in Chicago and enrolled at the University of Chicago when she was 14. Lynn was a renowned biologist and University Professor in the Department of Geosciences at the University of Massachusetts, whose faculty Margulis joined in 1988. Prior to that she taught at the University of Boston for 22 years. She is best known for her theory on the origin of eukaryotic organelles, and her contributions to the endosymbiotic theory. She is also associated with the Gaia hypothesis, based on an idea developed by the English environmental scientist James Lovelock. The author of "Symbiotic Planet: A New Look at Evolution" penned hundreds of research papers and many books during her illustrious career. She taught classes in environmental evolution for nearly 40 years. Lynn, who was once married to astronomer Carl Sagan and then to chemist Thomas Margulis, was elected to the National Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1983 and received the National Medal of Science in 1999. She is survived by her four children and nine grandchildren. For a full obituary see the New York Times News Service at: http://bendbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111125/NEWS0107/ 111250336/1010/NEWS05&nav_category= [Reproduced from the DPS/AAS mailing.] 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 CHARLES KOWAL, 1940-2011 Charles T. Kowall died November 28, 2011, after a long battle with cancer. He was noted for his discovery of the unusual asteroid/comet 2060 Chiron, the first of the Centaurs. He also discovered two moons of Jupiter (Leda and Themisto), a number of asteroids as well as comets. For his discoveries, Kowal was awarded the James Craig Watson Medal from the National Academy of Sciences. Subsequently, while reading through Galileo's notebooks, he found that Galileo had seen the planet Neptune, 135 years before its official discovery. Kowal worked at Space Telescope Science Institute in support of the Hubble Space Telescope, and later worked on the Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) mission at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory. He retired in 2006. An obituary has been published at: http://www.buffalonews.com/deaths/local-obituaries/article658057.ece 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 PLANETARY GEOMORPHOLOGY IMAGE OF THE MONTH The December 'Image of the Month' is now available at the IAG's Planetary Geomorphology web page: http://www.psi.edu/pgwg/images/Dec11Image.html This Month's topic is on "Evaporites on Titan". Images and caption contributed by Jason W. Barnes, Assistant Professor of Physics, University of Idaho. Past images and captions are available at: http://www.psi.edu/pgwg/images/index.html Mary Bourke Coordinator of the IAG Working Group on Planetary Geomorphology 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 NORDIC-NASA SUMMER SCHOOL The Nordic-NASA summer school "Water, Ice and the Origin of Life in the Universe", which will be held in Iceland from 2 to 15 July 2012, aims to give participants a thorough high-level introduction into the role of water in the evolution of life in the cosmos, starting from formation of water molecules in space and ending with evolution of the first organisms. It will bring together students and researchers from a multitude of different subjects, making it a truly multidisciplinary event. The event will be organized by the Nordic Astrobiology Network (http://www.nordicastrobiology.net) together with the NASA Astrobiology Institute. Field studies on the colonization of lava fields and glaciers will complement the lectures. The event is aimed for graduate students and early career scientists (up to 5 years after their first Ph.D.) in fields related to astrobiology. The event is open to applicants from all nationalities. Detailed information about the summer school and the application procedure (deadline 31 January 2012) can be found at: http://www.nordicastrobiology.net/Iceland2012 Applicants accepted by the Scientific Committee as participants will receive free lodging, meals and excursions, but will have to organize financial means for their travel to and from Iceland. 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 3RD PLANETARY CRATER CONSORTIUM TO MEET IN FLAGSTAFF, AZ The 3rd Planetary Crater Consortium meeting will be held Sept. 19-21, 2012 at the US Geological Survey in Flagstaff, AZ. The meeting is open to all planetary scientists interested in any aspect of impact cratering in the solar system, including observational, theoretical, experimental, and numerical modeling studies. The meeting includes time for contributed presentations, invited talks, and discussion. Abstract deadline is August 31, 2012. For more information, go to: http://www.planetarycraterconsortium.nau.edu or contact Nadine Barlow Nadine.Barlow@nau.edu 6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6 COMMUNICATING SCIENCE: A NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON EDUCATION AND PUBLIC OUTREACH The 124th Annual Meeting of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific will host "Communicating Science: A National Conference on Education and Public Outreach" in Tucson, Arizona, on Aug. 4 - 8, 2012. Please put the date in your calendar and travel costs in your budget for 2012. The meeting welcomes education and public-outreach perspectives from astronomy & space science, earth & biological sciences, journalism, film, and social media, with a particular focus on effective communication of science and scientific ideas. There will be professional development sessions, hands-on workshops, special interest group meetings, talks, panels, poster papers, tours, and lots of time for networking with those doing the same kind of work in education and communication as you do. Very reasonable hotel rates have been arranged and the conference venue, the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel, is fully air conditioned. For more information and to sign up for updates, visit: http://www.astrosociety.org/events/meeting.html 7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7 [NASA] PDS: MARS EXPLORATION ROVERS DATA RELEASE 30 The Planetary Data System (PDS) is pleased to announce Release 30 of Mars Exploration Rover data. This release includes primarily data from Sols 2521 through 2610 and includes data only from Opportunity, MER1/B. It includes data from the following instruments: APXS, HAZCAM, NAVCAM, MI, PANCAM, Rock Abrasion Tool, Rover Motion Counter and SPICE. There are no Atmospheric Opacity, Mini-TES, Moessbauer or Radio Science data in this release. To access the above data, please visit the following link: http://pds.nasa.gov/subscription_service/SS-20111128.html The following special services are provided for accessing MER data: 1. MER Analyst's Notebook: http://an.rsl.wustl.edu/mer/ 2. Planetary Image Atlas: http://pds-imaging.jpl.nasa.gov/search/mer/ 8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8 GRADUATE STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES AT STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY The Department of Geosciences at Stony Brook University (Stony Brook, NY) invites applications to its graduate program for Fall 2012, for students wishing to pursue research in planetary science. Research opportunities in planetary geology span several disciplines, including remote sensing, experimental and theoretical geochemistry, experimental petrology, laboratory spectroscopy, and theoretical light scattering studies. Particular emphasis is placed on understanding the magmatic evolution of Mars and the Moon and aqueous alteration of the Martian crust. Facilities and equipment available for pursuing planetary geology studies include a custom-built mid-IR emission spectrometer, a UV-visible-near-IR reflectance spectrometer, a micro-FTIR imaging spectrometer, a micro-Raman imaging spectrometer, a low-temperature experimental geochemistry laboratory, a fully-equipped experimental petrology laboratory capable of simulating conditions from deep within planetary interiors to the surface, a portable thermal imager for field studies, and an image processing facility. Remote sensing studies make use of a variety of instruments orbiting Mars and the Moon, as well as instruments carried on landed missions, notably the Mars Exploration Rovers. For application and program information, visit: http://www.geosciences.stonybrook.edu Applications are due by January 15, 2012. 9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9 ABSCICON 2012 CALL FOR ABSTRACTS Abstract submission is now open for the next Astrobiology Science Conference in Atlanta, GA on April 16-20, 2012. As usual, many of the planned sessions will be of interest to planetary scientists. Abstracts and Student Travel Grant Applications are both due on January 31. Links for submission and registration, venue information, and descriptions of the planned sessions can all be found on the conference website: http://abscicon2012.arc.nasa.gov/ We hope that you will join us in Atlanta! James Wray, for the SOC 10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10 EGU 2012, VIENNA, CALL FOR ABSTRACTS We invite you to submit an abstract to the following session (PS5.1/ST6.2) during the next EGU in Vienna, Austria (22-27 April 2012) entitled "Planetary Plasma Physics, Including Electrodynamics of Induced Magnetospheres". The emphasis of the session is on all aspects of planetary plasma physics, particles, fields and waves, including (1) magnetospheres, ionospheres, auroras, of solar system and extrasolar planets and satellites (2) the solar wind interaction with inner planets, moons, asteroids, dust and comets, and (3) intercomparisons of planetary magnetospheres and ionospheres. Contributions are welcome that address previous (e.g. CHANDRAYAAN-1, KAGUYA), present (e.g. CASSINI, MARS EXPRESS, VENUS EXPRESS, ROSETTA, MESSENGER, CHANG'E 2), forthcoming (e.g. BEPI COLOMBO) and planned (e.g. LAPLACE/JUICE) observations from space and from the ground. Theoretical modelling and simulations are also strongly encouraged, both in themselves and as a basis for intercomparisons and interpretation of results. Deadlines are 17 January 2012 for reception of abstracts, and 15 December 2011 to apply for financial support. Conveners: P. Garnier, H. Opgenoorth, M. Lester 11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11 FAMELAB ASTROBIOLOGY Are You the Next Carl Sagan? Come Find Out at FameLab Astrobiology! Calling all grad students and postdocs doing research related to astrobiology.... FameLab Astrobiology is a science communication extravaganza! Via four preliminaries and one final competition, spanning January thru April 2012, early career astrobiologists will compete to convey their own research or related science concepts. Each contestant has the spotlight for only three minutes using no slides, no charts -- just the power of words and anything you can hold in your hands. A panel of experts in both science and science communication will do the judging. One of the four preliminaries will be held 100% online via YouTube! Beyond the competition, at each preliminary event there will be sciencela Scalice at the NASA Astrobiology Institute with any questions. daniella.m.scalice@nasa.gov 12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12 NSF REVIEW AND ARECIBO The NSF astronomy division is in the process of organizing a "portfolio review" of all NSF Astronomy Division-supported activities with the goal of again reducing expenditures. Go to: http://www.nsf.gov/mps/ast/ast_portfolio_review.jsp That web page solicits community input, and I would encourage each of you to provide your input to the process. While the call for input mentions only the "Astro2010" astronomy decadal survey, the management of Arecibo Observatory has been invited to submit, by January 6, a "vision statement" for the observatory over 5, 10, and 15 year timescales, to be based on the Astronomy *and* Planetary Science Decadal Surveys. In addition, at least two of the panel members have planetary interests, so hopefully the planetary perspective will be consido have from you any material that you believe might help us in formulating that vision statement. Please feel free to share this request with your colleagues. Regards, Michael C. Nolan Arecibo Observatory nolan@naic.edu 13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13 [NASA] POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) offers scientists and engineers unique opportunities to conduct research at NASA Centers. Each NPP fellowship opportunity is designed to advance NASA research in a specific project related to space science, earth science, aeronautics, space operations, exploration systems, lunar science, or astrobiology. Applicants must have a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in hand before beginning the fellowship, but myment program. Stipends for Postdoctoral Fellows start at $50,000 per year, with moderate supplements for high cost-of-living areas and for certain academic specialties. Funds are available for relocation expenses, up to a specified limit, and health insurance is available through the program. Fellows also receive $8,000 per appointment year to support travel to conferences, meetings, to support surface science operations of Mars Science Laboratory rover, assist with analysibe sent to the above email with "UM Job" in the subject line. [Edited for length.] 15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15 POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP - UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG Applications are invited for appointment as Postdoctoral Fellow in Planetary Science in the Department of Earth Sciences of the University of Hong Kong, from as soon as possible for two years, with the possibility of renewal subject to funding availability and satisfactory performance. The appointee will collaborate with Dr. Man Hoi Lee on research related to the origin and dynamical evolution of our Solar System, its satellites, and extrasolar planetary systems. Further details can be obtained at: http://jobregister.aas.org/node/40486 It would be appreciated if the applicant could e-mail Dr. Lee at mhlee@hku.hk to let him know that he or she is applying, in addition to applying online at the university website. 16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16 POSTDOCTORAL POSITIONS - IPAG IN GRENOBLE, FRANCE Two postdoctoral positions are offered at the Institut de Planetologie et d'Astrophysique de Grenoble (IPAG), France, starting in February 2012. The successful applicants will work as members of an ANR funded Chaire d'Excellence project about the dust evolution in molecular cloud cores. The work ranges from data mining, the compilation of scattering and extinction maps, modeling MIR images to the derivation of dust size distributions and grain growth models for collapsing core structures. The applicant should have a PhD in physics or astrophysics. Experience in star formation research, observational data modelling, NIR/MIR/mm observations, continuum and line radiative transfer, and/or cosmic dust physics is an advantage. All applications will be reviewed carefully starting December 1st 2011 and until the position if filled. Applications should be sent in pdf format by e-mail to Jurgen Steinacker (stein@mpia.de). They should comprise a scientific CV, a description of research interest, a list of publications, and up to two reference letters. The contract will run for 2 years. Questions about IPAG can also be related to Francois Menard (menard@obs.ujf-grenoble.fr). [Edited for length.] 17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17 PLANETARY MEETING CALENDAR ADDITIONS Posted at http://planetarynews.org/meetings.html July 2-15, 2012 Nordic-NASA Summer School - Water, Ice and the Origin of Life in the Universe http://www.nordicastrobiology.net/Iceland2012/ Reykjavik, Iceland August 4-8, 2012 Communicating Astronomy: The 124th Annual Meeting of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific http://www.astrosociety.org/events/meeting.html Tucson, AZ August 27-31, 2012 Formation, Detection, and Charactarseille, France September 19-21, 2011 3rd Planetary Crater Consortium Meeting http://www.planetarycraterconsortium.nau.edu Flagstaff, AZ [Editor Note: If there is a planetary-related meeting, conference or workshop of which you think 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, or * send a request to pen_editor at psi.edu * * To unsubscribe, send an email to pen_editor at psi.edu * * 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. 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