PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 7, Number 5 (February 3, 2013) PEN Website: http://planetarynews.org Editor: Susan Benecchi Co-Editors: Mark V. Sykes, Melissa Lane Email: pen_editor at psi.edu o-------------------------TABLE OF CONTENTS---------------------------o 1. Postdoc Opening: University of Bern, Switzerland 2. AGU Chapman Conference on Crossing the Boundaries in Planetary Atmospheres: From Earth to Exoplanets 3. Planetary Geology & Geophysics Undergraduate Research Program (PGGURP) 4. Second Information Circular for MEPAG #27 Web Meeting 5. NASA Postdoctoral Fellowships 6. Planet Mars 4, Les Houches, 20-25 October 2013: First Announcement 7. AOGS 2013 8. 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 POSTDOC OPENING: UNIVERSITY OF BERN, SWITZERLAND The recently created Center for Space and Habitability of the University of Bern in Switzerland is seeking a Post-Doctoral Research Assistant. The position, under the supervision of Nick Thomas, is available immediately for 2 years. The aim of the project is to study the spectroscopic, polarization and reflectance properties of ices containing different abiotic and biotic contaminants using our existing laboratory facilities (PHIRE-2). Further details are available at: http://space.unibe.ch/staff/thomas/positions.htm Electronic applications should be submitted to Tina Rothenbuhler (tina.rothenbuehler@space.unibe.ch) by Feb. 21st. 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 AGU CHAPMAN CONFERENCE ON CROSSING THE BOUNDARIES IN PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES: FROM EARTH TO EXOPLANETS Second Notice: Abstracts are now being accepted, through Feb. 25, for the AGU Chapman Conference on Crossing the Boundaries in Planetary Atmospheres: From Earth to Exoplanets, 24-28 June 2013 in Annapolis, MD We welcome submissions of posters or contributed talks (slots limited) that address the current state of knowledge of terrestrial and planetary climate systems, including their atmospheric chemistry, composition, and dynamics, plus atmospheric modeling, observational techniques, and data analysis methods. Preference will be given to those with an emphasis on cross-disciplinary science and techniques that can be applied to objects as diverse as the Earth, planets in our solar system, and exoplanets. You do not need to be an AGU member to post an abstract. The preliminary program will be posted shortly, and we expect registration to open soon. To receive all future notices, you may also join the conference mailing list from our webpage, General Information link: http://chapman.agu.org/planetaryatmospheres/ Co-conveners: Amy Simon-Miller and Anthony Del Genio 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 GEOLOGY & GEOPHYSICS UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH PROGRAM (PGGURP) The Planetary Geology and Geophysics Undergraduate Research Program (PGGURP) pairs PGG-funded PIs with qualified undergraduates for 8 weeks during the summer. PGGURP covers the cost of intern travel to and from your institution; room and board; and up to $1000 to help an intern present the results of their research at a national conference. PGGURP mentors are responsible for helping the intern find local housing. Interns are required to submit a 2-page LPSC-style abstract to me at the end of the summer; you are expected to at least proof-read this abstract prior to its submission. To request a PGGURP intern, please email Tracy Gregg (tgregg@buffalo.edu) with the following information by Friday, February 8 (same contact for questions). 1) A brief description of the project you have in mind 2) A list of the essential skills your intern must have to work on this project (e.g., petrology, GIS, a year of calculus, computer programming in a specific language). 3) A list of the desired skills your intern should have to work on this project (skills that you'd like the intern to have, but aren't required). Website: http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~tgregg/pggurp_homepage.html 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 SECOND INFORMATION CIRCULAR FOR MEPAG #27 WEB MEETING I cordially invite you to participate in the 27th meeting of the Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group (MEPAG), scheduled as an electronic meeting for February 27, 2013. Delays in the federal budget process prompted us to cancel the two-day physical meeting previously scheduled February 26-27 for the Washington, DC area and to replace it with this half-day electronic meeting. The new meeting time is 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. EST (8:00 a.m. to noon PST) on February 27, 2013. Further details will be sent out in the next announcement. A major development regarding future Mars missions since the last MEPAG meeting was the announcement by NASA Associate Administrator Dr. John Grunsfeld of a Mars Rover to be launched in 2020. MEPAG has invited NASA HQ to discuss in greater depth the status of the Mars Exploration Program, near term steps and what it means for the Mars community. The meeting is open to all members of the Mars science community including our international colleagues. Thanks for your understanding regarding this meeting change. I look forward to your participation. Sincerely, Dr. David Des Marais MEPAG Chair 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 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, exploration systems, lunar science, astrobiology, or astrophysics. Applicants must have a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in hand before beginning the fellowship, but may apply while completing the degree requirements. U. S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents, and foreign nationals eligible for J-1 status as a Research Scholar may apply. Stipends start at $53,500 per year, with supplements for high cost- of-living areas and for certain academic specialties. Financial assistance is available for relocation and health insurance, and $8,000 per year is provided for professional travel. Applications are accepted three times each year: March 1, July 1, and November 1. For further information and to apply, visit: http://nasa.orau.org/postdoc/description/index.htm Questions may be submitted by e-mail to nasapostdoc@orau.org 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 PLANET MARS 4, LES HOUCHES, 20-25 OCTOBER 2013: FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT On behalf of the organising committee, it is my pleasure to send out the attached announcement and welcome you all in joining us at the 4th workshop "Planet Mars", to be held in les Houches (France), on 20-25 October 2013. The goals of the workshop are to integrate the main results of both the recent Earth-based observations and the missions to Mars into a new global picture of Mars evolution. With the same spirit of the previous workshops, discussions among scientists of different disciplines will be encouraged and it is foreseen that they will help refine the scientific goals of the future missions to Mars. More at: http://www.sciops.esa.int/mars4 Deadline for registration: 31 May 2013 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 AOGS 2013 Brisbane, Australia 24-28 June 2013 http://www.asiaoceania.org/aogs2013/public.asp?page=home.htm Session PS06: Studies of Small Solar System Bodies and Insight into Planetary System Formation Abstract due: 8 February, 2013 Submit your abstract to http://www.asiaoceania.org/aogs2013/public.asp?page=abstract.htm Session Rationale: Small solar system bodies, such as asteroids, comets, trans-Neptunian objects, meteors, and interplanetary dust particles, are remnants of proto-solar nebula from which major objects in solar system were formed. Scientific interests for these primitive bodies include, but not limited to, physical characterization, understanding of the origin and early evolution of our solar system, and formation processes and configuration of other planetary systems. Recently, synergies of theoretical and modelling studies, laboratory experiments/analysis, ground and space-based observational studies, and in-situ measurements are making significant progress in research on small bodies and planet forming regions. This session reviews latest results on research of small bodies in the solar system and beyond, and discuss future development of this research field. Session Conveners: Daisuke Kinoshita, Henry Hsieh, Takashi Ito, Miriam Rengel, Ludmilla Kolokolova, Junichi Watanabe, Daniel Boice, Masateru Ishiguro, Alain Doressoundiram, A.-Chantal Levasseur-Regourd 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 PLANETARY MEETING CALENDAR ADDITIONS Posted at http://planetarynews.org/meetings.html April 23-25, 2013 SPICE Domestic Training Class for 2013 http://naif.jpl.nasa.gov/naif/announcement_SPICE-2013 Monrovia, CA June 11-14, 2013 Isotopes as Diagnostic Tools in Astronomy, Geology and Biology http://www.nordicastrobiology.net/Isotopes2013/ Hoor, Sweden July 1-4, 2013 International Symposium on Planetary Sciences (IAPS2013) http://202.127.29.4/meetings/iaps2013/ Shanghai, China August 16-25, 2013 Summer Course: "Impacts and their Role in the Evolution of Life" http://www.nordicastrobiology.net/Impacts2013/ Kuressaare, Estonia October 20-25, 2013 Planet Mars 4 http://www.sciops.esa.int/mars4 Les Houches, France [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.php, 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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