PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 10, Number 23 (May 29, 2016) PEN Website: http://planetarynews.org Editor: Mark V. Sykes Co-Editors: Karen Stockstill-Cahill, Susan Benecchi Email: pen_editor at psi.edu o-------------------------TABLE OF CONTENTS---------------------------o 1. [NASA] Approval to Exceed Per Diem Lodging for DPS 48/EPSC 11 2. Early Career Participant Support Available for NASA Outer Planets Assessment Group Meeting 3. 8th International Workshop on Planetary, Solar and Heliospheric Radio Emissions (PRE VIII) 4. Research Scientist in Planetary Radar (427-1100) 5. Lunar and Small Bodies Graduate Conference 2016 6. Research Scientist Positions at Earth Life Science Institute (ELSI) 7. GSA Session T168: Past and Present Biosignature Recognition on Earth, Mars, and Beyond 8. Call for Participation - SOCET SET Training Opportunity 9. [NASA] Planetary Protection Research Program Element Temporarily TBD 10. Notice of Intent to Initiate Environmental Review for Arecibo Observatory 11. Student and Early Career Travel Grants for VEXAG Meeting #14 in Washington, DC 12. 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] APPROVAL TO EXCEED PER DIEM LODGING FOR DPS 48/EPSC 11 The three hotels for which the AAS/DPS has reserved room blocks for the DPS48/EPSC11 conference on October 16-21, 2016, exceed the GSA lodging limit of $150 (plus tax). After reviewing the situation, I hereby affirm that for DPS48/EPSC11, travelers whose NASA SMD grants, cooperative agreements and contracts are subject to the Federal Travel Regulations may be reimbursed up to $199 plus tax per night. People with NASA contracts should confirm with their contracting officer. This waiver does not supercede the travel policy of an institution that is more restrictive. Max Bernstein sara@nasa.gov http://science.nasa.gov/researchers/sara/ 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 EARLY CAREER PARTICIPANT SUPPORT AVAILABLE FOR NASA OUTER PLANETS ASSESSMENT GROUP MEETING NASA's Outer Planets Assessment Group will provide travel grants for a limited number of interested Early Career participants to attend the OPAG meeting August 11-12 in Flagstaff, AZ. These individuals may also attend the Roadmap for Ocean Worlds meeting on August 10. OPAG plays a key role in sculpting the planetary science community's input into NASA activities for outer planets science and exploration. Thus, it is critical for Early Career scientists to attend these meetings both to learn how NASA and Planetary Science programs operate and to represent the community that will work on OPAG-relevant projects in the coming decade. Interested graduate students, postdocs, and other Early Career scientists (within 5 years of PhD/MS/BS) should submit a one page letter of interest and a CV to britneys@eas.gatech.edu by June 15, 2016. Recipients will be notified by June 27. For more information, email Britney Schmidt at the address above. 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 8TH INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON PLANETARY, SOLAR AND HELIOSPHERIC RADIO EMISSIONS (PRE VIII) Seggauberg, Austria (near Graz, Austria) 2016 October 25-27 http://pre8.oeaw.ac.at Key topics of our workshop are the recent developments in the study of non-thermal radio emissions from the Sun, the five radio planets, the heliosphere, and potential radio emissions from exoplanets. Special emphasis is put on current missions like Cassini and Juno, but also new findings from data of older missions like Stereo, Voyager, Galileo, Wind or Ulysses are welcome. Studies of terrestrial radio emission data from missions like MMS, Themis, Cluster or Demeter will be another important topic. In addition to space-based observations, new developments in ground-based radio telescope will be matters of discussion, that should lead to a better coordination of ground- and space-based observations. Presentations should focus on physical properties of radio emissions like rotational modulation, fine structures in dynamic spectra, polarization as well as source direction, and theoretical modeling and simulation of plasma and magnetic processes leading to their generation. Key question for future missions like Solar Orbiter or JUICE (Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer) can also be addressed. Oral as well as poster presentations are welcome. 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 RESEARCH SCIENTIST IN PLANETARY RADAR (427-1100) The Universities Space Research Association (USRA) is seeking applicants for a Research Scientist position in the Planetary Radar group at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico. The research emphasis of the group is the study and characterization of near-Earth objects and other Solar System bodies. Experience and interest in astronomical observations of Solar System objects, small-bodies geophysics, astronomical instrumentation, and/or numerical inverse modeling are desirable. Experience with radar observations and techniques, programming languages, and Linux systems is preferred, but not required. Applications from members of underrepresented groups are particularly encouraged. Go to: https://usracareers.silkroad.com/ [Edited 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 LUNAR AND SMALL BODIES GRADUATE CONFERENCE 2016 Abstract Submission Deadline: June 3, 2016 Registration is now open for the 7th Annual Lunar and Small Bodies Graduate Conference (LunGradCon 2016) to be held on Tuesday, July 19, 2016 at the NASA Ames Research Center, preceding the NASA Exploration Science Forum (ESF). With the expanded interests of the Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI), the scope of this year's LunGradCon includes both lunar and small bodies science. LunGradCon provides an opportunity for grad students and early-career postdocs to present their research on lunar and small body science in a low-stress, friendly environment, being critiqued only by their peers. In addition to oral presentations, the conference presents opportunities for professional development and networking with fellow grad students and postdocs, as well as senior members of SSERVI. A limited amount of funding will be provided for travel and lodging costs. The deadline for registration and abstract submission is June 3rd 2016, 11:59 PM PDT. For more details, please visit: http://impact.colorado.edu/lungradcon/2016/ or email any questions to: lungradcon@gmail.com 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 RESEARCH SCIENTIST POSITIONS AT EARTH LIFE SCIENCE INSTITUTE (ELSI) Earth Life Science Institute (ELSI) at Tokyo Institute of Technology invites applications for ELSI Research Scientist positions. We are offering up to 5 positions in this recruitment. ELSI aims to answer the fundamental questions of how the Earth was formed, how life originated in the environment of early Earth, and how this life evolved into complexity. ELSI pursues these questions by studying the "origin and evolution of life" and the "origin and evolution of the Earth" through an interdisciplinary collaboration between the fields of Earth, Life, and Planetary Sciences. By understanding the early Earth context we work to establish a greater understanding of the likelihood of life throughout the universe. ELSI seeks talented, highly motivated individuals who pursue original research and actively engage in cross-disciplinary discussions and synergistic research projects. ELSI is a truly integrative institute, with a genuine commitment to bridging diverse disciplines. The appointment will be for 3 years, with a possible extension to 5 based on performance and the direction of ELSI. Candidates must hold a PhD from an accredited institution in a field relevant to ELSI's research at the time of appointment. More info at: http://www.elsi.jp/en/about/recruitment/public-offering-positions /2016/03/20160314.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 GSA SESSION T168: PAST AND PRESENT BIOSIGNATURE RECOGNITION ON EARTH, MARS, AND BEYOND Abstract deadline: July 12 GSA meeting: September 25-28 Denver, Colorado Diagnosing and interpreting biosignatures is dependent on whether the biota is extant or preserved in the rock record. This forum will discuss advances in the search for life focusing specifically on Earth and Mars. Abstract submission: http://www.geosociety.org/meetings/2016/sessions/topical.asp 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 CALL FOR PARTICIPATION - SOCET SET TRAINING OPPORTUNITY The Planetary Photogrammetry Guest Facility at the Astrogeology Science Center of the U.S. Geological Survey would like to announce its Call for Participation for a training opportunity on July 25-27, 2016. This training will cover photogrammetric processing of planetary stereo imagery using USGS Integrated Software for Imagers and Spectrometers and SOCET Set software developed by BAE Systems. The training is FREE to participants, and will cover end-to-end, hands-on photogrammetric procedures for surface extraction (i.e., digital elevation model generation) from Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter HiRISE image pairs. For additional information and application instructions, please see: http://astrogeology.usgs.gov/facilities/photogrammetry-guest-facility For information about a USGS Integrated Software for Imagers and Spectrometers Hands-on Workshop being held July 28-29, 2016 - also hosted by the Astrogeology Science Center, please see: https://isis.astrogeology.usgs.gov/fixit/projects/isis/news Interested individuals can attended both the SOCET Set and the USGS Integrated Software for Imagers and Spectrometers workshops. 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 [NASA] PLANETARY PROTECTION RESEARCH PROGRAM ELEMENT TEMPORARILY TBD Planetary protection involves preventing biological contamination on both outbound and sample return missions to other planetary bodies. Numerous areas of research in astrobiology/exobiology are improving our understanding of the potential for survival of Earth microbes in extraterrestrial environments, relevant to preventing contamination of other bodies by organisms carried on spacecraft. Research is required to improve NASA's understanding of the potential for both forward and backward contamination, how to minimize it, and to set standards in these areas for spacecraft preparation and operating procedures. Improvements in technologies and methods for evaluating the potential for life in returned samples are also of interest. The Planetary Science Division plans to compete the Planetary Protection Research program element in ROSES-2016 (NNH16ZDA001N), but the status has been temporarily changed to TBD. The final NOI and proposal due date for this program element will be released as an amendment to ROSES-2016. Proposals will be due no earlier than 90 days after the release of the amendment. For more information, go to: http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ 10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10 NOTICE OF INTENT TO INITIATE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW FOR ARECIBO OBSERVATORY The National Science Foundation has issued a Notice of Intent (NOI) to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and Initiate Section 106 Consultation for Proposed Changes to Arecibo Observatory Operations, Arecibo, Puerto Rico and Notice of Public Scoping Meetings and Comment Period. As indicated in the NOI, scoping comments may be submitted to the National Science Foundation during the public comment period, which extends through June 23, 2016, via email (envcomp-AST@nsf.gov) or via mail to Ms. Elizabeth Pentecost, National Science Foundation Division of Astronomical Sciences, Suite 1045, 4201 Wilson Blvd, Arlington VA, 22230. Comments may also be provided during the two public scoping meetings scheduled for June 7, 2016 in Puerto Rico, at locations listed in the Federal Register notice linked below. Federal Register: https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR=2016-05-23/pdf/2016-12036.pdf Information will be posted throughout the process at: http:// www.nsf.gov/AST Please note that comments must be submitted via the mechanisms described above in order to be considered. James S. Ulvestad, Division Director, Division of Astronomical Sciences Paul B. Shepson, Division Director, Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences 11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11 STUDENT AND EARLY CAREER TRAVEL GRANTS FOR VEXAG MEETING #14 IN WASHINGTON, DC Student and early career (less than 5 years from PhD) travel support may be available for VEXAG Meeting #14, November 29 - December 1, 2016, NASA Headquarters, Washington DC. Selected students and early career recipients of travel grants will give 5-10 minute presentations. Provide a Notice of Intent by Friday, July 29, 2016 to twthompson@jpl.nasa.gov containing: 1. A one-page description of how your participation in this meeting will benefit you professionally and contribute to NASA's explorations of Venus. 2. An abstract for a 5-10 minute presentation 3. Your resume 4. An endorsement from a faculty member. For logistical reasons, also provide: - Legal Full Name - Date of Birth - City/State of Birth - Preferred Email Address and Phone Numbers - Home Address - Emergency Contact - Name, Relationship, and Phone Number - Your Affiliation with Full Address and Phone Number - Gender If you are a foreign national or permanent resident alien, also provide: - Country of Citizenship - Birth Date and Birth City, State/Region and Country - Passport Number, with Expiration Date - Visa Type, with Effective and Expiration Dates - Alien Registration # (if applicable) 12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12 PLANETARY MEETING CALENDAR ADDITIONS July 28-29, 2016 USGS Integrated Software for Imagers and Spectrometers Hands-On Workshop https://isis.astrogeology.usgs.gov/fixit/projects/isis/news Flagstaff, AZ October 25-27, 2016 8th International Workshop on Planetary, Solar and Heliospheric Radio Emissions (PRE VIII) http://pre8.oeaw.ac.at Seggauberg, Austria [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, 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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