General Announcements Archives

Fourth International Conference on Mars Polar Science and Exploration

“The response to the call for abstracts for the conference has been excellent. However, due to the combination of the large number of submitted abstracts, an unexpectedly high percentage of requested orals, and our desire to preserve significant amount of time for discussion and debate, it was necessary to limit the number of oral presentations to about one-half of those requested. Selections were made to minimize duplication and maximize the diversity of views presented at the meeting. The resulting program (consisting of a mix of invited and contributed talks, panel discussions, poster presentations, several special sessions, a field trip, and a variety of social events) represents our best effort to balance the time available for discussion with the opportunities for individual participation.
In light of the above, we are placing a much greater emphasis on the poster sessions scheduled for Monday and Tuesday nights, combining them with evening socials that should greatly enhance the opportunities for interaction among the conference participants. In addition, all posters will remain on display throughout the duration of the meeting (additional details regarding poster preparation and these sessions are described later in this announcement).
If you are planning to attend the meeting, we ask that you register and reserve your room as soon as possible. Conference attendance and hotel rooms are limited and will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration will also ensure that you will receive any reminders and late-breaking announcements related to the meeting via e-mail.”
Additional information about the meeting can be found at the Conference website: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/polar2006/

Fourth International Conference on Mars Polar Science and Exploration

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
The 2nd announcement for the Fourth International Conference on Mars Polar Science and Exploration has no been posted on the conference website.
This five-day meeting will be held from October 2-6, 2006, at the Davos Congress Center in Davos, Switzerland.
Any scientist with relevant theoretical, experimental, or polar field experience is strongly encouraged to participate and to submit an abstract. The abstract deadline is Tuesday June 27, 2006, 5:00 p.m. U.S. Central Daylight Time.
Abstracts may address any relevant aspect of terrestrial or martian polar research, including, but not limited to the following topics:

* Polar Geology, Glaciology, and Hydrology
* Compositional, Thermophysical, and Spectral Properties
* Climate and Meteorology
* Biology (including life in endolithic, subglacial, and hypersaline environments)
* Geophysical and Remote Sensing Investigations
* Instrument Design and Exploration Strategies

Abstracts are especially invited for the following four special sessions:

* The 2007 Phoenix Mars Lander Mission and the Nature of the Near-Polar Environment
* MARSIS and SHARAD Radar Investigations of the Polar Layered Deposits
* Latest Results from Mars Express and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
* Mars Polar Exploration and Climate Mission Concepts

Abstracts may be submitted for oral, poster, or print-only presentations.
The abstracts and preliminary program will also be available in electronic format and accessible via the conference Web page by Friday, August 11, 2006. These files will be in PDF format. Author notification letters will not be mailed, so authors will need to check the online program to find out where their abstract has been scheduled. Note that, because of the time constraint and the anticipated number of conference participants, it may not be possible to schedule all abstracts submitted for oral presentation. In that event, the program committee may request that an abstract be presented as a poster.
All abstracts, whether invited or contributed, must be submitted electronically to the Lunar and Planetary Institute via the electronic submission form by 5:00 p.m., CDT (local time in Houston) Tuesday, June 27, 2006. Abstracts will be limited to two pages, including graphics, tables, and references. Templates and detailed instructions for formatting and submitting your abstract are provided.
Additional information about the meeting can be found at the Conference website: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/polar2006/

The Second Mars Atmosphere Modelling and Observations Conference has been scheduled

Time to prepare once again for a trip to Spain. This year's web page can be found at http://www-mars.lmd.jussieu.fr/granada2006/. The web page from first conference in 2003 is also available at http://www-mars.lmd.jussieu.fr/granada2003/. For a better idea of what the workshop is all about, you can see the abstracts from 2003; http://www-mars.lmd.jussieu.fr/granada2003/abstract/abstract.html.

Openings for full-time, permanent research scientists in Geology, Geophysics, and/or Physical Science

The Astrogeology Team of the U.S. Geological Survey in Flagstaff, Arizona has openings for full-time, permanent research scientists in Geology, Geophysics, and/or Physical Science at the GS-13 to GS-15 grade levels approximately equivalent to Assistant to Full Professor). The salary range is $72,035 to $130,173.

Mars Polar Session at AGU in San Francisco

P12: Views of an Icy Mars Through the Eyes of MRO

Conveners: Shane Byrne ([email protected]), Kathryn E. Fishbaugh
([email protected]) and Timothy N. Titus ([email protected])

Description: The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) has been conducting primary science phase operations since November 2006. As with other recent Mars orbiters, the high-inclination orbit of MRO ensures that the
icy polar deposits and high-latitude terrains are disproportionately well-sampled. MRO has obtained unprecedented views of the surface and subsurface of both the northern and southern polar layered deposits and of the residual ice caps. Interpretation of new compositional, morphologic and subsurface radar-reflectivity data of these deposits are revealing details of the effects of current, active polar processes and are providing a more complete understanding of the historical record within these deposits. MRO observations of the south polar seasonal ice cap also show a host of defrosting phenomena with no known terrestrial analogue. In addition, the lead up to the MRO mission saw a growing appreciation of geomorphologic indicators of past and present near-surface ice at non-polar latitudes. MRO observations have revealed a host of remnant-glacial and periglacial landforms in these regions, attesting to the present and historical importance of ice-related processes in shaping the Martian landscape. The role of ice on Mars as both a record of and an influence on climate and as a major player in shaping geomorphology is becoming increasingly better understood. These exciting new data address many outstanding problems while raising intriguing new questions. We solicit presentations that utilize MRO data (both through modeling and observations) to further understand current polar and non-polar ice deposits, the geomorphologic imprint of past icy deposits on Mars, the relationship between these deposits and climate evolution and terrestrial analog studies relevant to these MRO discoveries.

Radar Sounding Investigations of Planetary Ice Session at AGU

P23: Radar Sounding Investigations of Planetary Ice

Conveners: John W. Holt ([email protected]), Jeffrey J. Plaut ([email protected]), Hugh F.J. Corr ([email protected]), and Duncan A. Young ([email protected])

Description: Icy deposits on planets hold clues to past climate, hold large fractions of the water budgets and may harbor life in subsurface environments. Radar sounding studies have provided much of our knowledge about Earth's internal layering, past flow, and the character of sub-ice interfaces, including the presence of water. Radar sounding techniques are becoming standard tools for the exploration of other icy deposits in our solar system. Two radar sounders are currently orbiting Mars -- MARSIS on Mars
Express and, most recently, SHARAD on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. While MARSIS provided our first look into the interior of the polar layered deposits, SHARAD is starting to provide high-resolution views of stratigraphy within the layered deposits. Plans are also being formulated to send radar sounders to the icy moons of the outer planets.
A major goal of this session is to bring together the various cryosphere and radar communities in order to share new findings, techniques, and objectives so that synergisms may be identified. The conveners therefore solicit presentations that describe existing or planned radar sounding investigations of icy deposits on any planetary body, relevant laboratory or theoretical studies, and data analysis techniques.

Shoemaker Fellowship

The U.S. Geological Survey Astrogeology Team in Flagstaff, Arizona, has a two-year full-time research position (GS-12) now being posted online. Sponsored by the NASA Planetary Geology and Geophysics (PGG) Program, this position was created in honor of Gene Shoemaker and it is generally known
as the NASA 'Shoemaker Fellow' at USGS. The selected Fellow will work at the Astrogeology Program offices in Flagstaff on a variety of possible research projects in planetary science. The position is funded for two
years by NASA PGG and is managed and supervised by the Astrogeology Team. The position will be open from 9/19/07 to 10/21/07.

The mission of the Astrogeology Team is to establish and maintain geoscientific and technical expertise in planetary science and remote sensing to perform three major tasks:
- Scientifically study and map extraterrestrial bodies,
- Plan and conduct planetary exploration missions, and
- Research and develop new technologies in data processing and analysis, archiving, and distribution.
Funding for research in the Astrogeology Team is 'soft money' and is obtained from NASA and other federal agencies through proposals and competitive selection. Astrogeology scientists are involved in many of the major space science missions currently being conducted by NASA, and opportunities exist within the Team to contribute to this work. Please see our Web site (http://astrogeology.usgs.gov/) for more information on the
scope and breadth of our research program. Also see
http://astrogeology.usgs.gov/About/Careers/ to learn more about the Astrogeology Team and living and working in Flagstaff, AZ.

The position is at the GS-12 grade level (comparable to a post-doctoral researcher in academia). The successful candidate is expected to apply a broad background in geology, geophysics, planetary science, physics,
mathematics, and numerical techniques to conduct a wide range of planetary science research using data on planets and their moons acquired by telescopes, aircraft, Earth-orbiting spacecraft, planetary spacecraft,
laboratories and/or in the field. Research areas of interest on the planets and their moons include (but are not limited to): (1) geologic
surface processes and their history; (2) origin and evolution of planetary
interiors; (3) development of remote sensing and data analysis techniques;
(4) scientific and operations support of human and robotic spaceflight
missions; and (5) design and operation of new science instruments or
missions for planetary exploration.

To learn more or to apply go to the USGS Online Automated Recruitment
System (OARS) site or USAJOBS:
http://www.usgs.gov/ohr/oars and/or http://www.usajobs.opm.gov
and view Vacancy Announcement Number WR-2007-0590 for a position as
Geologist, Geophysicist or Physical Scientist. Here is the specific Web
link to this announcement:

http://jobsearch.usajobs.opm.gov/getjob.asp?JobID=62657754&AVSDM=2007%2D09%2D19+12%3A37%3A56&Logo=0&jbf522=1301&lid=17277&FedEmp=N&sort=rv&vw=d&ss=0&brd=3876&FedPub=Y&caller=/series_search.asp&SUBMIT1.x=87&SUBMIT1.y=17

Applicants must apply online at the OARS site by the closing date of the
announcement (midnight Eastern Time on 10/21/07).

Contact Betsy Cohen for more information:

Betsy Cohen
Human Resources Specialist
Western Region
U.S. Geological Survey
(916) 278-9385
[email protected]

Positions Available

Positions Available

Interdisciplinary/Other (Planetary Sciences)

Mars Geologist. The Astrogeology Team of the U.S. Geological Survey in Flagstaff, Arizona has an opening for full-time, term research scientist in Geology or Geophysics at the GS-12 to GS-13 grade levels (approximately equivalent to Post-Doctoral Fellow to Assistant Professor). Starting annual salary range is $63,417 to $75,414.

The Astrogeology Team specifically requires additional personnel to support the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) onboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO). The applicant should have prior experience in planning imaging observations of Mars (especially participation in mission operations), radiometric calibration of imaging systems, and geologic interpretation of Mars data, with emphasis on either polar, volcanic, or tectonic processes.

The applicant will also conduct an independent research program in planetary science via externally funded grants. These broader research activities should include areas such as: geologic surface processes and evolutionary history of the planets and satellites; evolution of water and other volatiles on solar System bodies; development of models and remote-sensing techniques to study composition, weathering, and structures of surfaces on planets and satellites; analysis of a variety of imaging data for studies of morphology and physical properties of extraterrestrial geologic surfaces; computerized image analysis of geologic and atmospheric imaging data; scientific and mission planning support for robotic space missions; design of flyby, orbital, and landed planetary exploration missions; investigation of terrestrial analogs for planetary geologic processes; and design of science instruments and science investigations for planetary exploration.

In addition to meeting basic qualification requirements, the selectee is expected to be responsible for leading and managing their research projects, from initiation to delivery of final products. They will conduct their research with a large degree of independence within a team environment.

Non-U.S. nationals will only be considered if there are no qualified U.S. citizens.

To learn more or to apply go to:
http://www.usgs.gov/ohr/oars and http://www.usajobs.opm.gov and
view Vacancy Announcement Numbers WR-2007-0569,and WR-2007-0571. Applicants must apply online at the OARS site by
the closing date of the announcement (midnight eastern time on
10/15/07).

Contact Audrey Tsujita for more information:

USGS Human Resources
3020 State University Dr East, Modoc Hall, Suite 2001
Sacramento CA 95819
Phone: 916-278-9395
Fax: 916-278-9401
[email protected]