1. Input to ExEP Science Gap List (Input Requested by September 30, 2024)
The NASA Exoplanet Exploration Program (ExEP) is seeking community input on the ExEP Science Gap List (SGL) through September 30, 2024, with the goal of providing an updated version in early 2025:
The current 2023 version of the SGL is posted on the ExEP Program Science page (https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/exep/science-overview/) at: https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/internal_resources/2749/ExEP_Science_Gap_List_2023_Final.pdf)
The Science Gap List (SGL) tabulates program “science gaps”, which are defined as the difference between knowledge needed to define requirements for specified future NASA exoplanet missions and the current state of the art, or knowledge which is needed to enhance the science return of current and future NASA exoplanet missions. Making the gap list public signals to the broader community where focused science investigations are needed over the next 3-5 years in support of ExEP goals. The ExEP Science Gap List represents activities and investigations that will advance the goals of NASA’s Exoplanet Exploration Program and provides brief summaries in a convenient tabular format. The ExEP Science Gap list is meant to assist proposers in describing the relevance of their work to Program goals as they respond to SMD ROSES and mission observing proposal solicitations. All ExEP approaches, activities, and decisions are guided by science priorities, and those priorities are presented and summarized in the ExEP Science Gap List.
Please contact ExEP scientists Karl Stapelfeldt (Karl.R.Stapelfeldt@jpl.nasa.gov) & Eric Mamajek (Eric.Mamajek@jpl.nasa.gov) with any input for revisions to the SGL. Please put "ExEP Science Gap List Input" in the subject line.
The ExEP Exoplanet Program Science documents are available at: https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/exep/science-overview/
2. ExoExplorer Science Series: Michaela Leung (UC Riverside) & Galen Bergsten (U Arizona) (May 17, 2024, 2pm EDT/11am PDT)
“The ExoExplorer Science Seminar Series presents talks by cohort members Michaela Leung (UC Riverside) & Galen Bergsten (U Arizona) on Friday May 17, 2024, from 11 AM - 12 PM Pacific / 2 PM - 3 PM Eastern.
Please note that we are no longer using WebEx- see below and the attached calendar invite for the new connection details.
The talk and call-in info are below.
For more information about the ExoExplorers program, please visit our website here: https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/exep/exopag/exoexplorers/exoexplorers-welcome/
And future talks are posted here: https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/exep/exopag/exoexplorers/exoexplorers-events/
Please share this talk announcement at your local institution!
Marie Ygouf, on behalf of the ExoExplorer Organizing Committee"
3. REMINDER: ExEP Technology Colloquium Series Talk: The Coronagraph Design Survey (May 20, 2024, 1pm EDT/10am PDT)
In January 2023, the Exoplanet Exploration Program (ExEP) kicked off the Coronagraph Design Survey, chartered to collect and document a broad range of coronagraph designs that may be applicable for NASA’s Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO). The working group that conducted the Survey, led by Rus Belikov (ARC) and Chris Stark (GSFC), cast a very wide net capturing known and never-heard-of-before novel coronagraph designs. They have completed their 17-month study and will be delivering a final report to the HWO Technical Assessment Group (TAG). Come hear their public briefing of what they learned, and how the results of their survey help point the way to future direct imaging of Earth-like planets.
Webex link: https://jpl.webex.com/jpl/j.php?MTID=m2b7e1eec21dba70cc3eb22f67957f6c5
About the ExEP Technology Colloquium series: The intention of these web seminars is to provide a forum for sharing key technology advances and results that enable or enhance the direct imaging and characterization of exoplanets. Topics may include recent coronagraph and starshade demonstration results, advances in detector technology, deformable mirrors, LOWFS/C, telescope stability, polarization, RV, starshade tutorials, etc. Our target audience is the engineers and scientists working on technology for Habitable Worlds Observatory, but all are welcome to attend. The presentation slides will be publicly archived so that they can be viewed at later dates.
https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/exep/technology/tech_colloquium/
Upcoming talks:
- Deformable Mirror Technology Roadmap Study
June 7, 2024 9:30 am PDT
Speakers: Duncan Liu (NASA/JPL), Tyler Groff (NASA/GSFC)
- Coronagraphy Technology Roadmap Study
June 11, 2024 10:00 am PDT
Speakers: Pin Chen (NASA/JPL), Lauent Pueyo (STScI)
4. Town Hall for Planetary Science Research Programs (May 21, 2024)
On May 21, 2024, at 1 PM Eastern, NASA’s Planetary Science Division (PSD) will host a webinar to discuss the Planetary Research Program, including upcoming changes, some data on programs to date, and plans to reduce the barrier to proposing for the planetary research community.
A large focus of this Town Hall will be to discuss requirements for proposals submitted under the Dual Anonymous Peer Review (DAPR) process, which will be the default for all proposals submitted to the Science Mission Directorate (SMD) under ROSES-2025 (with rare exceptions). In DAPR, not only are proposers unaware of the identity of reviewers, but the reviewers do not have explicit knowledge of the proposing teams and institutions during the scientific evaluation of the proposal. This portion of the Town Hall will discuss the motivation for DAPR and how SMD has used it to date, the process of DAPR reviews, and tips on how to be compliant with DAPR submissions.
Additionally, we will discuss some analytics for our Planetary Research programs and potential future ways of soliciting proposals for Planetary Research, with the goal of increasing accessibility and decreasing unnecessary barriers for proposing to Planetary Research programs.
In advance of the webinar, questions may be submitted and upvoted on at: https://nasa.cnf.io/sessions/z18d/#!/dashboard
For more information on dual-anonymous peer review, please visit: https://science.nasa.gov/researchers/dual-anonymous-peer-review
Join from the webinar link: https://nasaenterprise.webex.com/nasaenterprise/j.php?MTID=mce9d8fbdedb539f7f8039b05b08e1e1e
Webinar number: 2821 584 9322
General Webinar password: 3VzCbJ69Rj@ (38922569 from phones and video systems)
Join by phone
+1-929-251-9612 United States Toll (New York City)
+1-415-527-5035 United States Toll
Access code: 282 158 49322
Delia Santiago-Materese
Deputy Director of Planetary Research (acting)
delia.santiago-materese@nasa.gov
5. Job Opportunity: Senior Scientist for Mars Exploration, Planetary Science Division (NASA HQ)
Applications are now being accepted for this position. The Senior Scientist for Mars Exploration will serve as a senior science advisor to the Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate (SMD) and other SMD leadership—on all matters concerning scientific content and strategy for Mars exploration, including the Mars Exploration Program and Mars Sample Return Program. They will also lead Agency science planning and coordination, in collaboration with international partners, in preparation for delivery of Mars samples, and serve as the principal SMD Mars science representative to the scientific community, NASA top management, Office of Management and Budget, Congress, and other agencies and organizations. For full details: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/790851400#hiring-paths
6. Born in Fire: Eruptive Stars and Planet Formation Workshop (September 24-27, 2024; Santiago, Chile)
"Dear Colleagues,
We're delighted to extend an invitation to the "Born in Fire: Eruptive Stars and Planet Formation Workshop," which will be held in Santiago, Chile, from September 24th to 27th, 2024. As we finalize logistics details, we're eager to give you some early information so that you can help in your planning.
Our website has been recently updated with confirmed invited speakers, venue details, and revised dates. Explore more at: https://fireborn2024.github.io/
This workshop fosters collaborative discussions on eruptive stars, planet formation, and computational modeling. We aim to cultivate an engaging environment for exploring a variety of topics, including Episodic Accretion, FUor/EXor phenomena, Planet Formation, Models of Episodic Accretion, Effects of Episodic Accretion on the Chemistry of Disks and Circumstellar Environments, Theoretical Modeling, and AI-assisted analysis prospects. The program will include a blend of talks, poster sessions, and discussion groups to facilitate interaction. We especially encourage PhD students, postdocs, and early-career researchers to participate. Moreover, limited travel support is available for those needing financial assistance to attend.
Registration is now open, and we invite you to submit your abstracts for contributions. We aim to notify acceptance of contributed talks by June 1st, 2024.
Additionally, we're organizing a special social event at the National Planetarium, featuring a cocktail reception and a captivating entire dome session. The Planetario USACH stands out as one of the few planetariums worldwide to integrate digital projection with an operational original Carl Zeiss camera.
Warm regards,
The Organizing Team"
