SolarNews
The Electronic Newsletter of the
Solar Physics Division
American Astronomical Society
Volume 2007 Number 7 Neal Hurlburt, editor 3 Apr 2007 Chair's Chat
2007 SPD Certificate of Appreciation
James Klimchuk
29 Mar 2007
It is with great pleasure that I announce that Bill Wagner is the recipient of the first SPD Certificate of Appreciation. These certificates were established to acknowledge exceptional contributions in a managerial or other non-technical role that significantly advance the discipline of solar physics. Bill is of course highly deserving for all that he has done through the years as head of solar and heliospheric physics at NASA Headquarters. The formal presentation of the certificate will take place during the SPD business meeting in Honolulu. Let’s all take the opportunity to congratulate and thank Bill at his last SPD meeting before retirement.
Bylaws Amendments
James Klimchuk
29 Mar 2007
The proposed bylaws amendments dealing with electronic voting, the name of the Prize Committee, and the spelling of “bylaws” all passed by a nearly unanimous vote. None of the options for the amendment dealing with the number of candidates for Secretary and Treasurer received the necessary two-thirds majority. The SPD Committee is therefore now proposing a single option, which will be discussed at the business meeting in Honolulu and subsequently submitted to the full membership for a simple up or down vote. To refresh your memory, the bylaws currently require at least two candidates for each vacant position of officer or committee member. It has at times proven difficult for the Nominating Committee to find a candidate for Secretary or Treasurer who is willing to run against an incumbent. The bylaws currently state: “….the Nominating Committee shall submit to the Secretary nominations of at least two candidates for each vacancy.” The proposed amendment would remove “at least two” and add “Every effort shall be made to find more than one candidate. However, if an incumbent Secretary or Treasurer is willing to serve another term, the Nominating Committee may, with the consent of the SPD Committee, nominate only the incumbent for approval by the members of the Division.”
Proceedings of the THEMIS meeting Stephane Regnier
3 Apr 2007
Held at the Meudon Observatory near Paris, the THEMIS user meeting aimed to highlight the new results obtained by the French-Italian-Spanish ground-based telescope in Tenerife (Spain). The meeting attended by more than 70 scientists focused on high accuracy spectropolarimetric measurements and on magnetic field measurements at different heights in the solar atmosphere. We are pleased to announce the release of the proceedings in the "Memorie della Societa Astronomica Italiana" journal (Vol. 78, #1, 2007): http://sait.oat.ts.astro.it/MSAIt780107/index.html

On behalf of the meeting organisers
SPD bylaw election results Neal Hurlburt
30 Mar 2007
The results of the recent SPD bylaw amendments election have been tallied. All passed nearly unanimously. However amendment #3, regarding the election of secretary and treasurer, did not produce a clear preference among the options provided. The SPD council is revisiting the language and will present a single proposal in a future election (which can now be held electronically).
SPD Elections Neal Hurlburt
30 Mar 2007
The polls are open for this year's election of SPD treasurer and council members. Candidate statements are in this issue and on the election website, http://www.lmsal.com/spd-election. Please cast your ballot before April 27 using the instructions on the election site. As in previous elections, you will need your AAS member ID. Only AAS members (junior, full, emeritus or associate) can vote.
SPD Council Candidate Statement, Ilia Roussev Ilia Roussev
29 Mar 2007
Ilia I. Roussev,
Institute for Astronomy
Honolulu, HI 96822

Background:
I presently hold the position of Assistant Astronomer at the Institute for Astronomy (IfA) in Honolulu, Hawaii. l obtained my Ph.D. degree in solar physics from the Queen's University at Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, in the Fall of 2001. Over the past ten years, I have been exposed to the research environment and gained valuable experience in a number of research Institutions: (1997–1998) Max-Planck Institute for Radioastronomy (MPIfR), Bonn, Germany (as DAAD scholar); (1999–2001) Armagh Observatory, Armagh, Northern Ireland; (2000) National Solar Observatory, Tucson; (2000–2001) High Altitude Observatory, Boulder (as Newkirk fellow); (2001–2006) Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Space Sciences at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; and (2006–present) Institute for Astronomy (IfA), Honolulu. While at the MPIfR (1997–1998), I worked on a research project related to astrophysics (accretion disks and jets). Over the past eight years (1999–present), I have been involved exclusively in solar physics research. My work efforts are focused on improving present understanding of the dynamics of coronal magnetic fields, plasma ejections, and particle radiation. Further details about me, my past and ongoing research projects, synergistic activities, etc., can be found at <http://ifa.hawaii.edu/users/iroussev/>.

Career Objectives:
My overall career objectives are (1) to advance our knowledge about the Sun, heliosphere, and local cosmos, (2) to explore the nature of solar and astrophysical plasmas by developing high-performance computational models based on first principles coupled with observations, and (3) to pursue analytical and computational studies of the solar atmosphere, concentrating on processes that couple the photosphere with the overlying corona and solar wind in the "quiet" and active Sun. I am devoted to sharing my scientific vision, knowledge, and experience with students in solar physics and astrophysics, as well as to encourage and help these students excel in their chosen field of specialization. My long term goal as instructional faculty at the IfA is to increase the interest and participation of graduate students in solar physics and to make significant scientific as well as educational and public outreach contributions to the solar physics community on a national and international level.

Statement:
As a member of the Solar Physics Division Council, I would focus my efforts on increasing the impact and outreach of the ongoing and future SPD activities. I believe that my personal and professional strengths would bring additional trust towards accomplishing the strategic goals and objectives of SPD. It would be my great honor to serve as a member of the SPD Council on behalf of current and future solar physicists.
SOLIS/VSM Quick-look Images Available Carl Henney
29 Mar 2007 
Preliminary SOLIS/VSM "Quick-look" vector magnetic images for
active regions are now available for recent observations. The
images are corrected for the 180-ambiguity using the Non-Potential
Field Calculation (NPFC) method developed by Manolis Georgoulis.
The VSM Vector Working Group (VVWG) is in the process of finalizing
calibration and pipeline code for processing VSM 630.2 nm vector
data. Milne-Eddington inversion parameter data will be available
soon after this work is completed. During this interim period,
qualitative Quick-look parameter JPEG images will be available for
active regions from the most current VSM observations at: 

  http://solis.nso.edu/

For additional information and updates, see:

  http://solis.nso.edu/vsm/betadatapub

Please note that the Quick-look active region interface web pages
currently work best with FireFox and Safari.

- Carl Henney and Christoph Keller for the VSM Vector Working Group

Inexpensive Accommodations for Students at AAS/SPD Meeting Gordon Emslie
29 Mar 2007
In case students (or others!) are looking for inexpensive housing in conjunction with the upcoming AAS SPD meeting in Honolulu, I have been informed that UHM Outreach College has listings for off-campus housing (dorms, hostels, and cheaper hotels). See www.nice.hawaii.edu/housing/.

For on-campus housing, the East-West center on the UH campus may also be of help: visit www.eastwestcenter.org/about-rf.asp.

Gordon Emslie
SPD Council Candidate Statement, Amy R. Winebarger Amy Winebarger
28 Mar 2007
My first interaction with the solar physics community was during an NSF REU program at the Center for Astrophysics when I was a junior in college. I was randomly assigned to a solar physicist and after I got over the shock that I would not be studying the nighttime sky, I realized it was a very fortuitous pairing. I was won over by the amazing data (spatial resolution!) and the enthusiasm of the scientists with whom I worked. During that summer, I decided to study solar physics.

After receiving my undergraduate degree, I received my Ph.D. from University of Alabama in Huntsville, then took two post-graduate positions at the Center for Astrophysics and Naval Research Laboratory. During this time I specialized in combining data analysis and numerical models to better understand the coronal heating mechanism. In January 2006, I accepted the position of Assistant Professor at Alabama A&M University (AAMU), a historically black university in Huntsville, AL. In this position, partially funded by NSF, I teach physics classes, advise undergraduate and graduate student research projects, and continue pursuing my own research goals, as well as travel to minority conferences and other minority serving institutions to lecture on solar and space physics.
Over the past seven years, I have served on two Solar Physics Division subcommittees, organized the yearly Solar Physics Division Women's Lunch, refereed journal articles, and been the P.I. on several successful proposals, including the 2006 NSF Career grant.

One of the issues the solar physics community must address is the transfer of knowledge to the next generation. There is currently a lack of early (undergraduate) solar and space physics education in the US institutions. The story of how I discovered solar physics is a common one, many solar physicists stumble across the field while pursuing other interests, such as astronomy or plasma physics. This method of random recruitment does not guarantee that the best or brightest students are pursuing careers in solar physics. The solar and space physics community is working to increase the quality, quantity and diversity of the next generation of solar physicist by increasing the number of space physics faculty in US institutions and offering short courses such as the Solar Physics Summer School, but success requires the combined effort from our large and geographically diverse population. As a member of the SPD committee, I look forward to working with the community to realize these goals.
LWS-IHY HELIOPHYSICS Summer School 2007 Karel Schrijver
27 Mar 2007
2nd, updated, announcement: Summer school in heliophysics: July 30 – August 7 · Boulder, CO

The first of a three-year NASA-sponsored Heliophysics Summer School will be hosted by UCAR in Boulder, CO, July 30 through August 7, 2007. The summer school is sponsored by NASA’s Living With a Star (LWS) program and supported by the International Heliophysical Year (IHY) program. It has three principal goals: 1) To deepen the appreciation of the basic science of heliophysics for a select group of students as teachers take them through highly interactive seminars and hands-on working groups and lab exercises, 2) To analyze new measurements with the goal of identifying global processes and drivers of the Sun-heliosphere system outward to the heliopause, and the responses of planetary magnetospheres, ionospheres and atmospheres, and 3) To produce a series of textbooks from which heliophysics may be taught at universities worldwide. The three-year program comprises three thematic clusters that together cover the scientific basis of the physical processes that play a role in coupling the Sun’s interior to the planetary environments and atmospheres through the vast heliosphere.

The first 8-day summer school in 2007 covers “the plasma physics of the local cosmos,” i.e., the science that is uniquely enabled by our existence within an environment of ionized gases. The three-year “heliophysics school” will encompass the entire scientific discipline now called heliophysics, which was borne of the need for interdisciplinary and global research in the context of the LWS and IHY programs. The IHY is participating in 2007 with extra lectures on the final day that introduce the second and third year themes of explosive energy conversion/energetic particles and long-term variations of solar activity/Earth’s climate, respectively, and with labs devoted to the IHY observing programs and data analysis and modeling tools.

Approximately 30 (international) students (including senior undergraduate students and graduate students with a strong background in physics, and beginning postdocs in a field of heliophysics) will be selected each year through a competitive process to participate in the summer school. Each participant will receive air travel, lodging and a per diem.

The UCAR Visiting Scientist Programs office will administer the summer school. The deadline for application submission by students is 15 May 2007; late applications will be considered until all available student positions are filled. Note that the application deadline has been extended due to the recent partnering between LWS and IHY. Please see www.vsp.ucar.edu, call 303-497-8649 or email vsp@ucar.edu for additional information.

Application materials should include:
• A cover letter briefly stating motivation for application.
• Curriculum Vitae with a list of publications, technical reports and professional presentations.
• Names and addresses of three references (one must be advisor).
• Graduate school transcripts.
• One to two page statement of interest and relevance to summer school goals.

Send e-mail or electronic applications to: vsp@ucar.edu.
If you are unable to submit electronically, please mail your application materials to:
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
Visiting Scientist Programs · Heliophysics Summer School
P.O. Box 3000
Boulder, CO 80307-3000 USA
SPD Council Candidate Statement, Douglas Biesecker Douglas Biesecker
22 Mar 2007
I am pleased to have been nominated to serve on the Solar Physics Division Committee, and I intend to serve the entire solar physics community. My experience is mainly in coronal phenomena, but has varied from optical to gamma-ray, and from quiet corona to flares, CME’s, and EIT waves. As a result of my research on comets, I joined the Division of Planetary Sciences where I have been able to watch another AAS division in action.

Although I’m a staff member of the NOAA Space Environment Center, I want to be clear that although Space Weather has been very good for our field, it is not something we should bet the future of solar physics on. We cannot let basic science fall by the wayside. Neither can we be short sighted when we examine facilities, especially ground based observatories. I believe the recent decision to close down GONG could leave our community desperate for helioseismology data in the post SDO era. From a fundamental physics and a space weather perspective, helioseismology is clearly the place for future gains. In addition, as chair of the Cycle 24 panel, I’m all too cognizant of the need for quality, long-term observations along with the latest in basic research. Synoptic measurements have significant scientific value. We need to find a way, and sometimes make the hard decisions, to balance the important synoptic measurements with the exciting new measurements.

Experience with running campaigns such as the Whole Sun Month series and chairing the Solar Cycle 24 Prediction Panel have been what I consider to be valuable contributions to solar physics, and have provided me with lessons on achieving results in a group and dealing with difficult issues. I would be honored to serve the solar physics community as a member of the SPD Committee.
SPD Committee Candidate Statement: Jiong Qiu Jiong Qiu
20 Mar 2007
Statement: fostering advances in the study of the Sun is one of the foremost goals of the Solar Physics Division. Ours is an exciting time overwhelmed by state-of-art observations and rapid progresses in numerical modeling and theoretic investigation. It is crucial to integrate these multiple approaches to allow us to ask and answer good valid questions amid the explosive amount of new information. As a committee member, I will help the division to organize efficient workshops bridging diversified expertise. The division has long been aware that significant advances in our understanding of fundamental questions in solar physics and its applications with broader impact, e.g., the space weather, will emerge from effective interdisciplinary communications and collaborations, the vigor of the Living With the Star program being a clear example. As a committee member, I will passionately aid the division's continued effort in this direction, such as by organizing and coordinating joint meetings. An important element in defining the future of solar physics is the public recognition of our field as a valuable branch in astrophysics with its strong ties to space, interplanetary, and climate sciences. This will affect how we bring next generation students into the field. As a committee member, I will strive to boost the division's effort in promoting solar physics in undergraduate classrooms and public outreach activities.

My background: I have worked in solar physics for a decade primarily by analyzing observations of solar energy release events from a variety of ground-based and satellite-borne telescopes. The focus of my recent investigation has been on the role of magnetic reconnection in solar events associated with large-scale eruptions like CMEs, in close collaboration with colleagues in both solar and interplanetary physics. With a team at Big Bear Solar Observatory, I also observed and analyzed earthshine measurements to infer long term variations of the earth's bond albedo, which is a global property affecting the energy balance in the earth's climate. My current appointment since 2005 is an assistant professor in the physics department in Montana State University, teaching upper division physics courses including astrophysics. I would be honored to serve the SPD community as a committee member.
SPD Treasurer Candidate Statement Joan Schmelz
8 Mar 2007
The SPD finances deserve close attention in order to assure all members that their contributions are put to the most effective use. To ensure such close attention requires a treasurer who has demonstrated that he or she is capable of handling money matters with precision. In this context I will reveal reluctantly that for years I performed the monthly ritual of balancing my checkbook to the penny.

The SPD financial management has undergone substantial changes since I became treasurer, with the AAS handling a larger and larger fraction of our income. I have tried to be a diligent overseer, catching the mistakes of their financial professionals and auditors. I am a financial conservative, and I can promise that all expenditures made by the SPD will receive the same degree of scrutiny that I afford my personal cash flow. Finally, I feel that handling other people’s money efficiently and effectively is a matter of honor, and I would be proud to continue to serve as the SPD treasurer.
Employment Opportunities
Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
Peter Gallagher
3 Apr 2007
The Astrophysics Research Group (http://www.physics.tcd.ie/astrophysics) at
Trinity College Dublin seeks a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in solar physics.
The successful candidate will be responsible for the development of Interactive
Data Language (IDL) software for the analysis of data from the SWAP (Sun Watcher
with APS detectors and image Processing; http://swap.oma.be) and LYRA
(http://lyra.oma.be) instruments onboard ESA’s PROBA2 satellite, to be launch
in September 2007. We are particularly interested in applications from
candidates with experience in IDL (or a related language such as Matlab, C,
etc.), signal/image processing, and solar physics.

The starting salary will be €40-45k, and will also include a pension
contribution. Please send inquiries and/or formal applications to Dr. Peter
Gallagher (peter.gallagher@tcd.ie).
New post doctoral position available at IAS, Orsay, France.
Frédéric Auchère
3 Apr 2007
The Institut d’Astrophysique Spatiale (IAS) invites applications to fill a one year post-doctoral position in the area of Solar-Terrestrial Relations. The project consists (1) in the observation of Coronal Mass Ejections with STEREO and SOHO, (2) in the MHD modeling of these events from their sources and all along their travel in the Solar Wind and (3) in the 3D reconstruction of the structures. These observations, all available at the IAS/MEDOC data archive, will be complemented by spectroscopic data from the Japanese Hinode probe. The combination of multi-wavelength observations and MHD modeling will contribute to the diagnostic of CMEs as well as that of their possible precursors, e.g., eruptive prominences.
The proposed work will include:
-the identification of CME precursors.
-the computation of CME trajectories and the estimation of their geoeffectiveness.
-the estimation of their mass, velocity and energy.
-the modelisation of the magnetic field evolution during a CME.

Candidate profile

The successful candidate will have a PhD in coronal solar physics.
Experience in MHD applied to observations.
Experience in data analysis (imagery and spectroscopy).
Interest or experience in 3D reconstruction.

The contract will start in october 2007. The salary is 2500 euros / month . IAS is a location of choice for those interested in working with STEREO and SOHO data. IAS participated in the hardware development of SECCHI/STEREO and is today developing both 3D reconstruction techniques and visualization software. IAS archives all the data from SECCHI on STEREO and EIT/LASCO/CDS/SUMER on SOHO.


The job announcement is posted at:
https://www2.cnrs.fr/DRH/post-docs07/?pid=1&action=view&id=738&lang=en
Point of contact: frederic.auchere@ias.u-psud.fr
POSTDOCTORAL POSITIONS WITHIN THE SOLAIRE NETWORK
F. Moreno-Insertis
2 Apr 2007
In the framework of the SOLAIRE Marie Curie Network, two positions are available to carry out research at the recent postdoctoral level:

1. two-year contract at the Observatoire de Paris-Meudon, France, financed through the Solaire European Commission funds. Topic: Three-dimensional MHD simulations and magnetography of flares, with emphasis on direct comparisons between electric currents and multi-wavelength observations of the different solar layers.

2. three-year contract at Utrecht University, Astronomical Institute, The Netherlands, financed through the Solaire European Comission funds (1.5 years) and by Utrecht University (1.5 years). Topic: Magnetic connectivity through the atmospheric layers and field extrapolation with a particular emphasis on the collection, analysis and interpretation of vector magnetic field measurements in the solar photosphere and chromosphere.

The research of the appointees will benefit from the networking activities within SOLAIRE. The latter include network-wide research and research training, postgraduate schools, network meetings and complementary-skills courses. The Solaire network (http://www.solairenetwork.eu) is a joint initiative of 12 European Universities and Research Institutes and a private R&D company.

Salary and benefits will follow the applicable national and European Union rules. In particular, during the period covered by EC funds, the appointees will receive career exploration, travel and mobility allowances in accordance with the European Commission's rules for Marie Curie Networks. Details about salary and benefits can be obtained through the contact addresses given below.

Candidates can be citizens of any country in the world with more than 4 years and less than 10 years of postgraduate research experience at the time of the appointment. They cannot be appointed in their own country or in a country where they have spent more than 12 months in the past 3 years. Further conditions and exceptions to these rules can be obtained in the contact addresses given below. The Solaire network especially encourages applications from women.

For further information (description of the positions, application procedure, address for submission, etc) visit the Solaire web page:
http://www.solairenetwork.eu

Contact email addresses:

For the position in Utrecht: C.U.Keller@phys.uu.nl

For the position in Paris: guillaume.aulanier@obspm.fr

General information about the Solaire Network: F. Moreno-Insertis, solaire@iac.es
Hinode Postdoctoral Postion, Montana State University
David McKenzie
21 Mar 2007
The Solar Physics group of Montana State University (MSU) in Bozeman, MT
carries out an internationally recognized program of solar research and
graduate education in the spectacular environment of the Northern Rocky
Mountains. We have an opening for a scientist supported by extramural
funding for support of the Hinode X-ray Telescope (XRT; Hinode was
formerly called Solar-B).

RESPONSIBILITIES: Duties will include the planning of XRT observations,
coordination with other solar observatories, including other instruments
on Hinode, and analysis of the scientific data returned by XRT. The
successful applicant will conduct and publish original research in solar
physics; will travel to Japan and within the US to conduct Hinode and XRT
operations; will support data analysis activities of visiting scientists.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: Ph.D. in Physics or closely related field.
Published peer-reviewed research based on analysis of observational data.
Demonstrated experience in working cooperatively in a no-exclusive-use
data environment.

The successful candidate will travel for Hinode/XRT operations, both
domestically and at the Institute for Space and Astronautical Sciences,
Sagamihara, Japan; and will be able to communicate effectively both
verbally and in writing.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: Experience with observations planning and
campaign coordination. Published analysis of observations of the solar
corona. Familiarity with the IDL programming environment.

Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications. A moving
allowance will be provided. MSU provides medical benefits and retirement
plans. The initial appointment of one year may be renewed for up to 2
additional years to enable participation in mission operations and data
analysis, contingent upon satisfactory performance and availability of
funds.

Send: (1) a cover letter that addresses the required and preferred
qualifications listed above; (2) a vita; (3) a list of refereed
publications, (4) a statement of research interests and experience, and
(5) three letters of recommendation addressing the qualifications listed
above to Dr. David E. McKenzie, Physics Department, Montana State
University, Bozeman, MT 59717-3840. Direct inquiries to Dr. McKenzie at
(406) 994-7843 or mckenzie[-at-]physics.montana.edu. This position is
available immediately.

ADA/EO/AA/Veterans Preference. Women and minorities are encouraged to
apply.
Postdoctoral Position in Solar Flare Physics Data Analysis.
Dominic Zarro
21 Mar 2007
A postdoctoral position is currently available to work on solar flare physics using data from the Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI) and related observations. The work involves the analysis of the RHESSI X-ray and gamma-ray observations and complementary observations at other wavelengths. In addition to the existing solar space missions and ground-based observatories, we expect that the two recently launched solar missions, STEREO and HINODE, will provide further insight. The broad objective is the scientific interpretation of the results in terms of the latest models leading to an improved understanding of the mechanisms of energy release and particle acceleration in solar flares and coronal mass ejections. Results will be presented at national and international scientific meetings and published in the refereed scientific literature. The work will be carried out in the Solar Physics Laboratory at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, in close collaboration with other solar scientists. The candidate must be a US citizen or have the required visa for work at Goddard if a non-citizen. He or she should have, or expect to receive within 6 months of their application, a PhD in Physics, Astrophysics, or a related field, and should have experience in computational data analysis. The appointment is dependent on funding availability but will be for one year, with renewal for a second year subject to satisfactory performance. Interested applicants should email a resume, a brief statement of research interests, a list of publications, and the names of at least three references to dzarro(at)sesda2.com. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled
Graduate Research Assistantships Available for Solar and Space Physics Research
Amy Winebarger
21 Mar 2007
Dear Colleagues,

Alabama A&M University in Huntsville, AL is offering a new graduate space science concentration in the physics department curriculum. We are currently accepting both M.S. and Ph.D. students in this concentration and we have four research assistantships ($18,000 stipend plus full tuition) available to begin in Fall 2007. Students can choose from a range of research projects and research can be advised by AAMU faculty or scientists at our partner institutions, such as NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and the institutions that form the NSF Center for Integrated Space Weather Modeling (CISM). International citizens are eligible to apply for the assistantships. Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the department, see department website for more details.
http://www.physics.aamu.edu/

To apply for the assistantships or for any additional information, students may contact me directly at winebarger@physics.aamu.edu.

Please distribute this announcement to any student that may be interested.

Warm Regards,
Amy Winebarger
Meeting Announcements
European IHY General Assembly: second announcement
Carine Briand
30 Mar 2007
Scientific Context
The year 2007 will mark the 50th Anniversary of the International Geophysical Year (IGY) and 50 years of space exploration. The world’s science community will come together for an international program of scientific collaboration: the International Heliophysical Year (IHY) 2007-2008. IHY extends the concept of "Geophysics" to “Heliophysics” to deal not only with atmospheric and solar-terrestrial physics but also with studies of other planets, the outer reaches of the heliosphere, and its interaction with the interstellar medium.

Meeting Goals
This meeting aims to foster the European participation and collaboration in the development of the large infrastructures of the future for the exploration and the study of the heliosphere. Space and ground-based major instruments that are presently in their initial design phase will be presented as support for discussions and contacts between scientific teams all over Europe. It will also be a good opportunity to expound new ideas or projects. This is particularly timely with respect to the ASTRONET efforts to establish a long-term planning for the development of European astronomy. It is also an excellent timing for the presentation of the missions in the frame of the ESA Cosmic Vision call for proposal.
The domains concerned are: Sun, Solar wind, Solar wind-Planets relationships, Space Weather, Limits of the heliosphere.

A specific session will be dedicated to outreach and communication activities, one of the goals of IHY.

Students and young researchers are particularly encouraged to participate: no fees are requested for PhD students.

Web site for registration : http://ihy2ega.oato.inaf.it/
Deadline for abstract submission: April 30th, 2007

C. Briand and E. Antonucci,
on behalf of the SOC
Radiation Belt Storm Probes Space Weather Beacon Forum at the Space Weather Workshop
NASA HQ: Barbara Giles
27 Mar 2007
NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP) mission intends to transmit space
weather data products via a low-power real time beacon. To introduce this
new capability, there will be an informational forum at NOAA's Space Weather
Workshop to be held April 24-27 at the Millennium Hotel in Boulder,
Colorado.

The forum will communicate NASA's intent regarding the deployment of the
space weather (SW) beacon onboard the RBSP mission and explore the potential
applications of that data. NOAA and NASA hope to initiate a process whereby
communication between potential user groups and the RBSP mission can take
place so as to optimize the implementation and use of the SW beacon data
stream. Information on the Radiation Belt Storm Probes Mission can be found
at http://www.lws.nasa.gov/RBSP/.

The forum will take place from 5:00 to 6:30 pm on Thursday, April 26th at
the Millennium Hotel. See http://www.sec.noaa.gov/sww/ for information on
the Workshop. Contact barbara.giles at nasa.gov or terry.onsager at
noaa.gov for additional information.
WORKSHOP ON LOW-COST ACCESS TO NEAR-SPACE: April 26-28 (2nd Announcement)
Craig DeForest
23 Mar 2007
SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT

Southwest Research Institute is pleased to announce a workshop on low-cost solutions for scientific ballooning, to be held in Boulder, Colorado from April 26-28 2007.

The goal of the workshop is to develop opportunities supported by NASA and/or NSF for routine access to near space. While scientific ballooning potentially affords the lowest cost access to the stratosphere and above, current balloon programs focus on large, specialized payloads and not on routine access for experimentation, leaving a gap in the suite of methods used for science and instrument development. We will examine potential strategies for low-cost scientific programs that address the needs outlined in the most recent decadal surveys.

Agenda items include:
- New technologies for low-cost remote sensing balloon platforms;
- Student access to near-space;
- Low-cost / low-risk development of space-qualified instrumentation;
- Application of small-balloon science to agency and decadal survey goals.

More information, plus links to registration and abstract submission pages, can be found at "http://www.boulder.swri.edu/LCANS/". Questions can be addressed to Eliot Young (efy@boulder.swri.edu) or Craig DeForest (deforest@boulder.swri.edu).


------------------------------------------------------------------------------
***PRELIMINARY*** Workshop Program

SESSION 1 (THU Morning): Introduction to Balloons and NASA's Balloon Programs

1. 8:45-9:00; Welcome to workshop & orientation notes (Eliot Young, SWRI)
2. 9:00-9:30; A technical introduction to balloon missions (Steve Smith, SWRI)
3. 9:30-10:00; A practical introduction to NASA's balloon programs (David Pierce, NASA)

Break from 10:00 - 10:15

4. 10:15-10:45; NASA's balloon-based research opportunities (Vernon Jones, NASA)
5. 10:45-11:15; The near space environment and atmospheric opacity
6. 11:15-12:00 Panel session (Danny Ball, Vernon Jones, David Pierce, Steve Smith)

Lunch from 12:00-1:15

SESSION 2 (Thursday Afternoon): Current Balloon Efforts
7. 1:15-1:45; Infrared & submm astronomy from balloons
8. 1:45-2:15; X-Ray and gamma-ray astronomy from balloons (Jack Tueller, NASA)
9. 2:15-2:45; LSU's HASP payload (T. Greg Guzik, LSU)

Break from 2:45-3:00

10. 3:00-3:30; BalloonSat flight computers (L. Paul Verhage, Author/Teacher)
11. 3:30-4:00; Edge of Space Sciences balloon launches (Michael Manes, EOSS)
12. 4:00-4:30; Colorado Space Grant BalloonSat and MicroSat programs (Chris Koehler, CO Space Grant Consortium)
13: 4:30-5:15; Panel session (TBD)


SESSION 3 (Friday Morning): Enabling Technologies for Low-Cost/Lightweight Balloon Missions
14. 8:30-9:00; Small balloons 1 (Mark West, Aerostar)
15. 9:00-9:30; Small balloons 2 (Tim Lachenmeier, Near Space Corp.)
16. 9:30-10:00; Balloon telemetry & communications (TBD)

Break from 10:00-10:20

17. 10:20-10:40; Lightweight telescopes 1 (Bob Romeo, Composite Mirror Applications)
18. 10:40-11:00; Lightweight telescopes 2 (Ed Friedman, Ball Aerospace)
19. 11:00-11:20; Pointing and stabilization of lightweight balloon-borne telescopes (Larry Germann, Left Hand Design Corporation)
20. 11:20-12:00; Panel session (TBD)

Lunch from 12:00-1:15

SESSION 4 (Friday Afternoon): "What if" Science Drivers
21. 1:15-1:45; Cosmic Microwave Background
22. 1:45-2:15; Cosmic rays: The need for large payloads (T. Greg Guzik, LSU)
23. 2:15-2:45; Solar observations

Break from 2:45-3:00

24. 3:00-3:20; Examples of Earth-science applications (Bob Grimm, SWRI)
25. 3:20-3:40; Balloon observations of Occultations (Cathy Olkin, SWRI)
26. 3:40-4:00; Continuous observations of the inner Solar System: mapping Venus's winds (Mark Bullock, SWRI)
27. 4:00-5:00; Panel discussion (TBD)



SESSION 5 (Saturday Morning): Making the Case for LCANS
28. 9:00-9:30; Addressing the science priorities in NASA's Strategic Plans (Jonathan Ormes, DU)
29. 9:30-10:00; The case for a low-cost small-balloon program in SMD Planetary Division (TBD)

Break from 10:0-10:15

30. 10:15-10:45; The case for a low-cost small-balloon in SMD Sun-Earth Connection Division (TBD)
31. 10:45-12:00; Panel session (TBD)
Virtual Observatories in Geosciences 2007 (VOiG)
Peter Fox
20 Mar 2007
http://www.egy.org/VOiG (voig@egy.org)
First announcement.

You are invited to participate and contribute to the first virtual observatories in geosciences
conference (VOiG) to be held June 12-15, 2007 in Denver, Colorado, USA. The conference
is sponsored by the Electronic Geophysical Year, USGS, NASA, NSF and NCAR. While this
conference focuses on geosciences, all interested disciplines are invited to participate. June
11 will feature half/one-day workshops also at the conference venue.

This event is motivated by the Electronic Geophysical Year (eGY - www.egy.org) recognizing
the 50th anniversary of the International Geophysical Year in 1957. eGY's Declaration
for an Information Science Commons is based on the quote "Knowledge is the Common-Wealth
of Humanity" (A. Samassekou). eGY sets out a set of eight principles related to data and information
as being fundamental building blocks for the conduct and advancement of modern science.

Among eGY activities is the advancement of the concept of virtual observatories to embrace
and integrate a significant number of the eGY principles.

It is now at least 7 years since the virtual observatory (VO) paradigm appeared and over 15
years since distributed data systems (DDS) started appearing. These efforts have produced
numerous successes, failures, lessons, new concepts, new designs, and copious experience
with sources of data, user communities and changing technologies. Numerous communities and
agencies stand ready to utilize emerging common VO and DDS concepts to their fullest extent in
meeting the challenging explosion of data from instruments and models in the present and next
decade.

This conference, to be held immediately before the official launch of eGY on July 7, 2007, is
aimed at defining and documenting the current state of virtual observatories, including
common and distinct elements and set a challenging goal for all VOs to make substantial
progress in their goals during the eGY. This conference will be complemented by another
gathering to be held late in the eGY (which ends in December 2008).

The conference features invited and contributed presentations and posters from those involved
in VOs and DDS at all levels: science and education/outreach developers/users, interdiscplinary
researchers, designers/architects, developers, and data providers to contribute their experiences
and indicate their success, outstanding needs and future vision. Contributions may be oral
presentations, discussion/special topic items and/or posters.

Program - Call for Contributions and Papers

June 12-15, 2007. Each day will feature plenary and parallel (breakout) sessions
to cover areas of broad interests as well as the opportunity for detailed discussions.
Time is allowed for posters, breaks to facilitate interactions amongst the worldwide
VO community.

Workshops - Call for Proposals

June 11, 2007 is available for one-day or half-day workshops (up to 5) hosted by the
conference. We have two workshops schedule so far. If you would like to convene a
half or one-day workshop, please complete contact the chair of the
science organizing committee (voig@egy.org). Some of these workshops will be invitation only,
others will be open to all conference participants for a nominal additional registration
fee. Please watch the Registration page for details of workshops.

Proceedings

The conference website will contain a link to a Wiki on which all presentations may
be placed by participants.

The record of the meeting will be in two parts: an AGU Geophysical Monograph and
a special issue of the Journal of Earth Science Informatics. Details on these options
will be available after April 2007. All contributions will be peer-reviewed. The editorial
board consists of the scientific organizing committee (SOC).

Scientific Organizing Committee

Peter Fox (chair),
Robert Bentley, John Broome, Emily CoBabe-Ammann, Liu Chuang, Joan Fitzpatrick,
Francoise Genova, Joseph Gurman, Robert Hanisch, Mauro Messerotti, Ken Murata,
Vladimir Papitashvili, Mark Parsons, Bernd Ritschel, D. Aaron Roberts, Michele Weiss,
Lesley Wyborn.

Local Organizing Committee

Erica Veil (chair), Emily CoBabe-Ammann, Martina Foschini, Jose Garcia, Bill Peterson, Patrick West

Venue: The Curtis Hotel, Curtis and 14th St, Denver, CO USA

Registration: there will be a fee to be determined at the expenses are reviewed.

Important Dates

Sign up for information - anytime (RSS)
April 1, 2007 - Second Circular and Draft Program with invited contribution/session outline
May 18, 2007 - Contribution Deadline (contributions past the deadline can be presented as
posters)
May 25, 2007 - Workshop Proposal Deadline
June 1, 2007 - Registration Deadline (late and on-site registration fees apply, see registration)
June 1, 2007 - Accommodation Deadline for Conference Rate/Room Reservation Block
June 8, 2007 - Cancellation Deadline
June 11, 2007 - Workshops
June 12-25, 2007 - Conference
July 27, 2007 - Paper Submission
September 28, 2007 - Reviewed papers returned to authors
October 26, 2007 - Author Response, manuscript revision
January 1, 2008 - Intended publication date
Editor's Notes
Revised 2006 Submission Instructions
Neal Hurlburt
1 Sep 2006
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