UK Solar Physics Newsletter Lyndsay Fletcher & Duncan Mackay, Editors 1st February 2008 o News, Views and Gossip o UKSP Response to STFC Delivery Plan (Editors' comments). o UKSP community resolutions - voting opportunity! o Resolutions adopted at the MIST Business Meeting (21 Jan 2008). o Transcript of DIUS evidence session available o Revised closing dates for STFC Astronomy Grants o Revised guidance for STFC grant proposals o RCUK China Office Summer School Grant Scheme o The SPD's 2008 George E. Hale Prize and Karen Harvey Prize. o The Hinode Science Data Centre Europe o Dutch Open Telescope observing time o New RHESSI Science Nugget o Meetings, Conferences and Workshops o 2008 RAS NAM/UKSP, Belfast - registration open! o UKSP 2008 session P36 - Waves and Instabilities in Space Plasmas o Second Announcement of the First SMESE workshop o SDO - HMI-AIA-EVE - Science Teams Meeting - Mar 25-28, 2007 o COSPAR session on Magnetic Reconnection and Particle Acceleration in Solar Eruptions o Call for abstracts for ST10 "Complexity and Self-organization in Solar, Magnetospheric and Heliospheric Phenomena" at AOGS 2008 o Call for abstracts for SH05 "Particle Acceleration and Transport in the Sun and Interplanetary Space" at AGU Joint Assembly o International Workshop of 2008 Solar Total Eclipse: call for early registration o IAU Symposium 257: Universal Heliophysical Processes o Space Weather Workshop 2008 o Second Hinode Science Meeting, Boulder, 29 Sep - 3 Oct 2008 o SPDSPS Summer School, Maui, Hawai'i o ISSI - 2008 Call for International Teams o Employment Opportunities o Solar & Heliospheric Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Institute for Astronomy o Postdoc fellowship in Asteroseismology o Three-year postdoctoral position in Stockholm o Engineer / Computer scientist position at the SIDC - Royal Observatory of Belgium (Brussels) o Research Assistant in Solar Physics Theory, University of Glasgow o MIST RESOLUTIONS o Editors' Notes Dear Colleague, Here are a few items which have come to our attention since the last Newsletter. You can find this newsletter also at the UKSP website: http://www.uksolphys.org Lyndsay (lyndsay@astro.gla.ac.uk) Duncan (duncan@mcs.st-andrews.ac.uk) ********************************************************************* * * * News, Views and Gossip * * * ********************************************************************* From: Lyndsay Fletcher & Duncan Mackay UKSP Response to STFC Delivery Plan (Editors comments). UKSP submitted evidence to the DIUS Select Committee Meeting on the 21st January 2008 regarding the STFC delivery plan. Both the chair and secretary are now considering a number of options for further action. We have been taking soundings in the solar physics community as to the next moves, in what is a still rapidly-developing and high-stakes situation. There is a further DIUS evidence session taking place of 20th Feb (see above) to which we could submit written evidence, and an approach to the House of Lords Select Committee is also possible. See below for info on UKSP community resolutions. Some recent pages of interest: BBC article http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7213917.stm New Statesman article http://www.newstatesman.com/200801310016 News from Science Board http://www.scitech.ac.uk/resources/pdf/SBNews280108.pdf In general, Paul Crowther's page at http://pacrowther.staff.shef.ac.uk/stfc.html is a good digest. ********************************************** From: Lyndsay Fletcher & Duncan Mackay COMMUNITY RESOLUTIONS - ballotbin election: (Editors comments). As many of you are aware, the MIST community have developed and released a set of statements and resolutions on the current STFC situation, which can be found on their website at http://www.mist.ac.uk/mistres.html (also reproduced at the end of this message) A small number of those whom we have asked were in favour of drawing up and publishing a set of UKSP community statements and resolutions on the STFC situation. However, we only had responses from 6 of the ~ 35 senior staff whom we asked - perhaps everyone is just fed up. We are of course willing to co-ordinate this activity, but we need to know that it is broadly desired. We don't have the benefit of a business meeting, as MIST had, in which to gauge the strength of feeling in the community. Therefore we are trying an experiment. The site ballotbin.com offers the possibility for free online elections. We have set up a ballot under the heading "UKSP resolutions", which you can access at http://www.ballotbin.com/voterReg.php?b=3603 and register to vote by entering your email address. You will then be sent a confirmation email by ballotbin (check your spam filter). Some information: - the vote is open until 5pm on Tuesday 5th February - we can see WHO has voted, to verify entitlement, ie member of UKSP *or* non-registered UK solar physicist; please use your work address so it's easy for us to work out who you are! - we cannot see HOW you have voted. This is anonymised - the email addresses are kept but not published by ballotbin.com. They seem to be pretty straight-up, and have a privacy policy and an optout clause - you only have one chance to vote and you cannot change your vote. If you try to vote more than once you are rejected. You will also be able to find out this way if someone has voted in your name (as if they would...) - even if you don't care or aren't sure, please log in and vote 'don't care 'or 'unsure'. This might prove a useful tool for the future! We hope that many of you will participate. If you know of e.g. new solar physicists in the UK who are not on the UKSP list you could alert them to this activity (and get them to join the list of course) Lyndsay (lyndsay@astro.gla.ac.uk) Duncan (duncan@mcs.st-andrews.ac.uk) ************************************ From: MIST mailing list on behalf of Chris Arridge Dear colleagues, In response to the STFC delivery plan, announced in December 2007, the MIST council organised a community business meeting on Monday 21 January 2008 to discuss community response to this plan - particularly its effective elimination of ground-based STP in the UK. This meeting was well attended by the community and benefited from an extended session with Richard Wade and Colin Vincent from STFC who answered questions for much a longer period than scheduled. Prior to the meeting a set of resolutions were drafted, indicating the position of the community with respect to STFC and its delivery plan. These were developed by the attendees over email before the meeting and then discussed, changes accepted, and voted on at the meeting. All resolution statements were passed unanimously by the attendees and only one action was passed with "one against" making these a very strong statement by the MIST community. The final set of resolutions are attached to this email [resolutions are at the end of the news letter - Editors] as a word document and as plain text at the end of this email. These will be further distributed via letters to DIUS and RCUK and a press release in the next few days. Minutes from the meeting will also be available in the next few days when they have been fulled compiled. Comments on these resolutions are welcome. Best regards, Chris Arridge on behalf of the MIST Council MIST Council: Mike Hapgood (Chair), Betty Lanchester, Gary Abel, Andrew Kavanagh, Chris Arridge ************************************ From: Lyndsay Fletcher The uncorrected transcript of the DIUS Select Committee Session of January 21st on the STFC funding situation is now available at: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmselect/cmdius/uc215-i/uc21502.htm Once any errors have been corrected by witnesses it will stand on the record. ************************************ From: "Melanie Illsley (STFC,SPO)" It has become necessary for the Astronomy closing date to be moved to 3rd June for both Standard and Rolling Grant proposals. What follows is an update on the progress of the 2007 grant round from Professor Mike Cruise (The Chair of the Astronomy Grants Panel) "Dear Colleagues, I am sending out this note to update you on progress with the 2007 grants process. The AGP completed its work by the end of October but, as I am sure you are aware, the financial problems which stemmed from the CSR outcome have prompted substantial reworking of many parts of the STFC programme and the Particle, Nuclear Physics and Astronomy grants lines have not been immune from this. The chairs of the AGP sub-panels and the rolling grant panel met with me on January 4th to analyse and agree a number of measures intended to bring the new grant spend down by 25% as requested by STFC. These measures have sought to preserve as much high quality science as possible, but there can be no doubt that science will have to suffer if these levels of cuts are to be achieved. The work of the AGP was presented to PPAN on Jan 18th, together with the proposed measures to achieve the savings target. These grant proposals will now be presented to the Science Board this week as part of the package of measures responding to the financial problem. If agreed by the Science Board, the grants recommended by the AGP will need to be checked against the new STFC priority list which PPAN has agreed and then formally authorised by STFC management. It is likely that these last stages will take a several weeks and therefore the submission dates for both standard and rolling grants will need to be put back to 3RD JUNE in order to give sufficient time for the effects of the 2007 round to be properly assimilated by the community. We expect to be able to issue revised guidelines for all grant applications early next week. This has been an extremely difficult process for all of us and I apologise for the fact that we have been able to give little indication about the timescales and processes that were being followed. The AGP had no warning of this situation until mid-December and we have been working to establish some clear ground rules since then. It is only in the last few days that we have had some assurance that our recommendations were compliant with the needs of the STFC financial plan. I hope that the 2008 grants round will be more stable in both process and timescale. Thank you for your patience. Mike Cruise " ************************************ From: "Melanie Illsley (STFC,SPO)" Please be advised that the guidance for writing Astronomy proposals has been revised and is now available from the STFC website. http://www.scitech.ac.uk/SciProg/Ast/AstDocs/Astrogrants.aspx Applicants are strongly advised to read the guidance prior to submitting proposals. ************************************ From: "Melanie Illsley (STFC,SPO)" RCUK China Office Summer School Grant Scheme The RCUK Office in China is pleased to launch a grant scheme for awards of up to 12,000, to enable travel between UK and China for attendance at activities of the Summer School type, run jointly by a UK centre of excellence and a Chinese centre of excellence linked by a formal research collaboration agreement. This first call will give priority to activities taking place in China in 2008 or 2009. Applications and supporting documentation, in English, should be sent as an email attachment to jing.cai@rcuk.cn by Wednesday 12 March 2008. Decisions will be announced by the end of April 2008. For more details and the full call please click the link above, or go to http://www.rcuk.cn/rcuk/fore/s_project_cnt_en.php?pro_id=10 ************************************ From: Todd Hoeksema The SPD's 2008 George E. Hale Prize and Karen Harvey Prize I am delighted to announce the 2008 recipients of prizes awarded by the Solar Physics Division of the American Astronomical Society. The George Ellery Hale Prize is awarded to a scientist for outstanding contributions to the field of solar astronomy. This year's George Ellery Hale Prize winner is Hugh S. Hudson. Dr. Hudson is cited for his fundamental contributions to many aspects of solar and heliospheric physics, in particular his studies of magnetic reconnection and particle acceleration in solar flares, the initiation of coronal mass ejections, nanoflare coronal heating, and the variability of solar irradiance. He is also recognized for his leadership of and contributions to the solar physics community, especially his untiring support for international research collaborations. The Karen Harvey Prize recognizes a significant contribution to the study of the Sun early in a person's professional career. The 2008 Karen Harvey Prize is awarded to Mark G. Linton for his significant contributions to studies of kink instabilities in delta spots, the interactions of magnetic flux tubes, and patchy reconnection in solar flares. Congratulations Hugh and Mark! We look forward to your lectures at the SPD meeting in May. Also, thank you SPD Prize Committee members: Aad Van Ballegooijen, Steve Keil, Phil Scherrer, Gary Chapman, and Holly Gilbert. ************************************* From: Stein Haugan The Hinode Science Data Centre Europe More than 7 months after the opening of the Hinode archive at the Hinode Science Data Centre Europe (http://sdc.uio.no/), there may still be quite a few people in the solar community who are unaware of it, since it has not been announced in SolarNews until now. Our archive contains all Hinode science data, with a search interface that includes some features not found in other science data archives. First of all, we allow searching and sorting on all keywords present in the fits files, and some additional keywords as well (e.g. radial coordinate). Second, our search page gives interactive feedback on the search criteria, showing how many files are selected given the current criteria. We also have several different grouping categories to allow better overview of the data, and we can summarise the contents of large searches to show the span of values for any fits keyword. We have thumbnails and medium-size images (including a field-of-view illustration) for each fits file. You can view the full fits header or download a single file with a single mouse click, or select larger amounts of data for packaging and download (packaging is so fast that we don't require any email address - you get the links to the data on-screen). New fits files are typically included in the archive within 2-3 hours after reformatting on the ground. The archive has excellent data exploration capabilities - searching and browsing is fast even with many "weak" criteria and without any strong criteria (such as a start/stop date). For those who want to do archive searches directly from IDL, there is a SolarSoft client, and our result pages automatically generate IDL snippets that perform the equivalent search in IDL. For even more advanced users, we offer on-site processing of large amounts of data to narrow down your selection (statistics extraction, feature/event detection, etc), rsync access for full or partial mirror sites, and visitor facilities (office and workstations) for up to two guests. If you wish to be kept informed about future developments and improvements of the archive at the Hinode Science Data Centre Europe, please subscribe to our email list at http://astro-lists.uio.no/mailman/listinfo/oslo-sdc-news@astro.uio.no Contact oslo-sdc@astro.uio.no if you have any problems, questions or requests (additional derived fields for searching, alternate grouping methods, on-site processing, visits, etc). ************************************* From: Rob Rutten Dutch Open Telescope observing time Thanks to a recent fiat from Utrecht University, the Dutch Open Telescope at the Roque de los Muchachos observatory on La Palma will remain available for observations during 2008 and 2009. The DOT data product consists of speckle-reconstructed synchronous image sequences in the G band, Ca II H, tunable Halpha, and blue and red continua. External usage may employ service-mode observing in which the DOT team operates the telescope, or common-user observing in which a proposer handles the observing on-site. The latter mode is prefered in view of severe manpower restrictions. We welcome observing proposals for 2008. The deadline is January 31. Details: http://dot.astro.uu.nl/DOT_time.html. ************************************ From: Steven Christe < schriste [at] ssl.berkeley.edu> Announcing a new RHESSI science nugget, "The coronal magnetic field I" by Hugh Hudson An introduction to coronal magnetic fields and a happy new year and solar cycle! It can be found on http://sprg.ssl.berkeley.edu/~tohban/nuggets/ We publish these at roughly two-week intervals. Steven Christe Hugh Hudson schriste@ssl.berkeley.edu ********************************************************************* * * * Conferences, Workshops, Meetings * * * ********************************************************************* From: Mihalis Mathioudakis < M.Mathioudakis [at] qub.ac.uk> The RAS National Astronomy Meeting 2008 (including the UK Solar Physics and MIST meetings) Queen's University Belfast: 31st March - 4th April 2008 Please note that registration for the 2008 NAM is now open. The full science progamme has been finalised, including 8 plenary speakers and 44 parallel sessions. Delegates can now register for oral and poster presentations at the parallel sessions. The deadline for requesting a parallel session talk is Friday 29th February. To register please go to the NAM website (http://nam2008.qub.ac.uk/ ) and click the registration button at the top left of the screen. Payment can be made either online using a credit/debit card (preferred method) or on arrival at the meeting. If you require any help or advice please email: nam2008@qub.ac.uk We look forward to seeing you in Belfast. Prof. Alan Fitzsimmons On behalf of the Local and Scientific Organising Committees ********************************************** From: Tony Arber The contributions are invited for submission to the session SH05 'Particle Acceleration and Transport in the Sun and interplanetary space' (conveners S. Krucker, N. Vilmer and V.Zharkova) for the Joint Assembly, 27-30 May 2008, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The aim of this session is to provide an update of our current understanding of particle acceleration processes in the Sun and their energy transport as to the solar photosphere so to the interplanetary space. The differences between the signatures of accelerated particles in the interplanetary space and in the solar active events are expected to be compared by considering various acceleration mechanisms: by electric field at magnetic reconnection with simple and complicated topologies, by shocks and stochastic acceleration by plasma waves. We also propose to compare the forward and inverse modelling of various processes related to active events with observations by focusing, in particular, on the results from recent space missions - RHESSI, Hinode and STEREO. Please pay attention that the abstract deadline is on the 5th March midnight. This is a sharp deadline since the web service accepting the AGU08 abstracts will be switched off. Valentina Zharkova on behalf of the session conveners Nicole Vilmer and Sam Krucker ********************************************** From: Mei Zhang International Workshop of 2008 Solar Total Eclipse: call for early registration Title: Solar Magnetism, Corona and Space Weather --- Chinese Space Solar Telescope Science Meeting Dates: July 28, 2008 - August 1, 2008 Place: Jiuquan, Gansu, China Important dates: March 20, 2008: Early bird registration deadline May 15, 2008: Online registration deadline July 28, 2008: Meeting registration July 29 - 31, 2008: Meeting presentations August 1, 2008: Total eclipse site observation (about 100 km from Jiuquan) Please register at: http://sun.bao.ac.cn/eclipse/en/ Main Topics: >From ancient observations to contemporary space missions Space and ground based results of magnetic field measurements Theory of magnetic fields Chromospheric and coronal measurements Understanding coronal magnetic field, coronal heating and solar wind acceleration Observations of eruptive events on the Sun Theory of eruptive events and influence on Earth (space weather) Scientific Organization Committee: G. X. Ai (China), C. Fang (China), B. Lites (USA), Z. X. Liu (China), H. Wang (USA), T. Sakurai (Japan), K. Shibata (Japan), S. Solanki (Germany), J. Stenflo (Switzerland), H.Q. Zhang (China, Chair), M. Zhang (China) Local Organization Committee: H.Q. Zhang (Chair), M. Zhang, Z. Sun, B. Wei, Y. Wang, X. Bao Organized by: National Astronomical Observatories, CAS Supported by: National Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) E-mail: eclipse@sun.bao.ac.cn ********************************************** From: Nat Gopalswamy IAU Symposium 257: Universal Heliophysical Processes Registration Open IAU Symposium 257: Universal Heliophysical Processes, Ioannina, Greece, Sep 15-19, 2008 International Astronomical Union (IAU) Symposium 257 on Universal Heliophysical Processes will be held in Ioannina, Greece during September 15-19, 2008. The symposium is cosponsored by the International Heliophysical Year (IHY ) program and the University of Ioannina. The focus of IAU symposium 257 is on the universality of physical processes in the region of space directly influenced by the Sun through its mass and electromagnetic emissions the heliospace. The symposium will also attempt to consolidate the knowledge gained in space science over the past fifty years since the birth of this discipline in 1957. The topics include : Solar sources of heliospheric variability; Origin, evolution and dissipation of magnetic structures ; Plasma processes: flows, obstacles, circulation; Energetic particles in the heliosphere; Heliophysical boundaries and interfaces including shock waves ; Reconnection processes; Turbulence in heliospace; Physical processes in stellar systems. We expect about 200 participants from all over the world. The symposium will consist of invited talks, contributed talks, and poster presentations. A Conference Proceedings will be published soon after the symposium by the Cambridge University Press. More details including travel, accommodation, registration, and abstract submission can be found on the symposium web site: http://iau257.uoi.gr/. If you are interested in knowing more about Ioannina, please contact Dr. Alexander Nindos (anindos-at-cc.uoi.gr), LOC chair. Nat Gopalswamy, David Webb, and Kazunari Shibata: SOC Co-chairs ********************************************** >From : Terry Onsager Space Weather Workshop 2008 The 2008 Space Weather Workshop will be held April 29 - May 2, 2008, in Boulder, Colorado. This meeting will bring the customer, forecasting, and research communities together to focus on the impacts of space weather, on forecasting techniques, and on recent scientific advances in specifying and predicting conditions in the space environment. The conference program will highlight space weather impacts in several areas of the environment, including ionospheric disturbances, satellite drag, auroral currents, geomagnetic storms and their solar drivers, radiation belts, and solar energetic particles. Representatives from industries impacted by space weather will be invited to attend, including those from electric power, commercial airlines, satellite operations, and navigation/communication. Space Weather Workshop 2008 is co-organized by the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center, NASA, and the NSF Division of Atmospheric Science. Further details regarding the meeting agenda and travel will be posted on our web site: http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/sww ********************************************** From: Bruce Lites Second Hinode Science Meeting, Boulder, 29 Sep - 3 Oct 2008 The Second Hinode Science Meeting will be held in Boulder, Colorado, USA at the National Center for Atmospheric Research during the week of 29 September - 3 October 2008. Following the highly successful First Hinode Science Meeting in Dublin in August 2007, the Second Meeting will provide the opportunity to display and discuss more in-depth studies involving Hinode data. The meeting will highlight coordinated observational and/or theoretical studies involving data from all Hinode instruments, and from other observatories as well. Participation is encouraged from all parties involved in Hinode-related science, regardless of specific involvement with Hinode data. A First Announcement containing more information will be circulated in late January 2008 ******************************************** From: Ilia Roussev SPD SPS Summer School: Jul 7-11, 2008, Maui, Hawai'i The Solar Physics Division (SPD) of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) announces its third summer school in solar physics, which will be devoted to the Solar Atmosphere and Its Dynamics. The school is being organized jointly with the Solar Physics Section (SPS) of the Joint Astrophysics Division (JAD) of the European Physical Society (EPS) and the European Astronomical Society (EAS), and it will be held at the new Advanced Technology Research Center (ATRC) of the Institute for Astronomy (IfA) on Maui during Jul 7-11, 2008. The summer school aims to provide an in-depth introduction to the solar atmosphere and its dynamics, as inferred from modern observations, theory, and numerical modeling. An essential part of the school curriculum is to enable students to gain hands-on experience with various aspects of solar physics research - from collecting data of coronal magnetic fields at the Haleakala observatory to numerical modeling of dynamic processes in the solar corona. The students will design and obtain their own coronal measurements. The solar research programs at the IfA have developed, and continue to develop, breakthrough technology for advancing our understanding of the structure and dynamics of the Sun, such as the Imaging Vector Magnetograph (IVM), SOLARC, and the future Advanced Technology Solar Telescope (ATST). These observational programs are complemented with a self-sustaining numerical modeling effort within the solar group of the IfA. Thus, the research agenda of the IfA provides the necessary grounds on which to accomplish the objectives of this summer school. The summer school agenda will include the following topics: (i) Observing and Understanding the Solar Atmosphere (Day 1); (ii) Observations of Magnetic Fields in the Solar Atmosphere: Present and Future (Day 2); (iii) Dynamic Processes in the Solar Atmosphere (Day 3); (iv) Solar Wind and Inner Heliosphere (Day 4); and (v) Connecting Our Understanding of the Solar Atmosphere with Other Stars (Day 5). The lecturers at the school will be: Tahar Amari (Ecole Polytechnique, France), Gene Avrett (Center for Astrophysics, USA), Markus Aschwanden (Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Center, USA), Shadia Habbal (Institute for Astronomy, USA), Rolf Kudritzki (Institute for Astronomy, USA), Jeff Kuhn (Institute for Astronomy, USA), Haosheng Lin (Institute for Astronomy, USA), Daniel Mueller (European Space Agency), Matt Penn (National Solar Observatory, USA), Stefaan Poedts (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium), John Raymond (Center for Astrophysics, USA), and Ilia Roussev (Institute for Astronomy, USA). The summer school is being funded by NASA, LWS, NSF, and ESA. Approximately 18 scholars (chosen from graduate students through first-year postdoctoral fellows) will be selected through a competitive process to participate in the school. Preference in the selection process, however, will be given to graduate students. Former SPD summer school graduates will have lower priority. There will be no tuition fee to attend the school, and selected students will receive financial support for travel, accommodation, and meals. At most 3 students with their own funding can be accepted to attend the school. A successful candidate should have: * A major in physics with an emphasis on astrophysics or solar physics; and, * A plan to pursue a career in solar physics. Application materials should comprise: * A cover letter briefly stating the motivation for application; * Curriculum Vitae with a list of publications (if any), technical reports, and professional presentations; * Names and addresses of three references (one must be the student's advisor); and * Academic transcripts. The application materials should be mailed to Ilia Roussev, Institute for Astronomy, 2680 Woodlawn Drive, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, USA. E-mail inquiries should be sent to . The deadline for submission of applications is March 15, 2008. Further details about the summer school can be found at . ************************************ From: Nicolas Labrosse International Space Science Institute ISSI Call for Proposals for International Teams in Space Science (incl. Geosciences) The International Space Science Institute (ISSI) in Bern, Switzerland, invites proposals from International Teams to conduct on its premises study activities in Space Science (Earth System sciences, Solar and Solar Terrestrial science, Planetary science, Astrobiology, Astrophysics and Fundamental physics), based on the analysis and evaluation of existing data from several spacecraft and eventual integration with ground observations and theoretical models. Letter of Intent: February 19, 2008 Deadline for proposals: March 23. 2008 Applications: The text of the Call is to be found on the ISSI site www.issibern.ch/visitors.html Bern, 17 January 2008 Vittorio Manno Dr.Vittorio Manno Programme manager International Space Science Institute (ISSI) Hallerstrasse 6 CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland Tel: +41 31 6314893/96 fax: +41 31 6314897 E-mail: manno@issibern.ch *********************************************************************** * * * Positions Vacant * * * *********************************************************************** From: Ilia Roussev Solar & Heliospheric Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Institute for Astronomy Job ID# 27768 Closing Date: 02/29/2008 Non-Regular, Full-Time, Limited Term, RCUH Non-Civil Service position with the Institute for Astronomy (IFA), located in Honolulu, Hawaii. Continuation of employment is dependent upon program/operational needs, satisfactory work performance, and availability of funds. Continuation of employment is dependent upon program/operational needs, satisfactory work performance, and availability of funds. Minimum Monthly Salary: Commensurate with qualifications. Duties: Conduct research in the study of solar eruptions and associated energetic particle events. Work will involve numerical modeling, data analysis, and the preparation of scientific reports and publications. Minimum Qualifications: Education: PhD Degree from an accredited college or university in Astronomy or Physics. (PhD candidates may apply but must submit evidence of PhD completion upon hire.) Experience: Experience in solar and heliospheric physics research with emphasis on numerical modeling of coronal mass ejections and solar energetic particles. Abil/Know/Skills: Knowledge of current research in solar and heliospheric physics. Skills in parallel computing. Desirable Qualifications: Knowledge of FORTRAN 90/95 and IDL. Inquiries: Dr. Ilia Roussev 956-6648 (Oahu). Application Requirements: The preferred method of applying for a job is through our on-line application process. Please go to , click on Employment and navigate to Job Announcements/Apply for a Job (Job ID# 27768). However, if you do not have access to the Internet, you may apply by submitting resume; cover letter including Recruitment ID#, referral source, narrative of your qualifications for position and salary history; names, phone numbers and addresses of three supervisory references and copy of degree(s)/transcripts/certificate(s) to qualify for position by fax (808) 956-5022 or mail to Director of Human Resources, Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii, 2530 Dole Street, Sakamaki Hall D-100, Honolulu, HI 96822 before the closing date, which is Feb 29, 2008. EEO/AA Employer. ******************************************** From: Thierry Appourchaux Postdoc fellowship in Asteroseismology The Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale is offering a post doctoral fellowship in Asteroseismology. The candidate will be integrated in the Solar and Stellar Physics Department. The Department has been involved in the development of hardware, data analysis preparation and data archiving for the COROT mission. The successful candidate will participate in the analysis of the COROT data for making inference, or for placing constraints, on the internal structure and dynamics of the observed stars, as well as for studying the stellar magnetic activity of the observed stars. The contract will be set for one year, to renewed once for one year (2 years maximum) for net salary of at least 1860 euros per months (social security already deducted), depending on experience. The earliest starting date subject to negotiation shall be March 1st, 2008. Applications, including a CV, a statement of research interest and recommendation letter(s) must be sent before 15th February 2008 by email to Thierry.Appourchaux@ias.u-psud.fr. Applicants are welcome to contact Thierry Appourchaux (+33-1-69-85-86-29). ******************************************** From: Dan Kiselman Three-year postdoctoral position in Stockholm The Institute for Solar Physics of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm invites applications for a postdoctoral researcher position of three years duration. The institute runs the Swedish 1-m Solar Telescope (SST) on La Palma. The deadline for applications is 3 March 2008. See www.solarphysics.kva.se/postdoc.html for details and application instructions. ******************************************** From: Eva Robbrecht Engineer / Computer scientist position at the SIDC - Royal Observatory of Belgium (Brussels) The SIDC has opened a position for an engineer computer science/electronics or a master / PhD in Sciences with extensive experience in UNIX and acquaintance with different operating systems. The initial function is data administrator. Candidates with interest in instrument optics or any other branch of our research have the potential to pursue a scientific career. Full job description is available at www.sidc.be/jobs. Salary, social security and pension scheme are set according to Belgian civil servant rules. Funding is available for travel and small expenses. The contract has a duration of one year and is possibly renewable. The ROB is a Belgian Federal institute in the southern green outskirts of Brussels. The SIDC is a research group of about 25 researchers and technicians from different nationalities. English is the baseline language spoken within the team. Applications and/or questions should be sent asap to: Eva.Robbrecht@oma.be, Hochedez@oma.be, Matthijs.Krijger@oma.be ******************************************** From: John Brown University of Glasgow Faculty of Physical Sciences Department of Physics and Astronomy Research Assistant in Solar Physics Theory Ref: 14023/DPO/A3 Salary: GBP 23,692 - 26,666 The successful candidate will undertake high-quality research in solar physics, and assist in the activities of the Astronomy and Astrophysics Group led by Professor JC Brown, Astronomer Royal for Scotland to whom informal queries may be sent (john@astro.gla.ac.uk). Applicants will have a good knowledge of solar physics, especially high energy plasma theoretical modelling and/or simulations, and will be expected to contribute to strengthening the research group profile in these areas. This post has funding for 2 years in the first instance. Further information can be found at www.gla.ac.uk/jobs Applications should be submitted to Daphne Davidson, Secretary to Astronomy and Astrophysics Group, Kelvin Building, Dept of Physics and Astronomy, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ. Closing date: 22 February 2008 *********************************************************************** * * * MIST Resolutions * * * *********************************************************************** MIST RESOLUTIONS Adopted Monday 21 January 2008 Resolution 1 Statement Contrary to prior reassurances, the structure and operation of the newly-formed STFC has resulted in grant funding for research being subject to the vagaries of variations in major international subscriptions and in the operating budgets of large facilities, largely unrelated to the STFC grant-supported research programme. The MIST community believes that these arrangements are disastrous for all the grant-supported research communities that the STFC serves, inparticular having substantial negative impact on HEI Physics Departments throughout the UK both immediately and in the long-term. While participation in international programmes and the provision of cutting-edge facilities are essential, it is equally important to ensure the health of the grant-supported research communities, including young scientists, who scientifically exploit these investments. Action Requested Rapid steps must be taken to implement new administrative arrangements that ensure stable ring-fenced grant funding, preferably by transferring grant-awarding activities to another body. Resolution 2 Statement The MIST community is deeply concerned about the lack of transparency in recent decision-making within the STFC, the lack of appropriate domain knowledge within its policy-forming structures, and the lack of consultation and discussion with the community. We are particularly exercised about the process, basis, and rationale through which the decision was taken to "cease all support for ground-based solar-terrestrial physics facilities". This decision appears perverse in view of the existing, and future potential for, high-impact world class research in this area, the contribution to the motivation and training of young scientists, and the immediate connection to knowledge exchange and economic impact, all of which are directly aligned with the government's vision for the mission of the STFC. Actions Requested As a first step we request publication of all procedures, criteria, metrics, performance indicators and rankings that were developed in the steps leading up to and during the key research council reviews that led to the decisions announced in the December 2007 Delivery Plan. This request includes reviews of predecessor bodies cited as pertinent by STFC, notably the last PPARC programmatic review. Furthermore, we request the timely publication of the STFC science strategy and evaluation criteria and metrics for future grant application rounds, including the forthcoming round in June 2008. We also support the calls by the Institute of Physics, the Royal Astronomical Society, and the Particle Physics community for a moratorium on implementation of the STFC Delivery Plan until the Wakeham Review of Physics has been conducted and its conclusions reported, and we call on DIUS to find the modest funding needed to allow this to happen. Resolution 3 Statement In view of the above considerations the MIST community wishes to express no confidence in the financial, administrative, decision-making, and communication arrangements within the STFC as presently implemented. These are inadequate to provide appropriate future stewardship of our research discipline to the scientific, cultural, and economic benefit of the UK, and inadequate for the training of young scientists which is of clear benefit to physics in the UK. Actions Requested We request a change of the structures, and individuals in the STFC council, responsible for the current failure. ********************************************************************* * * * Editors' Notes * * * ********************************************************************* The UK Solar Physics Newsletters will be distributed on a monthly basis, with occasional extra issues for breaking news. Please note, the UK Solar Physics Web is now back, at http://www.uksolphys.org/ Submissions to the UK Solar Physics Newsletters should be e-mailed to Lyndsay Fletcher (copied to Duncan Mackay). Any suggestions and ideas are welcome. Please keep meeting and workshop announcements to a reasonable length of typed text with a max of 72 characters per line, with a Web address for further information. Also notify Lyndsay of any email address changes. You may always unsubscribe from this list by sending an email to either of the editors with the words 'UKSP-unsubscribe' in the subject line. The Editors http://www.uksolphys.org *********************************************************************** *Lyndsay Fletcher Duncan Mackay * *Dept. of Physics and Astronomy School of Mathematics & Statistics* *The Kelvin Building North Haugh * *University of Glasgow University of St Andrews * *Glasgow G12 8QQ St Andrews, KY16 9SS * *Tel.: +44-(0)141-330 5311 Tel: +44-(0)1334 463760 * *Fax : +44-(0)141-330 5183 Fax: +44-(0)1334 463748 * *Email: lyndsay@astro.gla.ac.uk Email: duncan@mcs.st-andrews.ac.uk* *www.astro.gla.ac.uk/users/lyndsay www-solar.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/~duncan* *********************************************************************** _______________________________________________ uksp mailing list uksp@physics.gla.ac.uk http://www.physics.gla.ac.uk/mailman/listinfo/uksp