SEPTEMBER 2016 - TOPICS

Short News Retirement of Prominent Hel.A.S. Members GSRT Call of Interest by Greek Entities for Optional ESA Programmes Researcher Positions at IAASARS / NOA Upcoming Astronomy Meetings in Greece About this Newsletter

1. Short News

We would like to congratulate Dr. Manos Chatzopoulos (BSc University of Crete and PhD University of Texas at Austin), a member of our Society, who has completed his E. Fermi Fellowship at the University of Chicago, and he is moving as an Assistant Professor of Theoretical Astrophysics to the Department of Physics & Astronomy of the Louisiana State University. We would like to congratulate Dr. Marios Karouzos (BSc University of Athens and PhD University of Cologne & MPI for Radio Astronomy), a member of our Society, who has recently commenced his appointment as an Associate Editor of "Nature Astronomy", a new online-only journal of astronomy, astrophysics and planetary science. Nature Astronomy will initiate in 2017 and will be published by the well known and prestigious Springer Nature Publishing Group. We would like to congratulate Assistant Professor Kleomenis Tsiganis of the University of Thessaloniki, a member and former Secretary of our Society, who has been selected for the 2016 Paolo Farinella Prize for his contributions to applications of celestial mechanics to the natural bodies of our solar system.The award ceremony will be hosted by the European Planetary Science Congress at a joint Meeting with the US Division of Planetary Science that will be held in Pasadena, California, USA, from 16 to 21 October.

2. Retirement of Prominent Hel.A.S. Members

On September 1, 2016, five former members of the Governing Council (G.C.) and the Auditory Committee (A.C.) of our Society are retiring from their positions as University faculty. These members include former Presidents N. Kylafis (Crete) and L. Vlahos (Thessaloniki), former Treasurer H. Varvoglis (Thessaloniki), as well as S. Avgoloupis (Thessaloniki) and E. Danezis (Athens), members of the G.C. and the A.C., respectively. On behalf of all Society members, the President and the G.C. would like to thank the above colleagues for their contribution to the Society and to the advancement of Greek astronomy, in general. Furthermore, we wish them a seamless continuation of their creative work for many years to come.

3. GSRT Call of Interest by Greek Entities for Optional ESA Programmes

The General Secretariat of Research and Technology (GSRT) is soliciting advice by the Hellenic science and technology communities on potentially promising national contribution to selected Optional Programmes of the European Space Agency (ESA). As an ESA member state, Greece is eligible to initiate participation to these Programmes, besides the Mandatory ESA Science Programme, during the forthcoming Ministerial Meeting between the ESA Council and member-state research ministers that will be taking place in December 2016. Participation allows to all national entities, public or private, to be actively involved in or lead approved scientific or technological projects sponsored by ESA, thus advancing national scientific visibility and technological know-how. The deadline for public feedback to GSRT expires on September 16. Interested individual or parties can find more information here.

4. Researcher Positions at IAASARS / NOA

The Institute for Astronomy, Astrophysics, Space Applications and Remote Sensing (IAASARS) of the National Observatory of Athens (NOA), expects to have openings for several tenure track researcher positions over the next two years. We are interested in recruiting motivated individuals with strong publication record, several years of research experience past their PhD, international collaborations, and ability to attract funding. Complementarity with the research areas already pursued at IAASARS / NOA as well as interest in the efficient use or upgrade of existing infrastructure is also desired. For more information you may contact the Director of IAASARS / NOA, Prof. V. Charmandaris, at charmandaris@noa.gr

5. Upcoming Astronomy Meetings in Greece

17th NEB conference on “Recent Developments in Gravity” Mykonos, September 19-22, 2016 The ISM-SPP Olympian School of Astrophysics  Paralia Katerinis, October 3-7, 2016

6. About this Newsletter

This Newsletter was sent to all members of Hel.A.S. who have e-mail access. The next edition of the Newsletter will be mailed around October 1st, 2016. Please send your announcements (e.g. appointments/departures, job openings, research opportunities, awards, conferences in Greece) or comments before September 26, 2016. If you do not wish to receive future issues of this Newsletter or the e-mail address to which it was sent is not your preferred one, please inform the Secretary of Hel.A.S at secretary@helas.gr.