OCTOBER 2017 - TOPICS

Short News The 2017 IAA von Karman Award Presented to Dr. Stamatios Krimigis Changes in the IAU Statutes, Bylaws, and Working Rules Submission of Candidacies for IAU Individual and Junior Members  "Astronomy in Chile" - Brief Report by Dr. Patricio Rojo Student and Postdoctoral Research Opportunities Abroad Upcoming Astronomy Meetings in Greece About this Newsletter

1. Short News

The Society wishes to remind its Junior Members of the December 15 travel grant deadline for meeting trips planned for the first half of 2018. Notice that every PhD student and every meeting (Conference, Workshop or School) is eligible for partial reimbursement of expenses, provided that the meeting is deemed paramount for the completion of the student's PhD Thesis. More information, including the travel grant request form, is available here.

2. The 2017 IAA von Karman Award Presented to Dr. Stamatios Krimigis

The Society is delighted to announce that, on September 24, its Ordinary Member Dr. Stamatios Krimigis was awarded with the 2017 von Karman Award of the International Academy of Aeronautics. IAA's premier award was presented during its annual Academy Day celebration in Adelaide, Australia. The Award is named after the IAA's founder and first President, Theodore von Karman. Dr. Krimigis was cited for his lifetime "leadership and scholarship in the space sciences and astronautics, including his discovery and promotion of the physics of energetic particles throughout the solar system and into near-interstellar space; his development of scientific instruments to explore the environments where those particles exist; and his articulation and application of policy-shifting paradigms in robotic space exploration that led to fundamental advances across astronautics". The detailed press release from JHU/APL, where Dr. Krimigis is Director Emeritus of the Space Department, can be found here.  Dr. Krimigis is the only scientist worldwide to have led or participated in space physics experiments destined to all nine classical planets of the solar system. A NASA mission Principal Investigator in five cases, including the Voyagers and Cassini missions, Dr. Krimigis has deeply influenced the state of the art in robotic space exploration. The Society is distinctly privileged to have Dr. Krimigis in its Member ranks. A tribute video highlighting aspects of Dr. Krimigis' school-forming influence at JHU/APL can be found here.

3. Changes in the IAU Statutes, Bylaws and Working Rules

The International Astronomical Union has approved a draft proposal for amendments in its Statutes, Bylaws and Working Rules. For the information of the Society's Members, this draft proposal can be found here, while the IAU announcement describing it at some detail can be found here. The final proposal will be submitted for approval during the next IAU General Assembly in Vienna, Austria. In brief, three categories of amendments have been proposed: 1. The introduction of two new IAU member categories, namely "Junior Members" and "Honorary Members". Junior Members, in particular, are intended to be PhD researchers at the early stages of their postdoctoral involvement. 2. The modification of the Interim and Prospective Category of National Members. 3. A minor modification in Article XIV on the "Dissolution of the Union". Society Members are invited to review the draft proposal and send comments, suggestions and feedback via e-mail to the President of the National Committee for Astronomy (NCA), Prof. Nikolaos Kylafis, here. The NCA President will need to submit possible comments and suggestions no later than November 30, 2017. Therefore, Society Members are advised to send feedback to the NCA President well in advance.

4. Submission of Candidacies for IAU Individual and Junior Members

Society members who are not IAU members and wish to join the IAU, either as Individual Members or, for the first time, as Junior Members, are advised to submit their candidacy to the NCA President, Prof. Nikolaos Kylafis. Prospective members are strongly advised to first read the instructions of the NCA and then complete the relevant form, available in both PDF and Microsoft Word. Members must complete, print and sign the completed candidacy form, to be submitted to the NCA President by ordinary mail, to the address included in the instructions. The submission deadline is February 2, 2018.

5. "Astronomy in Chile" - Brief Report by Dr. Patricio Rojo

Society Members who attended the recent Hellenic Astronomical Conference would remember that Dr. Patricio Rojo, President of the Chilean Astronomical Society, was invited to deliver a plenary talk on the state of astronomy in Chile, with emphasis on large astronomy facilities in the country and science highlights. Dr. Rojo has kindly made available a written report with a resume of his presentation in Heraklion, to the benefit and information of all Society Members. This report is available here.

6. Student and Postdoctoral Research Opportunities Abroad

The list below may be refreshed or updated with further established lists: AAS Pre-Doctoral / Graduate positions here. AAS PostDoctoral Positions and Fellowships here. EAS Job Directory (choose "PhD positions" or "Academic jobs" accordingly) here. EAS School Directory here. IAU Careers in Astronomy here. Careers and research fellowship opportunities at ESA here. Careers at NASA here. ESO Recruitment Portal here. CERN opportunities for students here. CERN opportunities for graduates here. PhD studentships available at Georgia tech here. Any Member of the Society who wishes to contribute another credible link with opportunities, or individual opportunities that will, however, shown in a single-liner format as above, is encouraged to contact the Secretary of the Society.

7. Upcoming Astronomy Meetings in Greece

The Olympian Symposium 2018: gas and stars from milli- to mega- parsecs,  Paralia Katerini, Mount Olympus, May 28 - June 1, 2018

8. 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 November 1, 2017.  Please send your announcements (e.g., appointments / departures, job openings, research opportunities, awards, conferences in Greece) or comments before October 25, 2017. 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.