February 2026 - TOPICS
Short News Involvement in ESA Space Science Programs Special Webinar on World Science Day for Women and Girls in Science Update Member Information Upcoming Astronomy Meetings and Schools in Greece About this Newsletter
1. Short News
The Society would like to congratulate Dr. Leonidas Moustakas who was recently appointed Manager of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Science, Implementation, and Operations Division on October 15, 2025. This Division of around 800 scientists, engineers, technologists, and other specialists, integrates all of JPL’s science disciplines with formulation, mission design and navigation, project and mission system engineering, and all operations, under one organizational roof. The Society extends its best wishes to Dr. Moustakas for further successes in his professional pursuits. The Society would like to congratulate Mrs. Lydia Konstantinou, a PhD student in the Department of Physics at the University of Patras and the Institute for Astronomy, Astrophysics, Space Applications, and Remote Sensing (IAASARS/NOA), on being awarded a one-year studentship grant through the ESO Studentship Programme Europe 2025/2026. The grant supports her proposed research on the effect of galactic properties on nebular classification, which will be carried out in Santiago/Chile, under the supervision of Dr. Stavros Akras (IAASARS/NOA), Dr. Enrico Congiu (ESO) and Dr. Fuyan Bian (ESO). The Society extends its best wishes to Mrs. Konstantinou for further successes in her professional pursuits. The Society would like to congratulate  to Mr. Konstantinos Bouvis, a PhD student in the Department of Physics at the University of Patras and the Institute for Astronomy, Astrophysics, Space Applications, and Remote Sensing (IAASARS/NOA), on being awarded a one-year studentship grant through the ESO Studentship Programme Europe 2025/2026. The grant supports his proposed research on the effect of of UV radiation across different environments, combining protoplanetary disks and planetary nebulae. The fellowship will be carried out in Garching/Germany, under the supervision of Dr. Stavros Akras (IAASARS/NOA) and Dr. Felice Manara (ESO). The Society extends its best wishes to Mr. Bouvis for further successes in his professional pursuits.
2. Involvement in ESA Space Science Programs
This is a follow-up on a news item published in the January 2026 issue, where Prof. Ioannis A. Daglis, national delegate of Greece to the ESA Science Programme Committee, invited our members to submit short descriptions of personal or group involvement in space science programs of the European Space Agency (ESA). Along with thanks for the feedback received so far, a couple of clarifications: i. the information relevant to the possibility of arranging displays at the "Space Exhibition" at the Syntagma Metro Station (Athens) on March 21-25, 2026, has to be communicated before February 16, 2026, at the latest. Interested members may insert their information directly into this table . ii. The information regarding active roles in upcoming or proposed ESA space missions may be inserted any time into this table.
3. Special Webinar on World Science Day for Women and Girls in Science
On the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, 11 February 2026,  the International Science Council, the InterAcademy Partnership and the Standing Committee for Gender Equality in Science will present the findings of their new global study on gender equality in scientific organizations. The webinar is entitled "Women in scientific organizations: 10 years of global evidence from science academies and unions". You may register using this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/gd1VzvMZT3mP-YK2LBM_pw
4. Update Member Information
All members are strongly encouraged to check their information on the Society's webpage and contact the Secretary if any updates are needed. Your prompt feedback for any address/institution changes is essential in order to keep this directory up to date!
5. Upcoming Astronomy Meetings and Schools in Greece
MuMeNTA: Multi-Messenger Numerical Techniques in Astrophysics 2-4 March 2026, Athens, Harokopeio University 5th Olympian Symposium: The Evolution of Interstellar Medium Across Cosmic Times 18-22 May 2026, Paralia Katerini 16th Quadrennial Solar-Terrestrial Physics Symposium 1-5 June 2026, Thessaloniki Note: The weekend before the conference a school for young scientists will be held. Complexity in Heliophysics: Celebrating the Career and Works of Loukas Vlahos 8-10 June 2026, Thessaloniki 6th Hel.A.S. Astrophysics Summer School on "Multi-messenger Astronomy" 24 - 28 August 2026, Athens, Physics Department Tidal Disruption Events and Nuclear Transients in Crete vol. 2 24-28 August 2026, Heraklion, Crete
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 March 1, 2026. Please send your announcements (e.g., appointments / departures, job openings, research opportunities, awards, conferences in Greece) or comments before February 25, 2026. 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.