DECEMBER 2010 - TOPICS

Short News The 10th Conference of Hel.A.S. Teaching of the Astronomy Course in Greek high-schools. IAU Online Directory AO for ExoMars Entry, Descent and Landing Demonstrator Module Science Upcoming Astronomy Meetings in Greece About this Newsletter

1. SHORT NEWS

We would like to congratulate Dr. Vasiliki Pavlidou who was recently elected as an Assistant Professor of Theoretical Astrophysics at the Department of Physics of the University of Crete. We regret to announce that the web-based journal "Cosmic pathways (in greek "Κοσμικές Διαδρομές")", edited by Dr. M. Plionis, can no longer continue its successful activities, due to lack of the necessary supporting personnel.

2. THE TENTH CONFERENCE OF HEL.A.S.

The Governing Council of Hel.A.S. met on the 29th of November 2010. As usual the minutes of the meeting will soon be available online at the end of the web page: http://www.helas.gr/council.php The Council took decisions regarding the organization of the 10th Conference of the Society which will take place at Ioannina from the 5th until the 8th of September 2011. All relevant information, together with the first announcement, will appear on the conference's web page which will be available on the 17th of December at the top of the web page: http://www.helas.gr/past_conf.php

3. TEACHING OF THE ASTRONOMY COURSE IN GREEK HIGH-SCHOOLS

There have been rumours the last few weeks that the Astronomy Course in the Greek high school will be abolished. The Council discussed this issue in its last meeting, and decided to take all necessary action to protest against it (details will be announced in the minutes of the Council's last meeting). In the meantime, we would like to inform you that an internet based petition against this action has already been set up by numerous Greek amateur clubs at: http://www.gopetition.com/petition/40538.html We encourage you to visit the above site and if you agree to sign the petition.

4. IAU ONLINE DIRECTORY

As most of us are probably aware the International Astronomical Union (IAU) maintains an online directory of its members. There are 108 astronomers from Greece who are also IAU members. We would like to remind the members of our Society who are also IAU members that it is possible to update by themselves their address details in the IAU directory. Simply visit the dedicated web site at: http://www.iau.org/auth/login Login, and update the relevant information. Those who do not remember their password can request a new one online by providing their e-mail address. It is important that this information is correct as it reflects the status of astronomy in Greece.

5. AO FOR EXOMARS PROGRAM

ESA and NASA have issued an announcement of opportunity for scientific investigations on the 2016 ExoMars Entry, Descent and Landing Demonstrator Module (EDM). They request in particular: 1) Proposals from science teams to conduct scientific analyses on the data acquired by the EDM’s Engineering Sensors during the entry and descent phases, and 2) Proposals for complete science investigations that include an integrated payload or a sensor to be accommodated as part of the integrated payload to be included in the EDM. More information can be found in: http://exploration.esa.int/science-e/www/object/index.cfm?fobjectid=47940

6. UPCOMING ASTRONOMY MEETINGS IN GREECE

The following meetings will take place in Greece. Please check the corresponding web page or contact the organizers by e-mail for more information.

10th Conference of Hel.A.S. Ioannina, 5-8 September 2011 13th European Solar Physics Meeting (ESPM-13) Rhodes, 12-16 September 2011 More information: manolis.georgoulis@academyofathens.gr; georgia@space.noa.gr

7. 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 January 1st 2011. Please send your announcements (e.g. appointments/departures, job openings, research opportunities, awards, conferences in Greece) or comments before December 20, 2010. 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.