AAS 2014 Prize Nominations Are Due Soon
The AAS needs your help in getting due recognition for our most outstanding colleagues. Nominations and letters of support for the AAS prizes for 2014 must arrive in the Secretary's office by 30 June 2013.
AAS Topical Conference Series Deadlines Are Approaching
Abstracts are due at 9 p.m. ET on May 1st for the inaugural meetings in the new AAS Topical Conference Series (AASTCS): Probes of Dark Matter on Galaxy Scales, Exascale Radio Astronomy, and Giants of Eclipse. All three meetings will be held in July 2013 in Monterey, California, at a comfortable mountain setting with ample opportunity for recreation.
Career Profile: Astronomer to Video Game Designer
The AAS Committee on the Status of Women in Astronomy and the AAS Employment Committee have compiled dozens of interviews highlighting the diversity of career trajectories available to astronomers. The interviews share advice and lessons learned from individuals on those paths.
Andrew Fraknoi Wins 2013 Faraday Science Communicator Award
Andrew Fraknoi, the chair of the Astronomy Department at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, California, has won the 2013 Faraday Science Communicator Award from the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA).
Strategies for Improving Diversity: A Summary of the AIP Assembly of Society Officers Meeting
The American Institute of Physics, the umbrella organization for 10 professional societies (including the AAS) and 24 affiliate societies, hosted its annual Assembly of Society Officers on 4 April to discuss important issues of common concern to our members.
NASA Astrophysics Roadmap Town Hall — Change of Plans
As a result of the new NASA policies to reduce spending on travel and conferences under the sequester, the planned NASA Astrophysics Roadmap Town Hall has been cancelled. Instead, the Roadmap team will invite authors of selected abstracts to present their ideas in a web-based meeting.
FASEB Survey on National Science Board RFI on Administrative Workload of Investigators
The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) created an online survey to obtain feedback from the research community on administrative burden.
A Plan for AAS Institutional Representatives
AAS President David Helfand describes a new program, based on the precinct-captain model of election campaigns, to improve communication between the Society and its members.
Astronomer vs. Data Scientist
In this column from the Committee on Employment, Jessica Kirkpatrick elaborates on the differences between academia and a career in data science.
AAS Statement on the Impact of Federal Agency Travel Restrictions on Scientific Conferences
The American Astronomical Society and its six divisions (Planetary Science, High Energy Astrophysics, Solar Physics, Dynamical Astronomy, Historical Astronomy, and Laboratory Astrophysics) are deeply concerned about the impact of the Administration’s new conference travel restrictions on the scientific productivity and careers of researchers who are Federal employees and contractors.
Latest IAU Education Newsletter Now Available
The Spring 2013 edition of the newsletter (Number 77) of the IAU Commission on Education and Development is available at the Commission 46 website. It is in PDF format and can be downloaded, along with past newsletters. The new editor of the newsletter, which is distributed worldwide, is Larry Marschall of Gettysburg College.
Giants of Eclipse: One Week Left to Submit Abstracts!
AASTCS 3: Giants of Eclipse Abstract Deadline Reminder
HEAD 13 Hotel Deadline Extended
The Portola Hotel and Spa has extended the reservations deadline through 5pm PST Tuesday, 12 March 2013. There are a limited number of government rooms are available for $134 a night.
Visit the HEAD 13 Hotel Reservations and Travel Information page to make your reservations and view travel information.
President's Column
For a significant fraction of our membership, February is probably not their favorite month. Despite being the calendrical midget with the smallest number of days, for those on the job market it probably produces the largest amount of anxiety. Indeed, the entire job search process seems to consume a larger number of months, a larger expenditure of resources, a larger amount of time, and a larger quantity of emotional energy than it did the last time I applied for a job 36 years ago. Should we reduce this burden? And, if so, how do we go about doing that?
News from NSF Division of Astronomical Sciences (AST)
NSF and the ABCs of Sequestration
AAAS Asks You To Speak Up for Science
Sign the petition to help protect federal funding for research and development. Together we can make a difference. Speak up today!
Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program
DUE DATES
Letter of Intent Deadline: 20 February 2013
Full Proposal Deadline: 20 March 2013
The NSF Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program seeks to encourage talented science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) majors and professionals to become K-12 mathematics and science teachers.
A New AAS Working Group on Astroinformatics and Astrostatistics
In response to a White Paper submitted to the Astro2010 Decadal Survey (arXiv:0909.3892), and with the support of former and current AAS Presidents Elmegreen and Helfand, a new AAS Working Group on Astroinformatics and Astrostatistics has been approved by the AAS Council at the 220th Meeting, June 2012, in Anchorage.
Astronomer to Data Scientist
I recently made the transition from astrophysics researcher to data scientist for a tech company. Here are suggestions for people in academia / research who are interested in pursuing a tech job.
AAS 2013 Election Results
The results of the latest AAS election are presented below. The Society thanks all who agreed to stand for election, for their commitment and service to the community, and congratulates the winners.
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