UK Solar Physics » General News

Solar News Items of Interest

uksp_sec — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 11:14:05 +0000

Solar News Items of Interest

http://solarnews.nso.edu/2010/20100713.txt

End of EIT CME watch observations
Nature will start accepting solar papers again
ACCEHS Workshop: SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT
AGU Fall 2010 – Session SH04 : Nonlinear Structures and Processes in the
Solar Wind Plasma
Electronics engineer position (full time) University of Kiel
Post-Doctoral research position (full time) University of Kiel

RHESSI Science Nugget

uksp_sec — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 13:07:22 +0000

From: Hugh Hudson – hhudson@ssl.berkeley.edu

RHESSI Science Nugget

http://sprg.ssl.berkeley.edu/~tohban/wiki/index.php/Cloudy_SolarSoftware

The Cloud helps with access to data in the Virtual Solar Observatory.

“Harmonic Oscillations” – RHESSI rotation and nutation are necessary, but may
complicate time-series analysis.

Change of Address: From:

uksp_sec — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 13:04:17 +0000

From: Stephen Bradshaw – Stephen.Bradshaw@rice.edu

Change of Address

As of July 1st 2010 my contact details are:

Dr. Stephen Bradshaw
(Asst. Prof. Physics and Astronomy)
Physics and Astronomy Department, MS-108,
Rice University,
6100 Main Street,
Houston,
TX 77005.

Tel: 713-348-4045
Email: Stephen.Bradshaw@rice.edu

ChiantiPy – a Python interface to the CHIANTI atomic database for astrophysical spectroscopy

uksp_sec — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 13:02:43 +0000

From: Ken Dere – kdere@gmu.edu

ChiantiPy – a Python interface to the CHIANTI atomic database for astrophysical
spectroscopy

http://chiantipy.sourceforge.net/

We are pleased to announce the release of ChiantiPy, a Python package for calculating synthetic spectra from the CHIANTI atomic database for astrophysical spectroscopy. ChiantiPy provides the same functionality as the existing IDL package. One benefit of ChiantiPy is that it uses Python, a freely available programming language. ChiantiPy is constructed as an object-oriented package that provides a good match to the modular construction of the CHIANTI database itself. Our intention is to maintain both the IDL and Python packages for the indefinite future.

The documentation for ChiantiPy can be found at

http://chiantipy.sourceforge.net/

and the software package can be downloaded from

http://sourceforge.net/projects/chiantipy/

Python is available for Windows, Mac OS, Linux and Unix. ChiantiPy itself has been developed on a Linux platform and has received most of its testing on Linux. In software development terminology, it is an ‘alpha’ release, meaning it has not really undergone sufficient testing in a variety of environments. We welcome reports of user’s experiences on the chiantipy-users email list on Sourceforge:

chiantipy-users@lists.sourceforge.net

In addition, several discussion forums have been set up at

http://sourceforge.net/projects/chiantipy/forums

Important information regarding July and August Newsletters

uksp_sec — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 13:48:52 +0000

From : Editors

Important information regarding July and August Newsletters

The next newsletter will be published on Wednesday 14th July, one day earlier than usual. To include items in this newsletter please submit them by 10am on Wednesday 14th July.

There will be no newsletter on the 1st August and the next one will be sent out on the 15th August.

Duncan

Solar News Items of Interest

uksp_sec — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 13:41:04 +0000

Solar News Items of Interest

http://solarnews.nso.edu/2010/20100615.txt

SDO/AIA test data now available
Living Reviews in Solar Physics: “The Sun’s Supergranulation”
SDO AIA data available via the VSO
TRACE mission ending
SHINE Workshop 2010
Planning a New Flare/CME/SEP Mission
10th RHESSI Workshop: Important Deadlines
Local Helioseismology Workshop, August 2-6, 2010, Stanford
Fellowships for PhD Students in Solar System Physics
JOB OPPORTUNITY: Electronics Engineer Position at University of Kiel, Germany
JOB OPPORTUNITY: Post-doctoral Position at University of Kiel, Germany

Evaluation for STEM providers seminars

uksp_sec — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 13:35:59 +0000

From: Melanie.Illsley@stfc.ac.uk

Evaluation for STEM providers seminars [www.big.uk.com]

Free seminars run by The Royal Academy of Engineering [www.raeng.org.uk] and the British Interactive Group for researchers who are involved in public engagement or outreach work and will help you understand and implement effective evaluation.

The three seminars will be held in Newcastle (21st July), Bristol (2nd September) and Birmingham (6th September).

Please follow the link for further information on attending.

RHESSI Science Nugget

uksp_sec — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 13:18:17 +0000

From: Hugh Hudson – hhudson@ssl.berkeley.edu

http://sprg.ssl.berkeley.edu/~tohban/wiki/index.php/Albedo_and_the_modification_of_RHESSI_results

Compton backscattering of X-rays from the solar photosphere has observable
and interesting consequences

Congratulations to Richard Harrison

uksp_sec — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 13:01:15 +0000

From: andrzej.fludra@stfc.ac.uk

Congratulations to Richard Harrison for his promotion to Individual Merit-1, the highest award that can be achieved in STFC for science leadership and research.

Thanks,

Andrzej

New EIS science nugget announcement

uksp_sec — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 12:59:42 +0000

From: Lucie Green

New EIS science nugget announcement

UCL-MSSL is pleased to announce a new Hinode EIS science nugget which discusses the response of the corona to the emergence of “serpentine” magnetic field.

http://msslxr.mssl.ucl.ac.uk:8080/SolarB/eisnuggets.jsp

Next month’s nugget is entitled “Preparing EIS data using neural networks? by Suguru Kamio.

EIS nuggets are published on the 1st of every month and we welcome contributions from the community. Please contact Lucie Green if you are interested.

Solar News Items of interest

uksp_sec — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 11:12:28 +0000

http://solarnews.nso.edu/2010/20100602.txt

Web-based Online Catalog of Solar Limb Prominences (SLIPCAT)
The 2013 – 2022 NRC Decadal Survey in Solar and Space Physics
The Origin, Evolution, and Diagnosis of Solar Flare Magnetic Fields and Plasmas: Honoring the Contributions of Dick Canfield
First Announcement: XXII Canary Islands Winter School of Astrophysics on “Asteroseismology” (November 15-26, 2010)
10th RHESSI Workshop, Annapolis, Maryland, August 1 – 5, 2010
INTERNATIONAL ADVANCED SCHOOL ON SPACE WEATHER MODELLING AND APPLICATIONS
The European Planetary Science Congress (EPSC) 2010 in Rome, Italy – Sessio MG6 “Solar Wind – Magnetosphere – Ionosphere interactions throughout the solar system”
Associate Professorship in Observational Stellar Astrophysics
MMS Mission Education and Public Outreach Lead

http://solarnews.nso.edu/2010/20100615.txt

SDO/AIA test data now available
Living Reviews in Solar Physics: “The Sun’s Supergranulation”
SDO AIA data available via the VSO
TRACE mission ending
SHINE Workshop 2010
Planning a New Flare/CME/SEP Mission
10th RHESSI Workshop: Important Deadlines
Local Helioseismology Workshop, August 2-6, 2010, Stanford
Fellowships for PhD Students in Solar System Physics
JOB OPPORTUNITY: Electronics Engineer Position at University of Kiel, Germany
JOB OPPORTUNITY: Post-doctoral Position at University of Kiel, Germany

Physics of Solar Prominences: Two review papers

uksp_sec — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 10:57:39 +0000

From: Nicolas Labrosse – n.labrosse@physics.gla.ac.uk

Physics of Solar Prominences: Two review papers

We are pleased to announce the publication by Space Science Reviews of a special issue dedicated to solar prominence physics (Space Science Reviews: Volume 151, Issue 4 2010)

http://www.springerlink.com/content/w72727487478/?p=06434ef68acb406faafa8729e5a32271&pi=0

Two review papers present our current understanding and the outstanding issues in the following areas:

Paper I: Spectral Diagnostics and Non-LTE Modelling

N. Labrosse, P. Heinzel, J.-C. Vial, T. Kucera, S. Parenti, S. Gunar, B. Schmieder, and G. Kilper.
Space Science Reviews: Volume 151, Issue 4 (2010), Page 243

http://arxiv.org/abs/1001.1620

The paper discusses topics relating to:
- the spectral inversion for the cool prominence plasma and for the prominence-to-corona transition region,
- determination of bulk motions and mass,
- basics of radiative transfer for spectral diagnostics based on optically thick lines, and
- non-LTE modelling of prominences.

Paper II: Magnetic Structure and Dynamics
D.H. Mackay, J.T. Karpen, J.L. Ballester, B. Schmieder and G. Aulanier.
Space Science Reviews: Volume 151, Issue 4 (2010), Page 333

http://arxiv.org/abs/1001.1635

The paper discusses recent advances in our understanding of:
- prominence magnetic structure (observations and theory),
- formation and dynamics of prominence plasmas,
- MHD waves in prominences, and
- formation and large-scale patterns of filament channels.

On behalf of all co-authors,

Nicolas Labrosse and Duncan Mackay

Sixth Triennial Special Issue – “Images in Plasma Science”

uksp_sec — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 10:45:17 +0000

From: Nicolas Labrosse – n.labrosse@physics.gla.ac.uk

Sixth Triennial Special Issue – “Images in Plasma Science”

http://uigelz.eecs.umich.edu/tps-images/index.html

The IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science is pleased to announce the 6th Triennial Special Issue on “Images in Plasma Science” to be published August 2011.

Compelling images convey vast amounts of data as well as often being works of art in their own right. In acknowledgement of the importance of imagery the Special Issue will present unique experimentally or computationally generated images of plasma phenomena which provide insight to the physics and which are artful. Contributions to the Images Special Issue are restricted to 2 pages in the journal-one page for the image and one page for text.

The deadline for submissions is 1 December 2010. For additional information and important submission instructions:

Announcement: http://uigelz.eecs.umich.edu/tps-images/index.html

Submission instructions: http://uigelz.eecs.umich.edu/tps-images/submission-instructions.html

Please direct questions to the Guest Editors at: images@eecs.umich.edu
Dr. Natalia Y. Babaeva
Dr. Julia Falkovitch-Khain
Prof. Mark J. Kushner
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 USA
Guest Editors

News on Prof George Gelfreikh

uksp_sec — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 10:23:15 +0000

From: Lyndsay Fletcher – lyndsay@astro.gla.ac.uk

Prof George Gelfreikh

I am passing on this sad news from Ludwig Klein, Chair of CESRA (Community of European Solar Radio Astronomers)

Lyndsay.

Dear CESRA colleagues,

Alexander Stepanov informed me that on June 4, 2010, Professor George Gelfreikh passed away. Professor Gelfreikh was a remarkable colleague in several respects. An incomplete enumeration that does not do justice to his achievements comprises the use of microwaves as a diagnostic of the solar corona – many of us learned from his work with RATAN 600 about the rich potential that radio astronomy has in probing coronal magnetic fields. More recently he worked on microwave oscillations using the Nobeyama Radioheliograph. Besides, he had a distinct sense of humour that pervaded his conference talks and made them particular events.

CESRA expresses its condolences to George Gelfreikh’s family and colleagues.

Ludwig Klein, on behalf of the CESRA board

New RHESSI Science Nugget

uksp_sec — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 10:20:40 +0000

From : Hugh Hudson – hhudson@ssl.berkeley.edu

New RHESSI Science Nugget

http://sprg.ssl.berkeley.edu/~tohban/wiki/index.php/RHESSI_Science_Nuggets

Can optical spectra of stellar flares be compared with images of solar flares?

http://sprg.ssl.berkeley.edu/~tohban/wiki/index.php/Kernels_and_Ribbons

“Kernels and Ribbons” by Jiong Qiu. There is a new clue to distinguishing UV ribbons and hard X-ray footpoints in a major flare, discovered during a revisit to the Bastille Day flare. See

http://sprg.ssl.berkeley.edu/~tohban/wiki/index.php/Kernels_and_Ribbons

New Hinode EIS science nugget

uksp_sec — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 10:13:16 +0000

From: Lucie Green – lmg@mssl.ucl.ac.uk

New Hinode EIS science nugget

UCL-MSSL is pleased to announce a new Hinode EIS science nugget – “Velocity Characteristics of Evaporated Plasma” by Ryan Milligan.

The nugget looks at chromospheric evaporation during a GOES C1.1 class flare that occurred on 14 December 2007.

http://msslxr.mssl.ucl.ac.uk:8080/SolarB/eisnuggets.jsp

Next month’s nugget is entitled “Response of the corona to the emergence of “serpentine” magnetic field” by Louise Harra.

EIS nuggets are published on the 1st of every month and we welcome contributions from the community. Please contact Lucie Green if you are interested.

Issue 2 of the Coronal Courant (Student Newsletter)

uksp_sec — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 10:11:24 +0000

From: Julie Stern – solarstudentnews@aol.com

Issue 2 of the Coronal Courant (Student Newsletter)

Hello,

Issue 2 of The Coronal Courant, a newsletter for students (which grew into a magazine), has been released and can be retrieved here:

http://www.lmsal.com/~zoe/student_news/current_studentnews.pdf

Julie Stern
Editor-in-Chief
solarstudentnews@aol.com

New RHESSI Science Nugget

uksp_sec — Mon, 17 May 2010 11:09:44 +0000

From: Hugh Hudson – hhudson@ssl.berkeley.edu

New RHESSI Science Nugget

http://sprg.ssl.berkeley.edu/~tohban/wiki/index.php/RHESSI%27s_Anneal_Adventure

An operations anomaly leads to very successful improvements in RHESSI’s performance.

Review of STFC Grant Funding mechanisms

uksp_sec — Mon, 17 May 2010 10:56:42 +0000

From: Melanie.Illsley@stfc.ac.uk

Review of STFC Grant Funding mechanisms

STFC has decided to review how its delivers its support for the exploitation of facilities and experiments in the particle physics, astronomy, space and nuclear physics areas (including associated theoretical activity) in universities and other research groups. The review is a response to the need to ensure that our grant funding and delivery mechanisms are fit for purpose given the likely continued pressure on funding and the need to balance support for long term programmes with the need to retain funding flexibility.

The review Panel’s remit is to consider and recommend the most appropriate funding mechanisms to ensure that support aligns with STFC?s strategic goals, recognises and rewards science excellence, maintains critical mass and impact, meets the desire to exploit current and past investment in facilities and experiments, has the flexibility to respond to different needs and does not impose an undue administrative burden on the STFC or its community.

The Panel will be Chaired by Professor James Stirling of University of
Cambridge. As it works, the Panel will maintain close cooperation with the STFC Grants Panels on the developing options and resulting
recommendations. There will also be an opportunity for the community to make an input at an appropriate point. The Panel is expected to deliver its report to the STFC Executive in the Autumn 2010.

Panel Membership

Chair : Professor James Stirling FRS, University of Cambridge

Professor Mark Lancaster, University College London
Professor Brian Fulton, University of York
Professor Michael Bode, Liverpool John Moores University
Professor Michael Merrifield, University of Nottingham

Deborah Miller, STFC – Project Manager

SWAP & LYRA data release and PROBA2 Guest Investigator Program

uksp_sec — Tue, 11 May 2010 11:48:04 +0000

From: David Berghmans – david.berghmans@sidc.be

SWAP & LYRA data release and PROBA2 Guest Investigator Program

http://proba2.sidc.be

The ESA micro-satellite PROBA2 was launched last November with two solar instruments onboard: SWAP, an EUV imager, and LYRA, a UV radiometer. SWAP and LYRA have an open data policy. We are happy to announce the beta data release of the science data products. We also announce the open call for the PROBA2 Guest Investigator Program to promote & fund SWAP and LYRA data analysis by external scientists (submission deadline June 10!).

For the time being we have online the following FITS flles in YYYY/MM/DD directories:
* SWAP raw images, e.g. http://proba2.oma.be/swap/data/eng/2010/05/01/
* SWAP calibrates images, e.g. http://proba2.oma.be/swap/data/bsd/2010/05/01/
* LYRA raw ‘standard’ time curves, e.g. http://proba2.oma.be/lyra/data/eng/2010/05/01/

New data will become available in (near) real time. Older data will gradually become available as we backward process the received telemetry. Users are encouraged to feedback problems and questions such that we can further fine-tune the format of the data products.The latest SWAP image and a recent LYRA time-curve can be found on the front page of http://sidc.be. More information on the instruments and data will become available on http://proba2.sidc.be.

A Guest Investigator Program is available to promote the use of PROBA2 data. Selected proposers will be invited to spend one or a few months with the PI teams to obtain expert knowledge on the instruments and to participate in the daily commanding of SWAP and LYRA. Each guest investigator will get reimbursed for travel, accommodation and living expenses. Details on the PROBA2 Guest Investigator Program can be found here:
http://proba2.oma.be/index.html/community/guest-investigator-program/

New online magazine – ‘Solar Observer’

uksp_ch — Fri, 07 May 2010 11:46:57 +0000

There is a new online popular magazine on Solar Astronomy, written by amateurs and professionals. See http://solar-observer.com/ for the web page. We’d like to encourage UKSP members to support the magazine by suggesting and writing articles.

Leaders answer question on science funding!

uksp_sec — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 09:44:59 +0000

From: Colin Forsyth

Dear all,

Thanks to your efforts, the three main party leaders have answered the question posed online about science funding in the Digital Debate. The videos can be seen at www.youtuce.com/ukelection under the Miscellaneous heading (click on “Science funding” just under the tabs for the five different topics).

Thanks to all those who voted and got family and friends to join in as well. Hopefully this will help convince the leaders that science funding is an important issue not just to the science community, but to the wider community also.

Best regards,

Colin

————————————–
Dr. Colin Forsyth
Research Associate
Space Plasma Group
Mullard Space Science Lab, UCL

Tel: +44 1483 204 266
Email: mailto:cfo@mssl.ucl.ac.uk

http://www.mssl.ucl.ac.uk/~cfo [www.mssl.ucl.ac.uk]
————————————–

New EIS science nugget announcement

uksp_sec — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 09:38:15 +0000

From: Lucie Green – lmg@mssl.ucl.ac.uk

New EIS science nugget announcement

UCL-MSSL is pleased to announce a new Hinode EIS science nugget.

The nugget looks at some interesting pre-flare activity seen in an active region undergoing new flux emergence.

http://msslxr.mssl.ucl.ac.uk:8080/SolarB/eisnuggets.jsp

Next month’s nugget is entitled “Velocity Characteristics of Evaporated Plasma” by Ryan Milligan.

EIS nuggets are published on the 1st of every month and we welcome contributions from the community. Please contact Lucie Green if you are interested.

RAS Council Elections – reminder to vote.

uksp_sec — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 09:33:21 +0000

From: Editors

RAS Council Elections – reminder to vote.

Please note that the deadline for the RAS Council Elections is 12 noon, on the 13th May 2010 for electronic votes.

Please vote and ensure that the UKSP community have representation on the RAS Council.

Editors

RHESSI Science Nugget

uksp_sec — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 09:19:11 +0000

From: Hugh Hudson hhudson@ssl.berkeley.edu

RHESSI Science Nugget

http://sprg.ssl.berkeley.edu/~tohban/wiki/index.php/RHESSI_Science_Nuggets

“An Alternative View of the Masuda Flare,” by Nariaki Nitta

—-

http://sprg.ssl.berkeley.edu/~tohban/wiki/index.php/History_of_Solar_Oblateness

“History of Solar Oblateness” by Hugh Hudson and Jean-Pierre Rozelet:

RHESSI is contributing to an historically interesting and fundamental
measurement.

UKSP Business Lunch

uksp_sec — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 15:38:00 +0000

From: Editors

UKSP Business Lunch

The UKSP Business Lunch will take place between 12.30-2pm on Thursday 15th April in the Senate Room of the University of Glasgow.

The UKSP council requests that anyone who has an item for the agenda to email lyndsay@astro.gla.ac.uk and duncan@mcs.st-andrews.ac.uk with the details. During the meeting an update of UKSP activities over the last year will be given.

New RHESSI Science Nugget

uksp_sec — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 07:22:54 +0000

From: Hugh Hudson – hhudson@ssl.berkeley.edu

New RHESSI Science Nugget

http://sprg.ssl.berkeley.edu/~tohban/wiki/index.php/Particle_Acceleration_du
e_to_a_Plasmoid-Looptop_Collision

RHESSI Science Nugget No. 124: “Particle Acceleration due to a Plasmoid-Looptop Collision,” by Ryan Milligan

New EIS science nugget

uksp_sec — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 07:18:43 +0000

From: Lucie Green – lmg@mssl.ucl.ac.uk

New EIS science nugget

http://msslxr.mssl.ucl.ac.uk:8080/SolarB/eisnuggets.jsp

UCL-MSSL is pleased to announce a new Hinode EIS science nugget.

The nugget looks at enhanced non-thermal velocities seen along the boundary between a quiet sun region and a coronal hole. Is this an indicator that interchange reconnection is taking place?

http://msslxr.mssl.ucl.ac.uk:8080/SolarB/eisnuggets.jsp

Next month’s nugget is entitled “EIS observationns of a pre-flare activity”.

EIS nuggets are published on the 1st of every month and we welcome contributions from the community. Please contact Lucie Green if you are interested.

SolarNews Items of Interest – http://solarnews.nso.edu/2010/20100324.txt

uksp_sec — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 14:55:10 +0000

SolarNews Items of Interest

http://solarnews.nso.edu/2010/20100324.txt

The NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) Budgets for 2010 and 2011
SH02: Extreme Energetic Particle Events from the Sun
Joint SPA – Atmospheric Sciences Session
Space Weather Workshop Announcement

Dr Helen Mason named as one of the UK’s outstanding women

uksp_sec — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 14:28:03 +0000

From: Nicolas Labrosse – n.labrosse@physics.gla.ac.uk

Dr Helen Mason named as one of the UK’s outstanding women

http://www.ras.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1722 Itemid=1

Congratulations to Helen Mason who has been named as one of the Women of Outstanding Achievement of 2010 in recognition of her inspirational work in communication within Science, Engineering and Technology.

New UK Hinode project scientist

uksp_sec — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 14:25:32 +0000

From: Louise Harra

New UK Hinode project scientist

Prof. Alan Hood from St Andrews will take on the role as UK Hinode project scientist. One of the roles is to take advantage of the broad theoretical expertise in the UK to link with the observations from Hinode. We welcome Alan to the team!

RHESSI Science Nugget

uksp_sec — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:40:44 +0000

From: Hugh Hudson – hhudson@ssl.berkeley.edu

RHESSI Science Nugget

http://sprg.ssl.berkeley.edu/~tohban/wiki/index.php/Narrowband_radio_signal_correlated_with_early_hard_X-ray_flux_during_a_microflare

Can radio bursts and hard X-ray bursts be strictly orthogonal to each other?

STFC Innovations Partnership Scheme (IPS) Panel: Nominations

uksp_sec — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:28:15 +0000

From: Melanie.Illsley@stfc.ac.uk

STFC Innovations Partnership Scheme (IPS) Panel: Nominations

Nominations are sought for two individuals to join the IPS Panel in September 2010. Panel members are drawn from the industrial community and the academic community with the latter representing the remit of the STFC science programme.

On this occasion we are looking for two from the academic community. Panel members are normally appointed for a period of three years.

Please submit nominations to Andi Kidd (Andi.kidd@stfc.ac.uk) by close of business Wednesday 31 March 2010.

Remit of the IPS Assessment Panel

The IPS Assessment Panel is a peer review body set up to make recommendations on grant applications received against IPS and the Follow on Funding scheme (FoF) whose objective is to further the exploitation and application of technologies developed through the Council’s science programme. It will undertake this task having regard to the overall strategy and policy of Counciland the Science Committee, and to the broad financial situation as advised by the executive.

Terms of Reference:

- with reference to the assessment criteria, review and make recommendations to the Council executive on all grant applications to IPS and FoF;

- to provide referees comments on completed IPS and FoF;

- if required, to comment on and/or make recommendations regarding any other business or partnership applications;

- to liaise with other bodies as necessary;

Please note that the duties of Panel members are expected to include:

- review proposals (plus any supporting documentation such as referee reports, letters of support etc) received for each IPS closing date prior to each peer review meeting (normally four quarterly closing dates per year). This may typically take one to two days, dependant on the number of proposals received;

- attend the peer review IPS Panel Assessment meetings (normally four per year ? usually one-day meetings although sometimes two-day, depending on the number of proposals received for each closing date;

- review and agree the minutes after each IPS meeting as a correct record;

- review Mini IPS proposals throughout the year, which can come in at any time, nominate a referee and complete a score sheet with comments for the PI;

Nomination Process

Candidates may be nominated by Heads of Departments, by a colleague or byself-nomination. .Please note that although not exclusively, STFC are looking for strength in the data handling and control Image/signal analysis, pattern recognition area to complement the existing expertise within the Panel.

Information about nominees for the IPS Panel (not more than the equivalent of one side of A4) should include the following information:

- the nominee’s scientific areas of research and interests;

- the nominees qualities, including academic/industrial background knowledge of the committees subject area;

- nominee’s experience of serving on STFC (formerly PPARC) and non-STFC committees;

- any possible conflicts of interest;

- justification as to nominee’s suitability to sit on the suggested committee.

Please also give contact details for the nominee, together with information on their current position and an indication of their status/seniority.

For more information on the approach that STFC takes to appointing Panel and Committee members, please visit

http://www.scitech.ac.uk/SciProg/Plan/Plandocs/NomsProcessWeb3htm.aspx

Information on STFC?s honorarium and travel cost policy can be seen at
http://www.stfc.ac.uk/About/Struc/Council/honallowances.aspx

Please submit nominations to Andi Kidd (andi.kidd@stfc.ac.uk) by close of business Wednesday 31 March 2010.

STFC – Astronomy Grants Guidelines

uksp_sec — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:10:24 +0000

From: Gemma Hall

Please note that the Astronomy guidelines have been updated and are now
available as a pdf document at _http://www.stfc.ac.uk/SciProg/Ast/AstDocs/Astrogrants.aspx_

Applicants are strongly advised to refer to the guidelines prior to submitting a proposal.

Apologies for the late notice.

If you have any queries then please contact Kim.Burchell@stfc.ac.uk

Solar News Items of Interest

uksp_sec — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 13:32:43 +0000

Solar News Items of Interest

http://solarnews.nso.edu/2010/20100216.txt

Chromospheric synoptic magnetograms from SOLIS
Topical Issue (TI) of Solar Physics: The Sun–Earth Connectio near Solar Minimum: Placing it into Context
COSPAR 2010: Special Session on Solar Spectral Irradiance Variations and Their Influence on the Earth’s Atmosphere
SH08.: Solving the coronal heating riddle: recent developments and future directions
SORCE Meeting – Abstracts due Feb. 1
Tenure-Track Faculty Position at Boston University

EIS science nugget

uksp_sec — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 13:15:53 +0000

From: Lucie Green – lmg@mssl.ucl.ac.uk

EIS science nugget

UCL-MSSL is pleased to announce a new Hinode EIS science nugget.

The nugget looks at the science behind the widths of emission line profiles and how they can be used as a plasma diagnostic.

http://msslxr.mssl.ucl.ac.uk:8080/SolarB/eisnuggets.jsp

Next month’s nugget is entitled “Interchange reconnection along a coronal hole boundary”.

EIS nuggets are published on the 1st of every month and we welcome contributions from the community. Please contact Lucie Green if you are interested.

Space Tech 2010 – Space Technology Symposium

uksp_sec — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 13:12:18 +0000

From: Melanie.Illsley@stfc.ac.uk

Space Tech 2010 – Space Technology Symposium

10th March 2010
STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
Harwell Science Innovation Campus

Updated programme

The Innovations Club and the ESA Technology Transfer Network is holding a Space Technology Symposium on the 10th March and invites you to register for this event. Registration details are below.

Our objective is to provide a forum that creates a unique opportunity for commercial companies to network and exploit advanced technologies developed by leading European research organisations in the space sector with applications addressing many market sectors.

The event will provide participants/delegates:

* An opportunity to discover the latest technologies from the space industry
* The chance to make direct contact with the UK?s leading technology groups
* Advice on how to use new technology to gain commercial competitive advantage
* Case study examples of successful transfers between academic know-how to industry
* The chance to network and identify potential business partners

This event offers a unique opportunity for commercial companies to exploit technologies developed for space and last year a similar showcase attracted 200 delegates and 40 exhibitors.

Further information about this exclusive event can be found here:
www.stfc.ac.uk/KE/Events/spacetech.aspx

Exhibit – last spaces going fast.

We are also offering you the opportunity to exhibit at this symposium of advanced technologies; please contact Innovationsclub@stfc.ac.uk

The last few exhibition spaces are avaliable for which there is a charge of £400 plus VAT for a 2m table with poster board and 2 chairs. Due to Health and Safety reasons we are unfortunately unable to allow electrical items on to stands.

Registration

TO REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT PLEASE FOLLOW THIS LINK:
WWW.STFC.AC.UK/FORMS/INNOVATIONSCLUB.ASPX

Congratulations – Andrzej Fludra

uksp_sec — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 13:01:14 +0000

From: Lyndsay Fletcher – lyndsay@astro.gla.ac.uk

Congratulations to Andrzej Fludra on becoming Head of Solar Group at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. Richard Harrison, who held this position previously, remains in the group but will be focusing on his roles as Division Head of Space Physics and as Chief Scientist in the Space Science and Technology Department at RAL.

STFC Small Awards for public engagement

uksp_sec — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 12:56:14 +0000

From: Melanie.Illsley@stfc.ac.uk

STFC Small Awards for public engagement

STFC are pleased to announce a closing date of the 15th April 2010 for its Small Award Scheme for projects in public engagement. Further information, including the notes for guidance and application form can be found on the Science in Society section of the STFC website.

Funding limit – £10,000

It is anticipated that we will run a round of Large Awards for public engagement with a closing date of November 2010

Contact: Chris.woolford@stfc.ac.uk

New RHESSI Science Nugget

uksp_sec — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 12:53:32 +0000

From: Hugh Hudson – hhudson@ssl.berkeley.edu

New RHESSI Science Nugget

http://sprg.ssl.berkeley.edu/~tohban/wiki/index.php/Revisiting_the_SHH_and_SEP_Link

RHESSI confirms the statistical link between flare hard X-ray spectral evolution and the acceleration of solar energetic particles.

Nobeyama Radioheliograph (NoRH) operation extension

uksp_sec — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 10:22:48 +0000

From: Valery Nakariakov V.Nakariakov@warwick.ac.uk

Nobeyama Radioheliograph (NoRH) operation extension

It is officially approved and announced by the NAOJ Director General on Feb 9 that the operation of the Nobeyama Radioheliograph (Japan) is extended to five years, till March 2015. Observations of the Sun with NoRH in the microwave band are intensively used by several UK
research groups.

SolarNews Items of Interest – http://solarnews.nso.edu/2010/20100201.txt

uksp_sec — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 16:22:22 +0000

SolarNews Items of Interest

http://solarnews.nso.edu/2010/20100201.txt

The Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawaii, Coronal Image Database
New book in Asteroseismology
Call for papers: AOGS2010 session ST10 “Space weather and space climate: coupling processes from the Sun to the Earth”
Call for papers: COSPAR Session D23-E33 “Multi-Spacecraft Observations and
Modeling of CMEs and Stream Interaction Regions”
COSPAR SCIENTIFIC COMMISSION E (a message from N. Gehrels)
COSPAR Announcement : Event 22 : New Views of the Sun with SDO
SHINE Workshop 2010
Special SPD Session on ” What Irradiance Studies Tell Us About Solar Heat Transport and Magnetism”
IAU Symposium 273: Physics of Sun and Star Spots
Call for papers, 38th COSPAR Scientific Assembly, Event E21: The Challenge of the Hidden Scales in Solar Dynamic Phenomena
Postdoctoral Position at the Ruhr Universitaet Bochum within the SOLAIRE
Network

Topical Issue (TI) of Solar Physics — The Sun–Earth Connection near Solar Minimum: Placing it into Context.

uksp_sec — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:54:44 +0000

From: Mario Mark Bisi – Mario.Bisi@aber.ac.uk

Topical Issue (TI) of Solar Physics:

The Sun–Earth Connection near Solar Minimum: Placing it into Context

We solicit manuscripts on this general subject for inclusion in a Topical Issue (TI) of the journal Solar Physics that will be dedicated to the science of the Whole Heliosphere Interval (WHI) campaign (http://ihy2007.org/WHI/) and results related to WHI’s science priorities.

The editors request that statements of intent be received from all interested authors by Monday March 1, 2010. The statements should include (as close as possible to the anticipated publication): (i) title, (ii) abstract, (iii) author list, (iv) estimated number of Solar Physics pages, and (v) three suggestions for referees, preferably with E-Mail.

Completed papers should be submitted by Friday July 2, 2010, and the estimated publication date will be between December 2010 and February 2011. Manuscripts will appear online as they are accepted, and manuscripts that have not completed the refereeing and revision process by the cutoff for hardcopy publication of the Topical Issue will appear in a subsequent, regular issue of the journal. In order to respect all participants, we will push hard on referees to respect their deadlines and authors for revisions.

Criteria for Relevance to the Topic:

The Whole Heliosphere Interval (WHI) is an internationally coordinated observing and modeling effort to characterize the three-dimensional (3D) interconnected solar-heliospheric-planetary system – a.k.a. the “heliophysical” system. WHI observing campaigns began with the 3D solar structure from solar Carrington rotation (CR) 2068, which ran from March 20 – April 16, 2008. See http://ihy2007.org/WHI for more information.

This Topical Issue will include scientific results of the observations and the models that are used to interpret the WHI data, including all of the regimes that play a role in solar minimum
heliophysics. These regimes include:

– sub-photospheric structures,

– the solar photosphere, chromosphere, and corona,

– the inner and outer heliosphere,

– Earth’s magnetopause and bow shock,

– Earth’s radiation belts and plasmasphere, and

– The ionosphere, thermosphere and mesosphere.

Additionally, we are expecting contributions that are linked to or related to WHI but not necessarily centered on WHI observations themselves. The majority will be additional studies of the present, possibly “unusual”, solar minimum, and also how this minimum relates to past minima. However, because of the depth, length, and complexity of the current solar minimum, one solar rotation is not enough to characterize it! We have therefore identified two Carrington rotations that, along with WHI, may be considered to “span” the current extended solar minimum, these are CR2078 (17 Dec 2008 – 12 Jan 2009 when sunspots reached a 13-month minimum) and CR2085 (26 Jun – 22 Jul 2009 when solar-wind parameters were at their lowest, and which had continuous SOHO contact and solar eclipse
data/modeling. These rotations provide additional focus time periods that may enable intercomparison between analyses in the Topical Issue. The current-solar-minimum studies need not be limited only to the rotations mentioned here however.

In addition, for those who are not already part of the WHI Team and already subscribed to the WHI Mailing list (through which the majority of updates and communications will be made), we invite you and encourage you to do so (please see http://mailman.ucar.edu/mailman/listinfo/whi).

We remind you that the statement of intent (described above) deadline is 1 March 2010; this is essential for us to optimally match manuscripts with referees and to expedite the process. If, subsequent to submission of a statement of intent it appears that the manuscript is not coming together on schedule, please let us know so that we can adjust the attribution of referees.

Please E-Mail: whi.sola@gmail.com with your proposed:
(i) title;
(ii) abstract;
(iii) author list;
(iv) estimated number of Solar Physics pages;
(v) three suggestions for referees; and
(vi) name and E-Mail of corresponding author if not submitter!

Sincerely,

Mario M. Bisi (Mario.Bisi {at} aber.ac.uk)

Barbara Emery (emery {at} ucar.edu)

Barbara J. Thompson (Barbara.J.Thompson {at} nasa.gov)

(Solar Physics TI Guest Editors)

and

Lidia van Driel-Gesztelyi (Lidia.vanDriel {at} obspm.fr)

John Leibacher (john.leibacher {at} gmail.com)

(Solar Physics Editors)

New RHESSI Science Nugget

uksp_sec — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:20:16 +0000

From: Hugh Hudson hhudson@ssl.berkeley.edu

New RHESSI Science Nugget

http://sprg.ssl.berkeley.edu/~tohban/wiki/index.php/Two_phases_of_X-ray_emission_in_a_solar_eruptive_flare

This Nugget asks an important question – can the early non-thermal phase of a solar flare, as found in the RHESSI data, be explained by Somov’s “Rainbow Reconnection Model”?

STFC – call for nomination to Science Board, Committees and Peer Review Panels

uksp_sec — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:17:42 +0000

From: Lyndsay Fletcher

STFC – call for nomination to Science Board, Committees and Peer Review Panels

Dear all

I have been asked by STFC to make you aware that there is currently a call for nominations to their Science Board, Committees and Peer Review Panels. The deadline for this is Monday 22nd March 2010.

For full information about the vacancies and the nomination procedure, please see

http://www.stfc.ac.uk/About/Strat/Council/AdCom/CallforNoms2010.aspx

best wishes
Lyndsay

Sheffield Solar Physicists at Parliament

uksp_sec — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:15:23 +0000

From: Robertus von Fay-Siebenburgen

Sheffield Solar Physicists at Parliament

It is our pleasure to announce that a bid prepared by Sheffield solar physicists of SWAT/SP2RC (Solar WAve Theory Group, Solar Physics and Space Plasma Research Centre, Sheffield Univ) on the discovery of solar Transition Region Quakes have been selected, by SET for Britain on behalf of the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee, for presentation (8 March 2010) at the House of Commons Marquee to members of both Houses of Parliament at Westminster. The team involves Eamon Scullion, a joint postgraduate supervised by Profs Gerry Doyle -Armagh Observatory- and Robertus Erdelyi -SWAT/SP2RC and Dr Viktor Fedun (SWAT/SP2RC, SU).

Address Change: James McLaughlin

uksp_sec — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:10:39 +0000

From: James McLaughlin

Dear Colleagues,

Please note my change of institution and contact details to:

Dr James McLaughlin,
Room 101, Pandon Building,
School of Computing, Engineering and Information Sciences,
Northumbria University,
Newcastle Upon Tyne,
NE1 8ST

james.a.mclaughlin@northumbria.ac.uk

http://computing.unn.ac.uk/staff/rnwp2/

ASPIICS coronagraph selected by ESA for PROBA-3 mission

uksp_sec — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:58:37 +0000

From: Robertus Erdelyi – robertus@sheffield.ac.uk

ASPIICS coronagraph selected by ESA for PROBA-3 mission

It is a great pleasure to inform you that, in this hard funding climate, the ASPIICS coronagraph has been selected by ESA for the PROBA-3 mission (ASPIICS Principal Investigator: Philippe Lamy; UK scientists involved in the ASPIICS Team with Co-Investigator status: Robertus Erdelyi & Richard Harrison). More info later as it is received.

MIST statement on the STFC Prioritisation

uksp_sec — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:52:07 +0000

From: Lyndsay Fletcher – lyndsay@astro.gla.ac.uk

MIST statement on the STFC Prioritisation

www.mist.ac.uk

(Forwarded from Mike Hapgood)

MIST have released a statement on the STFC prioritisation. It is on the web at www.mist.ac.uk.

This was produced by MIST Council after consultation with senior members of the MIST community. Following that consultation it focuses on the future strategy for in-situ plasma measurements – how do we get from current UK strengths to future opportunities? – rather than details of present cuts.

Call for Proposals 2010 for International Teams in Space Science (incl. Geosciences)

uksp_sec — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:40:58 +0000

From: Maurizio Falanga – mfalanga@issibern.ch

Call for Proposals 2010 for International Teams in Space Science
(incl. Geosciences)

http://www.issibern.ch/spotlight/annualcall2010.pdf

International Space Science Institute (ISSI)

Announcement

The International Space Science Institute (ISSI) in Bern, Switzerland, invites proposals for establishing International Teams to conduct on its premises research activities in Space Sciences, based on the interdisciplinary analysis and evaluation of data from spacecraft and possible integration with ground data and theoretical models. For the purpose of this Call, Space Sciences include the Solar and Heliospheric Physics, Solar-Terrestrial Sciences, Space Plasma and Magnetospheric Physics, Planetary Sciences, Astrobiology, Cosmology, Astrophysics, Fundamental Physics in Space, and Earth Sciences using Space data.

Letter of Intent: February 15, 2010

Deadline for proposals: March 31, 2010

The Call for International Teams proposal is available on the ISSI web site:

http://www.issibern.ch/spotlight/annualcall2010.pdf

Bern, January 18, 2010

Dr. Maurizio Falanga
Science Program Manager

International Space Science Institute (ISSI)
Hallerstrasse 6
CH-3012 Bern
Switzerland
Phone: +41-(0)316314893 -Fax: +41-(0)316314897
E-mail: mfalanga@issibern.ch

http://www.issibern.ch