************************************************************************** BOLETIM ELETRÔNICO DA SAB N. 457 - 28/01/2009 ************************************************************************** SEÇÃO: INFORMES - OPORTUNIDADES Responsável: Helio J. Rocha-Pinto (helio@astro.ufrj.br) ************************************************************************** NESTA EDIÇÃO: 1. Second Astronomy and Astrophysics School: Scientific Writing for Young Astronomers 2. Joint Subaru/Gemini Science Conference 3. Summer School on Astrobiology ************************************************************************** 1. Second Astronomy and Astrophysics School: Scientific Writing for Young Astronomers (Comunicado por Helio Jaques Rocha-Pinto em 21/01/2009) EDP Sciences and A&A are glad to announce the "Second Astronomy and Astrophysics School: Scientific Writing for Young Astronomers" which be held in Blankenberge, Belgium, from 18 to 20 May 2009. The direct purpose of organising an "A&A School" is to teach young authors how to express their scientific results through adequate and efficient science writing. In other words: how to write scientific papers for different forums (journals, proceedings, thesis manuscripts, etc.). Other information are available on the website www.swya.org. Please do not hesitate to contact us, SWYA Team swya@edpsciences.org ========================================================================== 2. Joint Subaru/Gemini Science Conference (Comunicado por Marília Jobim Sartori em 22/01/2009) Joint Subaru/Gemini Science Conference May 18 - 21, 2009 Gemini Users Meeting, May 22, 2009 The Subaru and Gemini Observatories are pleased to announce a jointly sponsored science conference which aims to provide opportunity for participants from each community to meet to present research conducted at the two observatories and to explore possible collaborations. See the conference web site http://www.kusastro.kyoto-u.ac.jp/kyoto2009/index.html where general information and instructions for registration are available. The two main goals of the conference are to: * Promote a mutual understanding of both communities * Highlight the international nature of modern astronomy Other goals are to: * Better understand the Subaru and Gemini instruments and science programs * Foster scientific collaborations * Define key areas of 'niche science' for both observatories * Initiate scientific collaboration for, and with respect to, the International Year of Astronomy in 2009 The conference covers wide range of scientific topics, including * Cosmology, Large-Scale Structure, and Galaxy Formation * Black Holes, AGN and Active Galaxies * Stars and Compact Objects * Solar System and Exoplanets * Star Formation and Interstellar Medium and any other topics are all welcome to be presented. In addition, introductive talks of Subaru and Gemini Observatories will be provided and future prospects of both observatories will be discussed. ! Important Dates ! • Feb. 28, 2009, Deadline for Abstract Submission • March 20, 2009, Announcement of Result of Contributed Talk Selection • March 31, 2009, Deadline for Early Registration • April 24, 2009, Deadline for Late Registration • April 24, 2009, Deadline for Hotel Booking by JTB Corp. ========================================================================== 3. Summer School on Astrobiology (Comunicado por Gustavo F. Porto de Mello em 24/01/200 http://www.nordicastrobiology.net/iceland2009/ Aims and contents of the summer school Water is fundamental to life as we know it on Earth. Among the central issues in astrobiology are the questions: * How it was water formed in space? * What role does it play in planet formation ? * How did it finally reached Earth's surface ? * How did life finally emerge in water under the extreme conditions prevailing on early Earth ? The summer school "Water, ice and the Origin of Life in the Universe", which will be held in Iceland from 29 June to 13 July 2009, aims to give participants a thorough high-level introduction into the role of water in the evolution of life in the cosmos, starting from formation of water molecules in space and ending with evolution of the first organisms. Lab work on extremophiles (especially organisms living in very hot or cold water) will complement the teaching, since a lot can be learned about the evolution of life under the very harsh conditions prevailing on early Earth by studying such species. The Summer School will bring together students and researchers from a multitude of different science branches, making it a truly multidisciplinary event. It will be organised by the Nordic Network of Astrobiology Graduate Schools together with the NASA Astrobiology Institute. Iceland is an ideal venue for such an event, providing ideal habitats for cold- and hot water extremophiles (subglacial lakes and hot springs). Participation , funding & credits The Summer school is mainly intended for graduate students and post–docs in astronomy, physics, geology, chemistry, biology and other related subjects. There will be about 40 participants. Food, accommodation, excursions and teaching material will be provided free for students accepted by the Scientific Committee as participants from Nordic Institutions by the Nordic Network of Astrobiology Graduate Schools and by the NASA Astrobiology Institute for participants from US institutions. A limited amount of funding from students from other countries is available. Travel allowances (for a maximum of EUR 400,- for participants from Europe, USD 1000,- for participants Eastern US and USD 1500,- for those from western US and other non-Eoropean countries) will also be granted to accepted participants. Venue and access The first (lectured) and third (lab work) part of the school will be held at the University of Iceland, Reykjavik. In the mid of the course, a 5-days excursion to inner Iceland (Hrauneyjar) will be undertaken. For further information about the venue and the access to it, click here. Application deadline is March 1st 2009 **************************************************************************