Canadian Space Agency – Supplements to the NSERC PDF Program 2021 AO

As part of its commitment to support the development of the next generation of space professionals in Canada, the CSA will offer, through its “Supplements to the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Postdoctoral Fellowships Program (PDF) 2021” Announcement of Opportunity (AO), grants to postdoctoral researchers who have been awarded an NSERC postdoctoral fellowship under its Postdoctoral Fellowships Program. Postdoctoral researchers must be involved in a promising research project that is aligned with and that will contribute to the priorities outlined in the Space Strategy for Canada.

Summary of key information:

  • Total funding available (2021): $100,000
  • Number and value of the grants: Up to five (5) supplements in the amount of $20,000 each will be awarded.
  • Eligible recipients: Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada, be a postdoctoral fellow and conduct a research project under the supervision and mentorship of a more senior researcher in a Canadian academic institution or another appropriate research institution in Canada, be awarded, and have accepted, an NSERC postdoctoral fellowship under the call for proposals 2021 of the NSERC’s PDF Program (see note in Section 3 of the AO).
  • Application deadline: January 7, 2022

The CSA invites postdoctoral researchers interested by this opportunity to apply for a grant supplement through the CSA AO.

You can access the “Supplements to the NSERC PDF Program” AO and obtain information on how to apply by clicking here.

Laurin, Denis (ASC/CSA)

Call for Proposals for GEMINI 2022A and SUBARU Exchange-time

The Gemini 2022A Call for Proposals has now been released, and Canadian specific information for Phase 1 can be found at:

https://nrc.canada.ca/index.php/en/research-development/products-services/technical-advisory-services/gemini-canadian-specific-information-phase-i

The deadline is: Friday October 1st, 2021, at 4pm (PDT)/ 7pm (EDT)

This semester Canada will have access to 188 hours on the North and 192 hours on the South. Please consider submitting programs with relaxed observing conditions, suitable for Band3, even if they will take longer to execute to get to the same S/N.

What’s New for 2022A:

  • PLEASE NOTE: Canada has now moved to a dual-anonymous review process (DARP) for proposals for this semester 2022A. Please follow the DARP guidelines to write an anonymous proposal (see the link in the Call above). This applies to all proposals even those not led by a Canadian, so please make sure to warn your PI.
  • The Priority Visitor mode and Classical mode will be offered for semester 2022A at Gemini-North, but not at Gemini-South. This may change as the COVID-19 pandemic evolves. Users are encouraged to use the Remote Eavesdropping mode for all queue programs.

For semester 2022A (1 February 2022 to 31 July 2022) the full instrument suite available on Gemini-North is: GMOS-N, GNIRS, NIRI, NIFS, and Altair. The Visitor instruments offered on Gemini-North are: GRACES, ALOPEKE, POLISH-2 and MAROON-X.

And on Gemini-South: GMOS-S, Flamingos-2, GSAOI + GeMs; and the Visitor instruments Zorro and IGRINS.

A guaranteed minimum of 5 classical nights will be available on Subaru. The instruments available are: AO188 (but no LGS-AO), FOCAS, HDS, IRCS, and Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC). Many visitor instruments are also available, please see the call. You must request half nights or full nights, except for HSC now taking programs in queue mode.

Good luck!

Stéphanie Côté,
Canadian Gemini Office, NRC HAARC

IAU and short update

Dear CASCA Members,

Just a short update on a couple of issues: First of all, the online IAU
XXXI General Assembly (GA) Business Sessions are taking place over the
coming 10 days in an online format. While I will attend the primary
business sessions on behalf of the Canadian community, I thought I would
bring to everyone’s attention that on Tuesday 24 August, 15:00 CEST,
there will be a session to discuss the new IAU Resolutions to be voted
on electronically by Individual and Junior Members, between 26 August
and 10 September 2021. The Resolutions are as follows:

  • Resolution B1 in support of the protection of geodetic radio
    astronomy against radio frequency interference
  • Resolution B2 on the improvement of the Earth’s rotation theories
    and models
  • Resolution B3 on the Gaia Celestial Reference Frame
  • Resolution B4 on the use of a standard photometric system in
    ultraviolet (UV) astronomy

Secondly, I have had a small number of emails asking for further
information around the ongoing societal issues around the resignations.
As I noted in the original Board response, I am bound by confidentiality
at this time and I am absolutely sure none of you want me to commit an
ethical breach at this point. As President in a difficult situation, I
take my duty of care to all members of the society very seriously and I
want to reiterate my genuine request that people not speculate. Although
we cannot openly discuss events right now, that does not mean things are
not happening, and I can say I think we’ve made some positive steps over
the past few days. However, I caution that getting to a point where more
details can be discussed openly will take time. It is the end of the
summer and many people are on much needed holidays.

Thank you all for your patience and understanding, and I’d like to wish
you all well for the upcoming semester,

Rob