Sponsors —
Lunar and Planetary Institute
University of Copenhagen

Convener —
Thomas Pike,
   Imperial College
Urs Staufer,
  University of Neuchatel
Michael Hecht,
  Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Morton Bo Madsen,
  University of Copenhagen
Walter Goetz,
  Max Planck Institute for
   Solar System Research (MPS)

MEETING LOCATION AND DATE

The Workshop on the Microstructure of the Martian Surface will be held August 27–29, 2009, at the Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. For the latest updates on the workshop, check the NBI website.

KEY POINTS:
  When:  August 27–29, 2009
  Where:  Copenhagen,
                  Denmark

The Phoenix Mars Lander spent the summer of 2008 analyzing the northern polar martian soil using a combination of imaging techniques to look at the martian surface at the subcentimeter scale. The optical microscope took over 1000 color images of the soil and lag deposits from different locations within the dig area of the lander, and the atomic force microscope completed more than 50 scans. These images are placed in context by the robot-arm camera of Phoenix.

The workshop aims to start the development of a taxonomy of the microstructure of the martian surface, bringing together results from Phoenix and past and present missions and placing it in the context of existing terrestrial soil science. This will be a small but focused meeting of about 30 planetary and terrestrial scientists from all relevant disciplines.  Invited/contributed talks will focus on the following objectives:

• Share what has been learned from Phoenix and other missions.
• Build a framework to better develop our understanding of the martian surface.
• Discuss the impact of ongoing and planned investigations such as MSL, both in the areas of science and engineering.
• Attempt to understand the broader implications of the findings in areas such as Mars' aqueous history, geology, biology, climate, and human exploration.
• Point to needed experiments in the laboratory and on Mars.
• Look at what can be achieved in planetary science by studies at the microscopic level.
  
  

The two-day workshop will include invited and contributed talks on Thursday, August 27. To facilitate an exchange of ideas, participants are invited to bring along a favorite micrograph in an easily transportable format for informal discussions that evening.

After further talks and discussion on Friday morning, August 28, there will be a field trip in the afternoon to the island of Hven, home of the observatories of Tycho Brahe, followed by the workshop dinner.

On Saturday, August 29, discussions will focus on synthesizing the results of the workshop in the broader context of our understanding of martian surface processes. The small group setting is designed to facilitate intensive and productive discussions.

For more detailed information, view the program and abstracts.

All participants are responsible for making their own hotel reservations.  No hotel rooms have been blocked. Suggested hotels are Ibsens Hotel, Hotel KongArthur, and Copenhagen Admiral Hotel.

There is no registration fee associated with this workshop. However, participants are asked to register in advance using the electronic registration form provided, so the meeting organizers will have an accurate headcount for planning purposes. The advance registration deadline is August 13, 2009. Registration after that date will be on site only.

For further information regarding the format and scientific objectives of the meeting, contact

Thomas Pike
Imperial College
phone: +44 (0) 20 7594 6207
e-mail: w.t.pike@imperial.ac.uk

Walter Goetz
Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (MPS)
e-mail: goetz@mps.mpg.de

For further information regarding workshop logistics, announcements, and accommodations, contact

Morten Bo Madsen
University of Copenhagen
e-mail: mbmadsen@fys.ku.dk

For further information regarding registration, contact

Linda Tanner
Lunar and Planetary Institute
phone:  281-486-2142
e-mail: tanner@lpi.usra.edu