SPONSORED BY
Lunar and Planetary Institute
National Aeronautics and
   Space Administration
Northrop Grumman
   Aerospace Systems

CONVENERS
Steve Mackwell,
   Lunar and Planetary Institute
Eileen Stansbery,
   NASA Johnson Space Center

The 41st Lunar and Planetary Science Conference will be held at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center, The Woodlands, Texas, March 1–5, 2010.   

Please note that we will not be providing conference bags this year, so participants should plan accordingly. Also note that the meeting rooms can often be quite cold, so participants are encouraged to bring a sweater or jacket.

Please refer to the Convention Center map for the locations of rooms mentioned in this announcement.

KEY POINTS:
  When:  March 1–5, 2010
  Where:  The Woodlands, Texas

This conference brings together international specialists in petrology, geochemistry, geophysics, geology, and astronomy to present the latest results of research in planetary science. The five-day conference will be organized by parallel sessions of contributed presentations that emphasize planetary processes in addition to presentations related to planetary bodies.

The program and abstracts are now available. Please note that author notification letters will NOT be mailed out, so authors need to check the program index to determine when and where their presentation has been scheduled. Downloadable files by session will be available in approximately two weeks.

Because the program and abstracts are published online, only a limited number of CD-ROMs will be available upon request to PAID conference participants. All registered participants will receive a copy of the printed program booklet upon checkin at the meeting.

Oral Presentation Format:  10 minutes for speaking and 5 minutes for discussion and speaker transition.

Presentation check in and laptop validation will be in the Sterling Ridge Room. Checking in oral presentations is the most important step presenters will take to ensure their presentations are successful. Those presenting on Monday morning should check in their presentations on Sunday evening when they register.

Audio-Visual Equipment:  Laptop PCs and Macs and an LCD projector. NO option for dual-screen presentations. For more information, read the instructions for electronic presentations for a schedule of deadlines for presentation submission and laptop validation.

Poster Presentation Format:  Poster size is 44" × 44" (1.1m × 1.1m), to be affixed with pushpins to an 4’ × 8’ (122cm × 244cm) (inside frame) free-standing panel. Two presenters share one side of one panel, so displays must be confined to the specified limit.

For poster presenters who are interested in having their posters printed after they arrive at the conference, there is a Fedex/Kinkos located at 1640 Lake Woodlands Drive at Six Pines Drive (the street behind the hotel), less than a mile from the Convention Center. Approximate charges to print a 44" × 44" color poster are $7.25 per square foot (matte finish) or $12.00 per square foot (photo/glossy finish).

Orders can be placed online at www.fedex.com/printonline. If there are enough orders, they are willing to deliver to the hotel. For more information, contact them at 281-292-8735 (phone) or 281-292-8782 (fax).

Poster Sessions:  Tuesday and Thursday, 7:00 to 10:00 p.m., Town Center Exhibit Area. Authors of papers scheduled for poster presentation must be at their designated area during the assigned poster session. Poster sessions are designed to convey as much (or more) scientific information as oral sessions, so it is important that poster authors be available to discuss their results.

Poster Viewing:  Posters may be viewed during the day, as well as during the two separate evening sessions. Specific times participants are encouraged to view posters are on Monday evening, Tuesday lunch, Wednesday evening, and Thursday lunch.

Poster Installation:  In order to provide maximum viewing opportunities, Tuesday evening posters may be installed any time on Sunday afternoon or Monday morning, but MUST be installed by noon on Monday. Tuesday posters must be removed at the conclusion of the Tuesday poster session to enable Thursday poster presenters to install their posters on Wednesday morning.

Posters scheduled for presentation on Thursday MUST be installed by noon on Wednesday, and must be removed at the conclusion of the poster session on Thursday. Any remaining posters will be discarded.

Special sessions at the 41st LPSC are

• Monday morning:  A New Moon:  Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Results
• Monday afternoon:  Water in the Solar System:  Incorporation into Primitive Bodies and Evolution
• Tuesday morning:  A New Moon:  LCROSS, Chandrayaan, and Chang’E-1
• Tuesday afternoon:  Water in the Solar System:  Moon
• Wednesday afternoon:  A New Moon:  Spectral Constraints on Lunar Crustal Composition
• Thursday afternoon:  Characterizing Near-Earth Objects
• Thursday afternoon:  A New Moon:  Lunar Volcanism and Impact
  
  

E-mail stations and the complimentary WiFi area will be on the upper level of the Convention Center in the Cochran’s Crossing, College Park, and Creekside Park rooms. Complimentary WiFi will also be available on the lower level of the Convention Center in the Town Center Exhibit Hall.

Sunday Night Reception and Registration:  Sunday evening, February 28, 2010, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Convention Center. The conference registration desk will remain open until 8:00 p.m. to accommodate late arrivals.

NASA Headquarters Briefings:  5:30 p.m., Monday, March 1, Waterway Ballroom 4. Open to all interested members of the community.

Plenary Session Featuring Masursky Lecture:   Monday, March 1, Waterway Ballroom 4, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Dr. Ronald Greeley will present the talk "Shifting Sands:  Planetary Atmosphere-Surface Interactions."

Student/Scientist Reception:  Monday, March 1, Montgomery Ballroom, immediately following the conclusion of the NASA Headquarters Briefing. Reception will honor the Masursky Lecturer, 2009 Dwornik award winners, and all students presenting at this year’s LPSC.

LEAG Town Hall Meeting — Solar System Exploration and the Moon, 2011 and Beyond:  Noon to 1:15 p.m., Wednesday, March 3, Waterway Ballroom 6. This Town Hall will gather community input for potential robotic precursor missions that involve the Moon; this input will feed into the "early" stage of the Lunar Exploration Roadmap.

Planetary Decadal Survey Briefing:  5:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 3, Waterway Ballroom 6. Open to all interested members of the community.

Proposal Writing Workshop:  NASA will host a proposal writing workshop on Sunday, February 28, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. in Montgomery Ballroom C. The workshop is open to all interested planetary scientists at no cost. The session will focus on understanding NASA’s research programs and will include information on how to write a research proposal, where to apply for funding, and pathways for participation on missions. To register, send an e-mail with your name, affiliation, and current position to [email protected].

Women’s Networking Event:  A women’s networking breakfast will be held on Tuesday, March 2, at 7:30 a.m. in Montgomery Ballroom A. All are invited to attend. For more details, and to preregister, please visit WomeninPlanetaryScience.com.

Closing Celebration:  Friday, March 5, 5:00–6:00 p.m., Acqua Lounge. Stay and have a drink with your friends and colleagues compliments of LPSC to celebrate another great conference.

This year’s pre-LPSC education forum, “Teaching Planetary Sciences for Undergraduates,” will be held on Sunday, February 28, 2010, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. in The Woodlands Room at the Convention Center.

It is an exciting time for higher education in NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. With the introduction of the new Science Education and Public Outreach Forums, a Higher Education Working Group has been initiated. In an effort to support higher education efforts in the planetary science community, the Planetary Science E/PO Forum is hosting this day-long workshop for undergraduate teaching faculty in planetary sciences. The goals of the workshop are to

• begin to develop a collaborative network of undergraduate teaching faculty in planetary sciences;
• identify learning goals and technical skills that a quality undergraduate should have upon graduation to continue in the discipline;
• understand the challenges institutions face in teaching planetary sciences at the undergraduate level (whether at the introductory or advanced level); and
• identify the kinds of support needed by faculty teaching planetary sciences (e.g., clearinghouse of teaching materials, a virtual community, particular topics of interest for future workshops, etc.).

If you are interested in participating to share your insights and experiences, please contact Emily CoBabe-Ammann at [email protected].

The Lunar and Planetary Science Conference is again offering a special opportunity for exhibitors to participate and interact with conference participants. A limited number of draped exhibit booths will be available. For more information, including a description of the booths and fee schedule, please read the Exhibitor Showcase Information flyer.

The deadline for registration for the Exhibitor Showcase has been extended to February 19, 2010, but exhibitors must register by January 29 to be listed in the program booklet. To register for an exhibit, use the electronic registration form provided.

The exhibits will be co-located with the posters in the Town Center Exhibit Area on the lower level of the Convention Center. Exhibits will be open from Tuesday, March 2, through Thursday, March 4.

Credit card registrations:  Participants registering by credit card MUST use the secure electronic registration form.

Other methods of payment:  Those registering using any other method of payment (check, money order, or traveler’s check) MUST use the downloadable registration form.

Cancellations:  Requests for cancellation with a fee refund (less a $25.00 processing fee) will only be accepted through February 12, 2010. Those who fail to attend and do not notify the LPI prior to the February 12 deadline will forfeit their full fee.

Check-in:  The conference registration desk at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Convention Center will be open from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Sunday and from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

* Note:  Representatives of the media must present their press credentials when checking in.

KEY POINTS:
Reduced Registration Deadline:
   February 3, 2010
Advance Registration Deadline:
   February 27, 2010

The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel is holding a block of rooms at a special rate for LPSC. The hotel and convention center is located at 1601 Lake Robbins Drive, The Woodlands, Texas, just north of Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). A map of the local area is provided for you.

The hotel is located in a beautiful wooded landscape on the The Woodlands Waterway, which connects The Woodlands Town Center with the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion for performing arts. As the name of the area suggests, there are many trees and pleasant outdoor spaces for walking and visiting.

Located nearby are many restaurants and taverns, shops, and entertainment venues. Shops and restaurants at Market Street and at The Woodlands Mall are located within walking distance from the hotel. Attendees may also access these two areas via trolley and water taxi services.

Special LPSC Room Rate —
The special LPSC rate is $188.00 per night with complimentary Internet access, single or double occupancy, plus applicable taxes (currently 13%). For an occupancy tax exemption, guests are required to show an occupancy tax exemption form in addition to proper government identification at check-in.

There is no charge for children 18 years and younger when they share a room with parent(s) and utilize existing beds.

To accommodate guests who wish to share the cost of a room with a roommate, The Woodlands Waterway Marriott has set aside all two-double-bed guest rooms in the LPSC block. These rooms will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis as inventory allows. A maximum of four adults is allowed per room.

Please note:   When making a reservation for two double beds, the Marriott reservation system will issue a standardized response indicating that the request cannot be guaranteed, or that the room configuration is not available. However, as long as the reservation is guaranteed with a credit card or a first night’s deposit, the request will be honored. 

Check-in is 4:00 p.m.; check-out is 11:00 a.m. Guests arriving prior to check-in will be accommodated as rooms become available. The hotel will accommodate late check-outs subject to space availability.

To ensure a room at the special rate, reservations MUST be made by FEBRUARY 5, 2010.  Participants are encouraged to make their reservations early.  

Room Reservations —
Reservations may be made by one of the following ways:

• The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Online Reservations
  The group code (LPSLPSA) has already been entered in the far right column. Upon submission of the requested dates, the next page will indicate the special rate of $188.00.
  
  
• Marriott telephone reservations at 1-800-262-1509
  Specify “Lunar and Planetary Science”.

Reservations must be guaranteed with a major credit card or accompanied by a first night’s deposit. All reserved guest rooms are guaranteed until 6:00 p.m. on day of arrival. Guests planning to arrive after 6:00 p.m. should notify the hotel at the time the room is booked. If travel plans should change due to delayed flights or other circumstances, guests should contact the hotel directly at 281-367-9797.

Cancellation Policy —
Cancellations may be made without penalty by contacting the hotel directly at 281-367-9797 prior to 6:00 p.m. on the day of arrival.

“No Show” Policy —
Guests who do not check in by 6:00 p.m. on the day of arrival without prior notice to the hotel risk forfeiture of room in addition to forfeiture of deposit.

Please note:  The hotel is a non-smoking property, which includes all public areas and guest rooms. 

There are numerous other Woodland area hotels located nearby. Conference shuttle service will be provided to all the area hotels shown on this list. Participants on a budget who want to share housing expenses may use the roommate search form provided.

Attendees staying at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott can take a Super Shuttle (713-523-8888) from either Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) or Hobby Airport (HOU). The cost from IAH is $23.00 one way; from Hobby is $45.00. Yellow Cab service from IAH to the hotel is $50.00 one way; approximately $95.00 from Hobby. The hotel does not provide shuttle service.

The conference shuttle provider, Galveston Limousine Service, will provide service between either of the airports to/from the hotels listed on the shuttle route for $50.00 one way, $100.00 round trip. Reservations can be made on their website at www.galvestonlimousineservice.com.

Parking —
The Woodlands Waterway Marriot Hotel and Convention Center has two garages for guests and conference attendees.

Complimentary self-parking is available in the West Garage (Town Center Garage) located on Six Pines Drive. The West Garage offers easy access to the hotel and convention center via a climate-controlled Sky Bridge.

Pay parking is also provided in the East Garage located at the front of the hotel; rates are $9.00 per day for self-parking and $15.00 per day for valet parking.

Driving Directions —
From George Bush Intercontinental Airport:  Follow airport exit signs to Hardy Toll Road North. Proceed on Hardy Toll Road. The toll road will merge with I-45 North. Proceed on I-45 North to the Woodlands Parkway exit. Continue to Woodloch Forest Drive. Turn right. Go to the second stop light (Lake Robbins Drive). Turn left and proceed 0.25 miles to hotel on left.

For further information regarding meeting logistics and announcements, please contact

MARY CLOUD
Lunar and Planetary Institute
phone:  281-486-2143
e-mail:  [email protected]

For further information regarding registration, please contact

LINDA TANNER
Lunar and Planetary Institute
phone:  281-486-2142
e-mail:  [email protected]