the lessons learned as final touches to the
process. The first call for Fast Turnaround
proposals is slated for release in January
2015, and monthly thereafter; initially this
mode will only be offered at Gemini North. I
am especially excited about this mode, since
Gemini users will now be able to regularly
obtain data four to eight weeks after they
have submitted a proposal!
Gemini Fellowships
To all young researchers who would like to
join the Gemini team in these exciting times,
I am happy to announce the new Gemini
Fellowships. From this year forward, Gemini
will, late each year, offer two, three-year fellowships — one in Hawai‘i, and another in
Chile. The fellowships are aimed at young
researchers who would like to experience
working at an observatory while pursuing
an active research program.
Starting this year, the Gemini Board has enabled limited-term alliances with countries
and institutions from outside the partnership. Whether the terms are negotiated for
contributions in cash or in-kind, Gemini is
eager to enlarge its family of partners.
Finally, do not miss our lead science article
in this issue: Katherine de Kleer (University of
California Berkeley) and collaborators used
Gemini to catch an act of extreme volcanism
on Jupiter’s moon Io! It is one of the largest
volcanic eruptions ever observed in the Solar System.
With all the upcoming changes, we are
looking ahead to even more great science
wit h Gemini.
Markus Kissler-Patig is Gemini’s Director. He
can be reached at: [email protected]
Through access to Director’s Discretionary
Time, and a very generous research budget,
our goal is to ensure that Gemini Fellows
will be optimally prepared to apply for permanent positions at observatories and in
academia after their three years at Gemini.
The advertisement appears on the American Astronomical Society job register site, so
please check it out (view here). The deadline
for this year’s applications is November 30th.
A New Partnership
On the Gemini partnership front, we are extremely pleased that the Korean Astronomy
and Space Science Institute (KASI) is engaging in a limited-term partnership with Gemini in 2015. We look forward to hosting our
Korean colleagues at the Observatory, opening our telescopes to a new community, and
sharing its capabilities.
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GeminiFocus
October 2014