Sciences Participating with Arts & Culture in Education

Dawson College, with the Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) and Universities Space Research Association (USRA), will host the Second Workshop on Ices in the Solar System: A Volatile Excursion from Mercury and the Moon to the Kuiper Belt and Beyond, January 5–7, 2026, at Dawson College, Montréal. The workshop is in-person only. Official information and updates: LPI.

The workshop convenes planetary scientists to share current observations, interpretations, and mission plans related to ices across the solar system. Institutional support includes LPI, USRA, and Dawson College. Conveners (per LPI) are Jim Garvin (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center), Amanda Hendrix (Planetary Science Institute), Alan Stern (Southwest Research Institute), Tara Tomlinson (Dartmouth College), Pierre Williams (University of California), and Natalie Wolfenbarger (Stanford University). Dawson conveners include Maxwell Jones, Richard Soare (Geography), and Joel Trudeau (Physics, SPACE Coordinator) as a member of the local Scientific Organizing Committee. Organizer details: Organizers.

This call for applications invites students from all programs to engage with frontier planetary science topics through a structured learning sequence (pre-workshop preparation → full workshop participation → post-workshop reflection and/or project) and offers credit in the SPACE Certificate. For some context on what to expect, see our prior student guide from the first workshop hosted at Dawson in 2023: NASA Workshop: Student Guide for Participation. 

Who Can Apply

All Dawson College students are invited to apply. Though it may be an asset, you do not need to have prior knowledge of planetary science. We are looking for curiosity, interdisciplinary interest, and a demonstrated commitment to learning while representing Dawson College with integrity. See our Code of Conduct below.

We will select 25 students to subsidize their participation in this unique opportunity to be exposed to frontier science with planetary experts based on application merit.

NOTE: An additional 15 spots will be available at a reduced student price to simply attend the Ices Workshop. It is possible to claim one of these spots and forgo participation in the coordinated program with SPACE and LPI. 

Application Deadline: October 10, 2025

Student Commitments

Selected students will be expected to:

1. Complete pre-workshop learning activities (context-building and integrative exercises). This component will involve searching through and reflecting on one or more abstracts from the LPI archive on a selected Ices topic.
2. Participate fully in the Ices Workshop.
3. Engage in at least one follow-up activity (e.g., SPACE project, workshop reflection). This component will involve, at minimum, a reflection of your learning through the workshop experience.
4. Share outcomes and/or artifacts at a Dawson College community event in May, 2026 before the end of semester. At minimum students will supply their follow-up activity outcomes from commitment 3. as part of a group presentation.

Code of Conduct

For selected students, the opportunity to participate in the 2nd Ices Workshop is a privilege. While the learning activities are designed with the students in mind, the workshop itself is tailored to the research community. Therefore, students are expected to be well-prepared and to conduct themselves in a respectful manner. Students are also expected to adhere to the Code of Conduct specified by the USRA/LPI. and, as in all Dawson College sanctioned activities, Dawson's Code of Conduct applies. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

1. Who is eligible to apply? All Dawson students
2. Do I need to be a science student? No — curiosity and willingness to engage are what matter. Interdisciplinary perspectives are encouraged.
3. What costs are covered by the subsidy? Registration and conference buffet dinner. Other activities not covered by the subsidy will be explained during the registration period.
4. What is expected of participants? Commitment to the full learning sequence: pre-workshop preparation, full attendance at the workshop, and post-workshop reflection/project.
5. What if I have a scheduling conflict? Students must be available for all three days. If you anticipate a conflict, please indicate it in your application.
6. What if I don’t know much about planetary science? That’s fine. The activities are designed to support learning. The application will ask you to show interest in planetary science and willingness to learn.
7. Will participation count toward the SPACE Certificate? Yes — activities linked to the workshop can be recognized as part of the SPACE Certificate. 9 credits + the option of a Foundational Knowledge credit. 
8. What happens after the workshop? Students will share outcomes (reflection/project) individually and contribute material to a May, 2026 group event.
9. How will I know if I’ve been accepted? You will be notified by email after the October 10 selection deadline.

Other questions can be included where indicated on the application form. Click the Get Involved button above or this link to apply.