Division of Astronomical Sciences Program Update AAAC 11 February 2008

Outline Interagency and NSF news Interagency and NSF news Brief Senior Review implementation report Brief Senior Review implementation report  Reiterate concerns Planning and Priority Setting Planning and Priority Setting  Taking stock as we enter a new Decade Survey Responding to AAAC Task Forces Responding to AAAC Task Forces FY2008/FY2009 Budget and Forward Look FY2008/FY2009 Budget and Forward Look

Good Interagency News! NSF-NASA Virtual Observatory MOU signed and solicitation released! NSF-NASA Virtual Observatory MOU signed and solicitation released! Excellent interactions with both NASA and DOE Excellent interactions with both NASA and DOE  Joint consideration of decadal survey proposal review and structure (including OMB and OSTP)  Regular, fruitful discussions between AST and NASA Astrophysics Division  NSF AST – DOE HEP interface very effective in on- going, joint reviews, decisions, and oversight

Other AST News 2008 Committee of Visitors   Exceedingly important and useful community oversight of all of AST’s activity   John Carlstrom and Bruce Margon co-chairs of the committee   Met 6 – 8 February; report to MPS AC in April FY2007 Close out   Success rate – 24% for AAG NSB declared ATST to be ready for inclusion in a future budget; New line in FY2009 MREFC account for Design and Development (more in budget discussion)

UK Position in Gemini As a result of a Comprehensive Spending Review and STFC program priorities, it is likely that the UK will decrease its share in Gemini, eventually to zero. As a result of a Comprehensive Spending Review and STFC program priorities, it is likely that the UK will decrease its share in Gemini, eventually to zero. Partnership is considering options: Partnership is considering options:  New partners  Part of UK share (~25%) taken up by existing partners  Hybrids of the above Clearly the partnership will have to be reformulated and the Agreement rewritten Clearly the partnership will have to be reformulated and the Agreement rewritten Opportunities need to be explored Opportunities need to be explored  Community input welcomed

NRAO Transition Program Very Long Baseline Array   NRAO active in seeking partners - several possibilities, prospects look good

NAIC (Arecibo) Transition Program Cornell instituted new operational mode to reduce budget   Limited number of receivers supported   Reduced time for Astronomy observations by 20%   Reduced staffing (30 FTEs), reduced observer support   Reduced availability of planetary radar (close in 2008?) Arecibo director (Kerr) active in seeking partners in Puerto Rico with NSF support (Gov’t, Dept of Education, PR universities, local businesses…) - several proposals being considered/awarded, signs are positive   Involves expanding the educational and outreach activities of the Observatory, building programs for local students, university collaborations   Involves increased focus on technology, training, atmospheric science

NAIC (Arecibo) Transition Program NSF partnerships   GEO/ATM increasing level of support - from $1.7M to $2.5M per year, and contributing to base operations   Other possibilities being pursued within NSF

NSO Transition Program Support of the Global Oscillations Network Group (GONG++).   {SDO launch now no earlier than Dec 2008}   NSO seeking partners - no immediate prospects, although latest news is some new possibilities opening up

NOAO Transition Program Need to assure a healthy scientific enterprise going into the GSMT era   Define the “System”   Appropriate range of aperture and access   Necessary instrumentation, maintained and supported   Assure that the system is robust against delays and uncertainty along the path to a GSMT AST is working with the community and NOAO to determine where re-investment in existing OIR facilities should occur and in the development of an integrated and coordinated “System”   NOAO’s ReSTAR deliberations - report at AAS   Defining community needs for aperture 6 meters and less -- telescopes, instrumentation, modes of access and operation, data products, user support - and prioritizing these.   NOAO now forming similar committee to look at > 6 meter

Towards a National GSMT Program NSF has asked AURA/NOAO to act as NSF’s “Program Manager” for GSMT development   Role similar to NASA center in development of major space missions Understand and represent the national needs for a GSMT   National Science Working Group (expanded from previous SWG)   National “Design Reference Mission” to set scientific performance expectations, operational models - what does the community need?   Establish understanding as input to Decade Survey Promote development at a pace that recognizes both private and federal timescales Establish appropriate, symmetrical interfaces with TMT and GMT

NOAO Transition Program NOAO beginning infrastructure improvements at Kitt Peak and Cerro Tololo   Updating telescope systems   Increasing technical and mountain staff   Improving mountain facilities Restructuring organization to emphasize an integrated, coordinated national System Instrumentation group changing to emphasize partnerships with universities for future instrumentation, improving instrumentation capabilities on existing telescopes, supporting the System Infrastructure improvements seriously impacted by FY 2008 budget ‘estimate’ levels.

NSF Response and Implementation AST is working closely with facilities to understand implications of recommendations as we consider and proceed on implementation. NSF is active in encouraging and engaging in discussion with other possible partners in facility operations, including international partners and other funding agencies.   NASA, Air Force, other interests within NSF   Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; Puerto Rican Universities; local business   International agency meetings convened by AST

NSF Response and Implementation AST is undertaking detailed cost reviews of each observatory necessary to understand where cost reductions can be made   Understand operational costs, appropriate staffing levels   Compare costs with similar, service-oriented laboratories   Consider other operational and business models   Recently signed contract with external firm to conduct the study   Expect report by end of 2008 Explore costs and legal issues associated with recommendations e.g. environmental, deconstruction, divestiture, termination costs – engaging outside studies over the next year; first study (for Arecibo) complete Now constructing the forward look - What can we accomplish as the funds become available under various budget models?

AST Concerns Apparent short half-life of community attention and/or understanding   Many rumors   Many misunderstandings, statements indicate report was not read (fully) or assimilated Help in spreading the (accurate) news

AST Concerns Increasing political pressure and interference with science community-based process and plan.   Budget doubling removes need for Senior Review and invalidates conclusions? {What budget doubling?}   Growth in MREFC account can easily cover Arecibo problem? {MREFC account is for construction only, can not cover operations}   Arecibo future being determined without ATM consultation? {ATM and AST working closely on Arecibo future.}   Letters from members of Congress to NSF Director   Bill introduced to guarantee continued support of Arecibo - {but how, and at what cost to other higher priority programs?}   Letters from members of the community to NSF Director - {Counterproductive, undermines a science-based process, reinforces idea of a self-centered, ‘greedy’ community.}

Planning and Priority Setting (AAAC Retrospective heading into Decade Survey) Now a true interagency effort Now a true interagency effort  NSF  NASA  DOE National Research Council Studies National Research Council Studies  Decadal Surveys, etc. - now many  All must involve large segments of astronomical community  NRC more approachable  OSTP and OMB part of process Governmental Interagency Working Groups at NSTC level Governmental Interagency Working Groups at NSTC level  Physics of the Universe – lessons learned discussion with OSTP Much more proactive international interactions Much more proactive international interactions  ELT funding agencies group  SKA funding agencies group  ASTRONET (EU Decade Survey) interaction  Change in ESO leadership Challenges remain Challenges remain

Recommendations from AAAC Activities Task Forces sponsored by Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory Committee (AAAC) Task Forces sponsored by Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory Committee (AAAC)  CMB Roadmap (report issued May 2005)  Dark Energy (report issued in June 2006)  ExoPlanet Task Force this meeting Next Decade Survey will add new challenges Next Decade Survey will add new challenges

Mid-scale Projects and Infrastructure A new, “pilot” activity A new, “pilot” activity Response to need for projects/activities between ATI/MRI and MREFC scales (~$10M) Response to need for projects/activities between ATI/MRI and MREFC scales (~$10M) Need is felt Foundation-wide Need is felt Foundation-wide Prepare for/lead eventual NSF response Prepare for/lead eventual NSF response Prepare for next Decade Survey recommendations Prepare for next Decade Survey recommendations Use as vehicle for CMB, DETF and ExoPTF recommendation responses Use as vehicle for CMB, DETF and ExoPTF recommendation responses Explore review, management, coordination and oversight mechanisms Explore review, management, coordination and oversight mechanisms Gauge demand while growing appropriate budget Gauge demand while growing appropriate budget Prime Challenge The Goal: To evolve the ad hoc collection of projects, as represented by the current portfolio, into a coordinated programmatic framework that can be managed to fulfill a community need.

Current Projects Under Mid-Scale Rubric Mid-Scale Projects VERITAS -- Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System VERITAS -- Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System  V. Pankonin ACT -- Atacama Cosmology Telescope ACT -- Atacama Cosmology Telescope  R. Barvainis (V. Pankonin) SDSS-II -- Sloan Digital Sky Survey II SDSS-II -- Sloan Digital Sky Survey II  V. Pankonin MWA -- Murchison Widefield Array MWA -- Murchison Widefield Array  V. Pankonin QUIET -- Q/U Imaging ExperimenT QUIET -- Q/U Imaging ExperimenT  V. Pankonin POLARBeaR -- POLARization of the Background Radiation POLARBeaR -- POLARization of the Background Radiation  V. Pankonin DES -- Dark Energy Survey DES -- Dark Energy Survey  N. Sharp Design & Development (D&D) or Technology Development (TDP) LSST -- Large Synoptic Survey Telescope LSST -- Large Synoptic Survey Telescope  C. Foltz GSMT -- Giant Segmented Mirror Telescope GSMT -- Giant Segmented Mirror Telescope  T. Barnes SKA -- Square Kilometre Array SKA -- Square Kilometre Array  R. Barvainis

Current Status AST organizational structure with Mid-Scale Projects and Infrastructure put in place early calendar AST organizational structure with Mid-Scale Projects and Infrastructure put in place early calendar  5 of 7 current projects were inherited from previous org structure. Map to the future is under study. Map to the future is under study.  Internal AST working group looking at a plan to the future for all AST instrumentation related programs.  ATM mid-scale solicitation is out; we will monitor for lessons learned.  Need to gauge the demand.  Historical proposal receipt, without announcement or solicitation.  ; ; ; ;  Task Force reports provide framework for more than mid-scale projects Questions to be answered. Questions to be answered.  Should there be a general mid-scale solicitation?  Should there be targeted solicitations? How often?  How should a budget for a program and/or a solicitation be set?  For how long should AST support operations? Need to get word out to community Need to get word out to community

Charting the Future Sine qua non   Healthy grants program   Successful completion and operation of ALMA   Robust support of base facilities (as defined by Senior Review) Progress on GSMT, LSST, SKA → “TDPs” Resources for non-MREFC projects → “Mid-scale” {CMB, DETF, ExoPlanet, next Decade Survey small and moderate} Playing above against models of budget outlook – Decade Survey guidance

Looking Forward to 2008 (At President’s Request Level) Healthy increase (~10%) in grants program   Grant support for facility users under study Partnerships in Astronomy and Astrophysics Research and Education (PAARE, NSF ) Partnerships in Astronomy and Astrophysics Research and Education (PAARE, NSF ) New program helping young investigators start instrumentation careers (grad students, post-docs, beginning faculty) Increases in ATI (30%), TSIP (25%) and UROs NOAO up $2.3M to refurbish and modernize KPNO and CTIO facilities NRAO up $2M for ALMA early operations GSMT program at $5M and SKA TDP at $3M per year

FY 2008 (As ‘Estimated’ in FY 2009 budget) AST up by 1.15% or $2.47M (total of $217.86M)   (compared to R&RA up 1.32%, MPS up 1.44%) All facilities held flat (except $2M for ALMA ops) Grants programs roughly constant (ATI, AAG+POU, CAREER, ESP, etc) Cyber-enabled Discovery and Innovation (CDI) up $1.2M

Looking Forward to FY 2008 (As Enacted) Language says that AST facilities must be funded at 2008 Request level (increase of ~$6M or 5%). Impact of NSF-wide programs (CDI…) and language (“transformative research”,..) on AST budget unknown “Infrastructure” increase in House language? BUT   Providing full ALMA operations ramp   ALMA construction looks ok for 2008 .  Joint NSF/NASA solicitation for Virtual Astronomical Observatory has gone forward.

FY 2009 Budget Request by Division NSF overall: +13.0%; $6.85 B NSF R&RA: +16.0%; $5.59B MPS overall: +20.0%; $1.40B

New MPS Investments in NSF-wide and MPS-wide Activities NSF-wide activities FY 2009 Science and Engineering Beyond Moore’s Law$10.00M Cyber-enabled Discovery and Innovation$19.05 M Adaptive Systems Technology$ 3.49 M MPS-wide activities MPS – Life Science Interface$ 6.00M Quantum Information Sciences$ 5.00 M

AST FY 2009 budget highlights Facilities:   NRAO: $61.56M - ALMA ramp up   NAIC: $9.60M - planned ramp down   NOAO + NSO: $36.83M   ATST moves to MREFC at $2.5M   Gemini: $22.0M - continue Aspen   URO’s: $10.0M   TSIP: $5.0M   AODP: $1.5M

AST FY 2009 budget highlights Grants   CDI: + $2.0M   Instrumentation fellowships program   Start of Mid-scale activity: $3.0M   Start of ‘SR reinvestment’: $3.0M   Healthy increases (10-20%) across all programs - AAG, ATI, CAREER, ESP

MREFC FY 2009 Budget Request

ATST - Next Steps  Final EIS (FEIS) is being edited right now. Expect publication in late spring  NSF will issue a record of decision based on the FEIS. We assume this will be positive.  Section 106 (of the National Historic Preservation Act) consultations are ongoing. Result will be an MOA signed by consulting parties, the Hawaiian State Historic Preservation Officer (a post currently vacant), and sent to the Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation for their information.  FEIS will form the basis for the application for a Conservation District Use Permit. This is basically the Hawaiian building permit to allow construction to start. Normally this is about a six-month process.  Consultations with the FAA and the National Park Service continue. We are making progress with the former.

What has not changed since 2005? The excitement of the science and its future The excitement of the science and its future The stochastic nature of the budget process The stochastic nature of the budget process The fact that there is no good socket in the NSF planning process for the plug we have made The fact that there is no good socket in the NSF planning process for the plug we have made AST not a big ACI player AST not a big ACI player Lack of clarity in the MREFC process Lack of clarity in the MREFC process