NSF Update AAAC 8 February 2007

Update Topics FY2007 Budget Situation FY2007 Budget Situation FY2008 Request FY2008 Request Senior Review Status and Town Meetings Senior Review Status and Town Meetings

Looking towards AAAC Annual Report Senior Review report accepted Senior Review report accepted AST implementation underway AST implementation underway GSMT Program restructured GSMT Program restructured Interagency implications of Senior Review recommendations Interagency implications of Senior Review recommendations Plans beginning for next Decade Survey Plans beginning for next Decade Survey

FY2007 Request for AST $215.11M (FY % or $15.5M) NSF request shaped by American Competitiveness Initiative Facilities base operations budgets held level pending outcome of senior review Increases for: - GSMT ($5M, up $3M) - TSIP ($4M, up $2M) - AODP ($1.5M, restored) - Physics of the Universe activities enhanced - Elementary Particle Physics - dark energy, dark matter studies (with Physics Division) - Research grants programs up overall - Gemini future instrumentation FY2007 Budget Request

MPS by Division

Current FY2007 Budget Situation Continuing Resolution through 15 Feb Continuing Resolution through 15 Feb  Activities funded at FY2006 levels  No new starts Post Feb 15 – Continuing Resolution for Remainder of Year at 2007 Request? Post Feb 15 – Continuing Resolution for Remainder of Year at 2007 Request?  Rules?  New starts?

FY 2008 Request

Call for Reinvestment in STEM Increase US talent poolIncrease US talent pool Strengthen basic researchStrengthen basic research Develop, recruit & retain best/brightestDevelop, recruit & retain best/brightest Ensure innovation in AmericaEnsure innovation in America

ACI EmphasesEmphases Tie fundamental discoveries to marketable technologies.Tie fundamental discoveries to marketable technologies. Facilities and instrumentationFacilities and instrumentation World class science and engineering workforceWorld class science and engineering workforce Focus on Phys Sci & EngineeringFocus on Phys Sci & Engineering Doubles NSF, DOE-OS, NIST over 10 years Doubles NSF, DOE-OS, NIST over 10 years Biggest federal response since Sputnik Biggest federal response since Sputnik

FY 2008 MPS Focus Areas Physical sciences at the nanoscalePhysical sciences at the nanoscale Science beyond “Moore’s Law”Science beyond “Moore’s Law” Physics of the universePhysics of the universe Complex systemsComplex systems Fundamental mathematical and statistical scienceFundamental mathematical and statistical science SustainabilitySustainability Cyber-enabled Discovery and InnovationCyber-enabled Discovery and Innovation

MPS by Division

MPS Facilities in Operation 1 The NOAO total includes funding for instrumentation programs that build public-private partnerships. In FY 2008, the Telescope System Instrumentation Program is funded at $5 million. The Adaptive Optics Development Program is funded at $1.5 million, level with FY 2007 request, but moves into the disciplinary instrumentation program and so no longer appears in the NOAO budget in FY The base NOAO/NSO program funding increases by $3.63 million over the FY 2007 request.

Facilities in Development and Under Construction Design and Development: DUSEL: will begin formally in FY 2008, total $6.0M, building on previous Discovery Research.DUSEL: will begin formally in FY 2008, total $6.0M, building on previous Discovery Research. Giant Segmented Mirror Telescope: level $5.0M.Giant Segmented Mirror Telescope: level $5.0M. LSST development as planned at $1.3MLSST development as planned at $1.3M Facilities under Construction: ALMA: reflects new baseline, early operations increases to $8.2 million. IceCube: operations initiated at $1.5M level Advanced LIGO: construction begins FY 2008.

MREFC Request

Status of Other Interagency Efforts VERITAS VERITAS  NHPA consultation termination in process  Work on Kitt Peak resumes ~ March? ATST ATST  PDR in Nov - Ready for Construction  EIS and NHPA process continues NVO NVO  No new starts in FY2007 – FY2008 issue

Polar Programs

Senior Review Status AST has begun implementation plan AST has begun implementation plan  Consult facilities managers  Consult agency partners, CAA, AAAC,… AST will take implementation plan to community AST will take implementation plan to community  Town meeting series started in Seattle at AAS  Other meetings  Ann Arbor – 26 January  Washington, DC - 16 February  Santa Cruz - 8 March  Princeton - 16 March  Atlanta - 23 March  Tucson – 5 April Welcome constructive comments to address: Welcome constructive comments to address:

Developing an NSF Response and Implementation Plan AST is working closely with facilities to understand implications of recommendations as we consider possible implementation NSF is active in encouraging and engaging in discussion with other possible partners in facility operations, including international partners and other funding agencies. 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”

Developing an NSF Response and Implementation Plan AST is undertaking detailed cost reviews of each observatory necessary to understand where cost reductions can be made   Understand operational costs, appropriate staffing levels   Consider other operational and business models   Hope to complete within next 6 to 8 months Explore costs and legal issues associated with recommendations e.g. environmental, deconstruction, divestiture, termination costs – engaging outside studies over the next year Many changes will take several years to implement – Budget implications in FY2009

Cost Reviews We have a 50 year tradition of operations that we must examine, both for now and for future facilities We have a 50 year tradition of operations that we must examine, both for now and for future facilities Can current level of service be delivered for less? Can current level of service be delivered for less?  Some opinions based on university-scale ops  Hidden subsidies, etc.  We all must understand the costs thoroughly NSF, facilities, and community must look at different service models NSF, facilities, and community must look at different service models  Changes similar to those at NAIC may be necessary at all AST facilities  NSF will support efforts towards implementation of recommendations by managing organizations.

Senior Review Recommendations Implications at this meeting GSMT program restructuring GSMT program restructuring Arecibo Arecibo VLBA VLBA Gong ++ Gong ++

Community Input is Essential AST Web site for the Senior Review: ( The Senior Review Report: ( input Decade Survey planning input