1. Community Science Updates

2. New head of Education and Public Outreach
Amanda Bauer has moved from AAO to Tucson, to lead LSST’s EPO Construction Program. Amanda has a strong science background. She transitioned into EPO and Communications roles at AAO. She has media training, and strong experience in social media communication methods. She developed and implemented a new outreach program at AAO as their inaugural outreach officer.

3. Communications Mgr – Search Underway
Our current communications manager, Suzanne Jacoby, is now half-time.
An ad for a communications manager was posted at the end of January. We have a few dozen applications, and will review them this month.
The Communications Manager is responsible for developing, implementing, and managing LSST’s internal and external communications strategy. Working to serve a range of audiences including the broad astronomy community, the public, media, internal project staff, and Chilean interests, the Communication Manager directs the communications team to collect, generate, update, and distribute information (both digital and print) on the LSST websites, events, conferences, press releases, astronomy/education listservs, and social media outlets.

4. Information Resources For the Community
Description
Diverse materials available include: images, key numbers, key project documents, links to simulated data – including simulated observing strategies.
Weekly Digest
A weekly update with LSST Project and LSST Corporation information sent from the Project out to staff and interested stakeholders in the scientific community. Anyone can sign up at
Zenodo.org
An open-access information repository that contains an informal (and incomplete) collection of LSST Data Management technical notes, a limited selection of LSST talks (including AAS talks), and other documents.
Community.lsst.org
A Stack Overflow-like forum with public discussions about a wide-range of LSST-related issues. Both Project and community members participate in discussions and ask questions. This tool is available to everyone. Heavy usage from Data Mgmt and EPO.
lsstc.slack.com
Limited to Instant Messaging application for quick conversations. This tool is limited to project and science collaboration members, plus International PIs and a login is required. Both private and public discussion rooms. Numerous Project and Science users.

5. Community Study of Maximizing LSST Science
Study timing: Fall 2016-Fall 2017
Workshop: May 2-4, 2016
Report posted: Oct 5, 2016

6. Maximizing LSST Science: Workshop Outcomes
Our high priority findings overlap strongly w/ Elmegreen report findings
Diverse facilities with workhorse instruments will enable LSST science. Top recommendations:
Highly multiplexed, wide-field optical multi-object spectroscopic capability on an 8-m or larger class telescope
Broad wavelength coverage, moderate resolution (R = 2000 or larger) OIR spectrograph [Gemini-S]
Some high-priority OIR capabilities are currently available, e.g. CTIO/DECam and NIFS on Gemini, among others
Ensure development and early deployment of time-domain infrastructure
Study the needs for software science tools and computing resources

7. Preparing the O/IR System for LSST
Several independent studies have generated a priority recommendation for a wide-field, multi-object spectrograph on a 8m+ telescope. A “PFS-like” resource.
Early discussions among the AURA directors and the AURA board, have tackled the question of the 2020 Decadal Review – What does AURA need to do to position its facilities for continuing success in the decades to come?
A number of facilities are considering how they can evolve to maximize LSST era science, with an eye on taking advantage of transient follow-up opportunities.
NOAO is pursuing a leadership role in infrastructure efforts.

8. Support for LSST Community Science - LSSTC
LSSTC requested white papers from science collaboration members, to use to inform a campaign to raise science-supporting funds from private foundations. This process is ongoing.
LSSTC continues to fund small enabling science grants, in support of conferences and workshops aimed to prepare the community for LSST science.
The LSST Weekly Digest contains an up-to-date list of these conferences and workshops.

10. Support for LSST Community Science – LCO MSIP

11. Support for LSST Community Science – NOAO