Division of Astronomical Sciences

Program UpdateAAACAAAC

11 February 200811 February 2008

Outline

Interagency and NSF newsInteragency and NSF news Brief Senior Review implementation reportBrief Senior Review implementation report

Reiterate concernsReiterate concerns Planning and Priority SettingPlanning and Priority Setting

Taking stock as we enter a new Decade SurveyTaking stock as we enter a new Decade Survey Responding to AAAC Task ForcesResponding to AAAC Task Forces FY2008/FY2009 Budget and Forward LookFY2008/FY2009 Budget and Forward Look

Good Interagency News!

NSF-NASA Virtual Observatory MOU signed and NSF-NASA Virtual Observatory MOU signed and solicitation released!solicitation released!

Excellent interactions with both NASA and DOEExcellent interactions with both NASA and DOE Joint consideration of decadal survey proposal review Joint consideration of decadal survey proposal review

and structure (including OMB and OSTP)and structure (including OMB and OSTP) Regular, fruitful discussions between AST and NASA Regular, fruitful discussions between AST and NASA

Astrophysics DivisionAstrophysics Division NSF AST – DOE HEP interface very effective in on-NSF AST – DOE HEP interface very effective in on-

going, joint reviews, decisions, and oversightgoing, 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 As a result of a Comprehensive Spending Review and

STFC program priorities, it is likely that the UK will STFC program priorities, it is likely that the UK will decrease its share in Gemini, eventually to zero.decrease its share in Gemini, eventually to zero.

Partnership is considering options:Partnership is considering options: New partnersNew partners Part of UK share (~25%) taken up by existing partnersPart of UK share (~25%) taken up by existing partners Hybrids of the aboveHybrids of the above

Clearly the partnership will have to be reformulated and Clearly the partnership will have to be reformulated and the Agreement rewrittenthe Agreement rewritten

Opportunities need to be exploredOpportunities need to be explored Community input welcomedCommunity 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 effortNow a true interagency effort NSFNSF NASANASA DOEDOE

National Research Council StudiesNational Research Council Studies Decadal Surveys, etc. - now manyDecadal Surveys, etc. - now many All must involve large segments of All must involve large segments of

astronomical communityastronomical community NRC more approachableNRC more approachable OSTP and OMB part of processOSTP and OMB part of process

Governmental Interagency Working Groups at Governmental Interagency Working Groups at NSTC levelNSTC level

Physics of the Universe – lessons learned Physics of the Universe – lessons learned discussion with OSTPdiscussion with OSTP

Much more proactive international interactionsMuch more proactive international interactions ELT funding agencies groupELT funding agencies group SKA funding agencies groupSKA funding agencies group ASTRONET (EU Decade Survey) ASTRONET (EU Decade Survey)

interactioninteraction Change in ESO leadershipChange in ESO leadership

Challenges remainChallenges remain

Recommendations from AAAC Activities

Task Forces sponsored by Astronomy and Task Forces sponsored by Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory Committee (AAAC)Astrophysics Advisory Committee (AAAC)

CMB Roadmap (report issued May 2005)CMB Roadmap (report issued May 2005) Dark Energy (report issued in June 2006)Dark Energy (report issued in June 2006) ExoPlanet Task Force this meetingExoPlanet Task Force this meeting

Next Decade Survey will add new Next Decade Survey will add new challengeschallenges

Mid-scale Projects and Infrastructure

A new, “pilot” activityA new, “pilot” activity Response to need for projects/activities between ATI/MRI and MREFC scales Response to need for projects/activities between ATI/MRI and MREFC scales

(~$10M)(~$10M) Need is felt Foundation-wideNeed is felt Foundation-wide Prepare for/lead eventual NSF responsePrepare for/lead eventual NSF response Prepare for next Decade Survey recommendationsPrepare for next Decade Survey recommendations Use as vehicle for CMB, DETF and ExoPTF recommendation responsesUse as vehicle for CMB, DETF and ExoPTF recommendation responses Explore review, management, coordination and oversight mechanismsExplore review, management, coordination and oversight mechanisms Gauge demand while growing appropriate budgetGauge 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 ProjectsMid-Scale Projects VERITAS VERITAS -- Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System-- Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System

V. PankoninV. Pankonin ACTACT -- Atacama Cosmology Telescope -- Atacama Cosmology Telescope

R. Barvainis (V. Pankonin)R. Barvainis (V. Pankonin) SDSS-II SDSS-II -- Sloan Digital Sky Survey II-- Sloan Digital Sky Survey II

V. PankoninV. Pankonin MWAMWA -- Murchison Widefield Array -- Murchison Widefield Array

V. PankoninV. Pankonin QUIETQUIET -- Q/U Imaging ExperimenT -- Q/U Imaging ExperimenT

V. PankoninV. Pankonin POLARBeaRPOLARBeaR -- POLARization of the Background Radiation -- POLARization of the Background Radiation

V. PankoninV. Pankonin DESDES -- Dark Energy Survey -- Dark Energy Survey

N. SharpN. Sharp

Design & Development (D&D) or Technology Development (TDP)Design & Development (D&D) or Technology Development (TDP) LSST LSST -- Large Synoptic Survey Telescope-- Large Synoptic Survey Telescope

C. FoltzC. Foltz GSMTGSMT -- Giant Segmented Mirror Telescope -- Giant Segmented Mirror Telescope

T. BarnesT. Barnes SKA SKA -- Square Kilometre Array-- Square Kilometre Array

R. BarvainisR. Barvainis

Current Status AST organizational structure with Mid-Scale Projects and Infrastructure AST organizational structure with Mid-Scale Projects and Infrastructure

put in place early calendar 2006.put in place early calendar 2006. 5 of 7 current projects were inherited from previous org structure.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 Internal AST working group looking at a plan to the future for all AST

instrumentation related programs.instrumentation related programs. ATM mid-scale solicitation is out; we will monitor for lessons learned.ATM mid-scale solicitation is out; we will monitor for lessons learned. Need to gauge the demand. Need to gauge the demand. Historical proposal receipt, without announcement or solicitation. Historical proposal receipt, without announcement or solicitation.

2002-1; 2004-3; 2005-1; 2006-1; 2007-22002-1; 2004-3; 2005-1; 2006-1; 2007-2 Task Force reports provide framework for more than mid-scale projectsTask 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 a general mid-scale solicitation? Should there be targeted solicitations? How often?Should there be targeted solicitations? How often? How should a budget for a program and/or a solicitation be set?How should a budget for a program and/or a solicitation be set? For how long should AST support operations? For how long should AST support operations?

Need to get word out to communityNeed 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 Partnerships in Astronomy and Astrophysics Research and Education (PAARE, NSF 07-561)Education (PAARE, NSF 07-561)

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

FY 2008 FY 2009Estimated Request Amount Percent

Astronomical Sciences $215.39 $217.86 $250.01 $32.15 14.8%

Chemistry 191.22 194.22 244.67 50.45 26.0%

Materials Research 257.27 260.22 324.59 64.37 24.7%

Mathematical Sciences 205.74 211.79 245.70 33.91 16.0%

Physics 248.47 250.52 297.70 47.18 18.8%

Multidisciplinary Activities 32.64 32.70 40.00 7.30 22.3%

Mathematical and Physical Sciences Funding(Dollars in Millions)

Change overFY 2008 EstimatedFY 2007

Actual

NSF overall: +13.0%; $6.85 BNSF R&RA: +16.0%; $5.59BMPS 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 $10.00 M Cyber-enabled Discovery and Innovation $19.05 M Adaptive Systems Technology $ 3.49 M MPS-wide activities MPS – Life Science Interface $ 6.00 M 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

FY 2007 Actual

FY 2008 Estimate

FY 2009 Request

FY 2010 Estimate

FY 2011 Estimate

FY 2012 Estimate

FY 2013 Estimate

FY 2014 Estimate

Ongoing Projects

AdvLIGO - $32.75 $51.43 $46.30 $15.21 $23.73 $15.50 $19.78

ALMA 64.30 102.07 82.25 42.76 13.91 3.00 - -

IceCube 24.38 25.91 11.33 0.95 -

New MREFC FundingAdvanced Technology Solar Telescope - - (D&D) 2.5 - Totals may not add due to rounding.

MREFC Account Funding(Dollars in Millions)

ATST - Next Steps Final EIS (FEIS) is being edited right now.  Expect publication in late

spring 2008.

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 futureThe excitement of the science and its future The stochastic nature of the budget processThe stochastic nature of the budget process The fact that there is no good socket in the The fact that there is no good socket in the

NSF planning process for the plug we have NSF planning process for the plug we have mademade

AST not a big ACI playerAST not a big ACI player Lack of clarity in the MREFC processLack of clarity in the MREFC process