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Brian Dewhurst Feb 9, 2007 Board on Physics and Astronomy NRC Astrophysics Update AAAC Feb 8-9, 2007...
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Transcript of Brian Dewhurst Feb 9, 2007 Board on Physics and Astronomy NRC Astrophysics Update AAAC Feb 8-9, 2007...
Brian Dewhurst Feb 9, 2007Board on Physics and Astronomy
NRC Astrophysics Update
AAAC Feb 8-9, 2007
Brian Dewhurst
BPA Staff
Brian Dewhurst Feb 9, 2007Board on Physics and Astronomy
Ongoing Activities
• Astronomy Science Centers (ASC)• Beyond Einstein Program Assessment Cmte
(BEPAC)• NASA Astrophysics Performance
Assessment (NAPA)• Scientific Uses of the Radio Spectrum
(Spectrum)• Next A&A Decadal Survey (Astro2010)
Brian Dewhurst Feb 9, 2007Board on Physics and Astronomy
ASC
• A comparative review of current astronomy science centers in order to identify best practices and lessons learned and assess whether there are optimum sizes or approaches for science centers.
• The study is not intended to be a performance review of current centers, but it is expected to provide an assessment to serve decision-making with regard to future centers.
• Report to be released in 2Q 2007.
Brian Dewhurst Feb 9, 2007Board on Physics and Astronomy
BEPAC
• See slides from yesterday for full discussion.
• Report to be delivered to the agencies Sept 8, 2007.
Brian Dewhurst Feb 9, 2007Board on Physics and Astronomy
NAPA
• Ken Keller, JHU/SAIS chair
• Steve Battel, Battel Engineering
• Chuck Bennett, JHU
• Catherine Cesarsky, ESO
• Megan Donahue, Michigan State
• Rolf Kudritski, U. Hawaii
• Martha Haynes, Cornell vice-chair
• Steve Murray, CfA
• Bob Palmer
• Joe Taylor, Princeton
• Michael Turner, U. Chicago
• Rainer Weiss, MIT
• Chick Woodward, U. Minnesota
Midterm “report card” for NASA Astrophysics, based on Decadal Survey and Quarks/Cosmos. Requested in 2005 NASA Authorization Act. Report released Wednesday, Feb 7th.
Brian Dewhurst Feb 9, 2007Board on Physics and Astronomy
NAPA (2)• Selected Findings and Recommendations:• “NASA’s 2003 Astrophysics program plan
responded effectively to the recommendations made in the National Research Council reports Astronomy and Astrophysics in the New Millennium and Connecting Quarks with the Cosmos. In particular, the 2003 plan properly addressed the stated priorities and was well optimized across mission goals, types, and sizes. “
Brian Dewhurst Feb 9, 2007Board on Physics and Astronomy
NAPA (3)
• “In a time of extraordinary potential for scientific discovery, the prospects have been substantially reduced for NASA’s contributing in the future to astrophysics over a diverse range of enterprises, and with the agility necessary to rapidly respond to opportunity.”
• “NASA’s Astrophysics Division does not have the resources to pursue the priorities, goals, and opportunities outlined in the AANM and Q2C reports.”
Brian Dewhurst Feb 9, 2007Board on Physics and Astronomy
NAPA (4)
• “NASA should optimize the projected science return from its Astrophysics Program by (a) ensuring a diversified portfolio of large and small missions that reflect the science priorities articulated in the 2001 decadal survey Astronomy and Astrophysics in the New Millennium and (b) by investing in the work required to bring science missions to their full potential: e.g., technology development, data analysis, data archiving, and theory.”
Brian Dewhurst Feb 9, 2007Board on Physics and Astronomy
NAPA (5)
• How?– “[Reevaluate] the program’s mission balance, with the
goal of restoring the Explorer line to the launch rate achieved in the early part of this decade.”
– “[Identify] structural mechanisms (e.g., firewalls, cost caps, constraints on the concentration of resources in single programs) to protect small programs and mission-enabling activities such as technology development from cost growth in larger missions.”
Brian Dewhurst Feb 9, 2007Board on Physics and Astronomy
Spectrum
• New study to identify the important scientific progress enabled by having portions of the radio spectrum set aside for scientific use– Radio astronomy and Earth remote sensing– Study is “forward-looking”
Brian Dewhurst Feb 9, 2007Board on Physics and Astronomy
Astro2010
• The Board on Physics and Astronomy (BPA) is taking the lead in planning for the next decadal survey of astronomy and astrophysics, in partnership with the Space Studies Board and the Committee on Astronomy and Astrophysics.
Brian Dewhurst Feb 9, 2007Board on Physics and Astronomy
Astro2010 (2)
• Initial activities are to solicit community input.– Town Hall meeting at AAS-Seattle in January– Town Hall meeting at APS-Jacksonville in
April– [email protected]
Brian Dewhurst Feb 9, 2007Board on Physics and Astronomy
Comments/Questions?
202-334-2998
Brian Dewhurst Feb 9, 2007Board on Physics and Astronomy
Backup Slides
Brian Dewhurst Feb 9, 2007Board on Physics and Astronomy
Town Hall Questions
• How to gather input from the entire community• Committee/Panel Structure (science vs technique)• Committee/Panel membership… role of outsiders?• Cost estimates (can we do better?)• How to address uncompleted recommendations
from previous surveys?
Brian Dewhurst Feb 9, 2007Board on Physics and Astronomy
Town Hall Questions (2)
• International coordination?• Boundaries of the field? Where are the
edges?• Flexibility, decision rules, etc. How will
the survey be made robust?• Structure of the recommendations:
prioritization across categories, major v moderate, space v ground.