NSF Division of Astronomical Sciences
description
Transcript of NSF Division of Astronomical Sciences
NSF Division of NSF Division of Astronomical Astronomical
SciencesSciences MPS/AST Committee of MPS/AST Committee of
VisitorsVisitorsFebruary 7, 2011February 7, 2011
Jim UlvestadJim UlvestadDivision Director, ASTDivision Director, AST
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OutlineOutline Recent Science Results (Why is Recent Science Results (Why is
NSF here?)NSF here?) MPS and AST Ecosystem/BudgetMPS and AST Ecosystem/Budget AST Staff Duties and OrganizationAST Staff Duties and Organization AST Budget and Proposal PressureAST Budget and Proposal Pressure COV-2008 RecommendationsCOV-2008 Recommendations
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Most Massive Neutron Most Massive Neutron StarStar
GBT measured GBT measured modification of pulse modification of pulse periods from pulsar periods from pulsar in binary pair with in binary pair with white dwarfwhite dwarf ““Shapiro” delayShapiro” delay
Modeling gives Modeling gives precise masses of precise masses of system, with neutron system, with neutron star M=1.97Mstar M=1.97MSunSun
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Demorest et al. 2010, Nature, 467, 1081
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Most Massive Galaxy Most Massive Galaxy ClusterCluster
South Pole Telescope South Pole Telescope detected 8x 10detected 8x 1014 14 MMSunSun galaxy cluster at galaxy cluster at z=1.07, using blind z=1.07, using blind survey of Sunyaev-survey of Sunyaev-Zeldovich effectZeldovich effect
Multi-color images Multi-color images (CTIO 4m) reveal (CTIO 4m) reveal numerous “old” numerous “old” galaxiesgalaxies
4Brodwin et al. 2010, ApJ, 721, 90
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An Earth-Sized Planet?An Earth-Sized Planet? Long-term Long-term
monitoring of Gliese monitoring of Gliese 581 radial velocities 581 radial velocities has most recently has most recently revealed Gliese 581grevealed Gliese 581g ~3 Earth masses~3 Earth masses ~1.3 Earth diameters~1.3 Earth diameters
In “habitable” zone In “habitable” zone where liquid water where liquid water can existcan exist
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Vogt et al. 2010, ApJ, 723, 954
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MPS/AST OrganizationMPS/AST Organization AST lives in Mathematical and Physical AST lives in Mathematical and Physical
Science DirectorateScience Directorate Largest research directorate in NSF, with Largest research directorate in NSF, with
budget approaching $1.4Bbudget approaching $1.4B Total NSF budget is ~$7BTotal NSF budget is ~$7B Other divisions: Chemistry, Materials Other divisions: Chemistry, Materials
Research, Mathematical Sciences, PhysicsResearch, Mathematical Sciences, Physics AST is the most “facilities-heavy” divisionAST is the most “facilities-heavy” division
Total AST budget: $245M in FY 2010Total AST budget: $245M in FY 2010
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Epoch Perm. Prog.
Rotators Temp. Prog.
Admin.
2007 10 (down 1)
5 1 AAAS 7
1/2010 9 3 0 82/2011 10 (+1
vac)7 1 Fed
temp7
STAFF COUNTS
MPS FY 2011 Budget Request MPS FY 2011 Budget Request
Amount PercentAstronomical Sciences $228.67 $85.80 $245.69 $251.77 $6.08 2.5%Chemistry 211.67 87.36 233.73 247.56 13.83 5.9%Materials Research 282.52 108.17 302.67 319.37 16.70 5.5%Mathematical Sciences 224.84 97.34 241.38 253.46 12.08 5.0%Physics 262.47 96.30 290.04 298.19 8.15 2.8%OMA 33.70 - 38.33 39.56 1.23 3.2%Total, MPS $1,243.88 $474.97 $1,351.84 $1,409.91 $58.07 4.3%
(Dollars in Millions)
FY 2009 Omnibus Actual
FY 2009 ARRA Actual
FY 2010 Estimate
FY 2011Request
Change OverFY 2010 Estimate
$100.00
$150.00
$200.00
$250.00
$300.00
$350.00
$400.00
FY00 FY01 FY02 FY03 FY04 FY05 FY06 FY07 FY08 FY09Total
FY10Estimate
FY11Request
MPS Subactivity Funding(Dollars in Millions)
AST
CHE
DMR
DMS
PHY
OMA
AST budget doubled 2000-20107 February 2011 7COV-AST-org-Ulvestad
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AST Budget PieAST Budget Pie
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FY11 Budget Request ~$250M
NSF-AST FY 2009 ProgramNSF-AST FY 2009 Program(including American (including American
Reinvestment and Recovery Act, Reinvestment and Recovery Act, ARRA)ARRA)
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FY11 Budget ~$250M
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Management Since Feb. Management Since Feb. 20082008
Division Director (DD)Division Director (DD) Wayne van Citters moved to MPS front Wayne van Citters moved to MPS front
office, April 2008office, April 2008 Craig Foltz served as DD until March 2010Craig Foltz served as DD until March 2010 Jim Ulvestad appointed DD (rotator) March Jim Ulvestad appointed DD (rotator) March
20102010 Deputy Division Director (DDD)Deputy Division Director (DDD)
Eileen Friel left for Lowell Observatory, Eileen Friel left for Lowell Observatory, June 2009June 2009
Nigel Sharp served as interim DDD until Nigel Sharp served as interim DDD until February 2010February 2010
Vern Pankonin served as interim DDD, May Vern Pankonin served as interim DDD, May 2010-January 20112010-January 2011
Vern Pankonin appointed DDD in January Vern Pankonin appointed DDD in January 20112011
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Other Program Staff Other Program Staff ChangesChanges
Permanent Federal employeesPermanent Federal employees Jeff Pier started August 2008; NOAO in Jeff Pier started August 2008; NOAO in
20092009 Gary Schmidt started March 2010; Gemini Gary Schmidt started March 2010; Gemini
in Nov. 2010in Nov. 2010 Open position (replacing Pankonin’s Open position (replacing Pankonin’s
Program Officer slot) advertisedProgram Officer slot) advertised Rotators (Intergovernmental Personnel Rotators (Intergovernmental Personnel
Act=IPA)Act=IPA) Don Terndrup started in 2008Don Terndrup started in 2008 Tom Statler and Scott Fisher in 2009Tom Statler and Scott Fisher in 2009 Katharina Lodders in 2010Katharina Lodders in 2010 Ed Ajhar and Maria Womack in 2011 (last Ed Ajhar and Maria Womack in 2011 (last
week)week) Federal Temporary EmployeeFederal Temporary Employee
Paul Morris in 2010-2011Paul Morris in 2010-2011
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Administrative Staff Administrative Staff ChangesChanges
Craig McClure became Program Support Craig McClure became Program Support Manager in 2009Manager in 2009
Donna O’Malley became Operations Specialist Donna O’Malley became Operations Specialist in 2009in 2009
Liz Pentecost became Facilities Coordinator in Liz Pentecost became Facilities Coordinator in 20092009
Heidi Griggs became Administrative Support Heidi Griggs became Administrative Support Assistant in 2009Assistant in 2009
Diana Phan started as student in 2009, Diana Phan started as student in 2009, transformed to Program Assistant in 2011transformed to Program Assistant in 2011
Kim Elliott moved to central MPS IT in 2010Kim Elliott moved to central MPS IT in 2010
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Division of Astronomical Sciences (AST)
Office of the Division Director
Individual Investigator Programs Mid-Scale & Future MREFC Projects
Facilities
Administration
Philip Puxley Atacama Large Millimeter Array
Tomas Gergely Electromagnetic Spectrum Management
Dana Lehr National Astronomy Ionosphere Center
Jeffrey Pier National Optical Astronomy Observatory
Vernon Pankonin National Radio Astronomy Observatory
Craig Foltz National Solar Observatory
Gary Schmidt Gemini Observatory
James UlvestadDivision Director
Vernon PankoninDeputy Division Director
Donna O’Malley Operations Specialist
Elizabeth Pentecost Project Administrator
Heidi GriggsAdministrative Support Assistant
Diana PhanStudent Program Assistant
Ann Butler Program Assistant
Anton Jiggetts Program Technology Analyst
Craig McClureProgram Support Manager
Nigel Sharp NVO/VAO, Large Synoptic Survey Telescope
Donald Terndrup Giant Segmented Mirror Telescope
Vernon Pankonin Mid-Scale Projects/ Instrumentation
Richard Barvainis University Radio Observatories
Gary Schmidt Advanced Technologies & Instrumentation
Dana Lehr Astronomy & Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowships
R.Scott Fisher Education & Special Programs (CAREER, REU, PAARE)
Andrew Clegg Enhancing Access to the Radio Spectrum
Jeffrey Pier Major Research Instrumentation
Thomas Statler Planetary Astronomy
Donald Terndrup Stellar Astronomy & Astrophysics
Richard Barvainis Extragalactic Astronomy & Cosmology
Katharina Lodders Galactic Astronomy
Paul Morris Facilities Manager
Ed Ajhar; Maria Womack
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Comments on OrganizationComments on Organization Program managers for facilities are all pulling Program managers for facilities are all pulling
double dutydouble duty Vern Pankonin: NRAO + DDD + SKA + Vern Pankonin: NRAO + DDD + SKA +
mid-scalemid-scale Phil Puxley: ALMA construction + Phil Puxley: ALMA construction +
operationsoperations Jeff Pier: NOAO + MRIJeff Pier: NOAO + MRI Gary Schmidt: Gemini + ATIGary Schmidt: Gemini + ATI Dana Lehr: NAIC + AAPFDana Lehr: NAIC + AAPF Craig Foltz: NSO + ATSTCraig Foltz: NSO + ATST Nigel Sharp: LSST + VAO + DES + some Nigel Sharp: LSST + VAO + DES + some
EXCEXC Don Terndrup: GSMT + SAADon Terndrup: GSMT + SAA Rich Barvainis: UROs + EXC + mid-scaleRich Barvainis: UROs + EXC + mid-scale
Individual Investigator ProgramIndividual Investigator Program Scrambling to cover AAPF and EXC Scrambling to cover AAPF and EXC
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Managing Conflicts of Managing Conflicts of InterestInterest
Ulvestad is rotator from AUI (NRAO, ALMA, Ulvestad is rotator from AUI (NRAO, ALMA, VAO)VAO)
Fisher is rotator from AURA (Gemini, NOAO, Fisher is rotator from AURA (Gemini, NOAO, NSO, VAO)NSO, VAO)
Schmidt is on leave from Arizona (LSST, GMT, Schmidt is on leave from Arizona (LSST, GMT, LBT)LBT)
Other rotators have conflicts with home Other rotators have conflicts with home universities and collaboratorsuniversities and collaborators
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Empirical Law #1Empirical Law #1Facility costs increase exponentially, Facility costs increase exponentially,
while budgets increase linearly (at while budgets increase linearly (at best)best)
1950s-1960s, ~$10M: KP, Green 1950s-1960s, ~$10M: KP, Green Bank, AreciboBank, Arecibo
1970s-1990s, ~$100M: VLA, VLBA, 1970s-1990s, ~$100M: VLA, VLBA, Gemini, GBT, KeckGemini, GBT, Keck
2000s-2020s, ~$1B: ALMA ($1.3B), 2000s-2020s, ~$1B: ALMA ($1.3B), ATST ($0.3B), LSST ($0.5B), GSMT (3 ATST ($0.3B), LSST ($0.5B), GSMT (3 X ~$1-2B), SKA (~$2-6B)X ~$1-2B), SKA (~$2-6B)
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Empirical Law #2Empirical Law #2
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Proposal success rate is on a long-term downward trend through all of NSF
Unrestricted Grants Unrestricted Grants (AAG)(AAG)
Success rate in FY 2010 bounced slightly up to 22% Success rate in FY 2010 bounced slightly up to 22% because of hiatus in some development fundingbecause of hiatus in some development funding Expect ≤ 18% in FY 2011 (number of proposals up ~23%!)Expect ≤ 18% in FY 2011 (number of proposals up ~23%!)
NSF goal to complete 70% of all proposal actions NSF goal to complete 70% of all proposal actions within 6 monthswithin 6 months 2009 completion took 11-12 months (ARRA)2009 completion took 11-12 months (ARRA) 2010 completion took 10 months, due to short-staffing2010 completion took 10 months, due to short-staffing
Actions in FY 2011Actions in FY 2011 More automated compliance checkingMore automated compliance checking More experienced IPAs; group efforts; use of admin. staffMore experienced IPAs; group efforts; use of admin. staff Stay on top of deadlinesStay on top of deadlines Striving for more “non-competitive” designations in panelsStriving for more “non-competitive” designations in panels
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COV-2008 COV-2008 Recommendations-1Recommendations-1
AST Staff requirements—NSFAST Staff requirements—NSF Double AST travel budget—NSFDouble AST travel budget—NSF Use Senior Review to resist earmarks—as Use Senior Review to resist earmarks—as
feasiblefeasible Regular Senior Review, every 10 yr?—soonerRegular Senior Review, every 10 yr?—sooner Astro2010 should re-examine past priorities—Astro2010 should re-examine past priorities—
done done NSF flexibility in MREFC—NSFNSF flexibility in MREFC—NSF Diverse, competent review panels—maintainedDiverse, competent review panels—maintained More info to proposers; less tolerance of non-More info to proposers; less tolerance of non-
compliance—compliance done, staffing not compliance—compliance done, staffing not adequate for more information to proposersadequate for more information to proposers
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COV-2008 COV-2008 Recommendations-2Recommendations-2
Engage with cyber-infrastructure efforts—as Engage with cyber-infrastructure efforts—as appropriate; LSSTappropriate; LSST
Re-examine instrumentation programs—in progressRe-examine instrumentation programs—in progress Maintain unsolicited mid-scale program—re-Maintain unsolicited mid-scale program—re-
evaluatingevaluating Balance UROs and radio system—steady state nowBalance UROs and radio system—steady state now Caution on burden of re-competition—NSB policyCaution on burden of re-competition—NSB policy Implement Senior Review recommendations for Implement Senior Review recommendations for
NOAO—followed major recommendationsNOAO—followed major recommendations Start ATST—done Start ATST—done Consider moving ESM to MPS or NSF OD—under Consider moving ESM to MPS or NSF OD—under
discussiondiscussion
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Primary Issues & ConcernsPrimary Issues & Concerns AST staffing and budget levelsAST staffing and budget levels
Execution of adequate oversightExecution of adequate oversight Responsiveness to communityResponsiveness to community How to communicate with community effectively?How to communicate with community effectively?
Long-term budget prognosisLong-term budget prognosis Ongoing facility operations reduce flexibilityOngoing facility operations reduce flexibility Long-term strategic plan and portfolio review is Long-term strategic plan and portfolio review is
criticalcritical Cannot accommodate increased AAG pressureCannot accommodate increased AAG pressure
US competitiveness in ground-based OIRUS competitiveness in ground-based OIR Gemini challenge provides the opportunity to craft Gemini challenge provides the opportunity to craft
a more coherent US national observatorya more coherent US national observatory Long-term future of Gemini partnership?Long-term future of Gemini partnership? Success of GSMT programs?Success of GSMT programs?
Operation of large, new MREFC projectsOperation of large, new MREFC projects Home for solar research in NSF?Home for solar research in NSF?
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