Bolatto, Osten, Emerson, Johnson, Carpenter, Stacey, Wilner, Baker, Crutcher, Johnstone (listening), Neufeld, Padgett, Wilson, Lonsdale, Wootten.

1. Report on ALMA progress at Chile (Wootten)

Board meeting in April. L. Ball has taken over the ASAC, thus site for meetings is moved to Chile. Results from SV projects. Images of the Antennae, NGC3256, TW Hydra. Data will be available publicly likely through link in webpage (not through the archive). Exploration of the SV data just starting. Members of the ASAC note that the initial intention of the SV data was to accomplish an end-to-end test of the system, and it is important to keep that goal in mind. Ten antennas on the high site. Correlator upgrades proceeding. Now two quadrants for 32 antennas. LO upgrade done to power up all antennas. Bad weather finished, now on transition season to excellent weather. First European antenna conditionally accepted. According to the schedule there should be a total of 20 antennas by October. Al estimates it probably needs that many to keep 16 actually working during ES, consequently there is not much margin.

2. Update on the preparation for ES (Lonsdale)

Several community days planned. All in all 560 people registered, actual attendance may be slightly below so far, but comparable. Feedback forms available, generally speaking participant comments range from very good to excellent. Presentations evolving according to feedback. Osten, Carpenter, Wilner comment on the community days at their respective insitutions, which were very positive. Lonsdale points out that for morale purposes it is good to share positive comments at the NAASC.

The helpdesk is open. Traffic is slow so far (1 ticket a day). Written about 30 knowledge articles for website. 420 users registered worldwide. Science portal is public.

The ANASAC recommends the NAASC send around an email reminding potential users to fill in notice of intent by deadline, so that number of proposals can be better estimated. Currently the review panels have 42 panelists confirmed, but there may be need to increase the number.

3. Update on NA call for ALMA development proposals (Wootten)

Development workshop went well. The presentations are online (link in agenda). It focused on hardware developents. There will be a meeting for software developments later. The plan is to issue a call for studies within 10 days. Wording is similar to the previously circulated call. There is interest in the ANASAC to see the call before it is circulated. There was a discussion about the implementation of the ANASAC comments from the last round, particularly in what has to do with the access for people from outside NRAO to hardware interface information, and the possible perception of an unfair advantage for internal NRAO proposers. There will be a technical advisory committee constituted by NRAO people who are not participating in proposals to provide technical information as it is needed.

4. Report on ASAC activities (Johnson)

Much discussion about capabilities offered during cycle 0. Concerning the proposal review process (PRP) there is the question of whether to make the names of the panelists public. The current recommendation is against doing so, at least in advance of panels meeting. Panelists are to serve for 3 years, although they will have to be staggered at the beginning. A working group is established to discuss alternative power generation schemes (solar power?). There are early ASAC charges for future meeting: ES-related, keep eye on full science, development plan (guarantee time for development). This is a special oportunity for ANASAC input. The link to the charges and the reports are on the ANASAC website.

5. NSF letter (Bolatto)

After 4.5 months there is finally a formal response from the NSF to our letter, by Phil Puxley. The response is very brief. No particular surprises. This highlights the need to compile our own statistics on the sources of funding used by successful proposers to analyze the data. There is the suggestion of compiling success statistics across the board for all NSF-funded observatories, to see how the average compares to ALMA proposers. Because of lack of time, further discussion is moved to future telecon.

6. Astronomer outreach (Lonsdale)

Meeting decided "Outflows, Winds and Jets: from Young Stars to Supermassive Black Holes". Likely to take place in Charlottesvile (ANASAC agrees that would be best to lessen impact on the NAASC). Still looking for Chair for the SOC.

-- AlWootten - 2011-05-18
Topic revision: r1 - 2011-05-18, AlWootten
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