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