Date & Time: Monday, 14 May 2018 (08:30 - 17:45 MDT)

Socorro Aud Hub: 192.33.117.12##8109

Logistical Information:

• Local Contact - Lori Appel (lappel@nrao.edu)
• ARC Manager - Anthony Remijan (aremijan@nrao.edu) - O: 434-244-6848, C: 217-898-1615
• Accommodations - Holiday Inn Express, 1040 North California Street, Socorro, NM 87801, 575-838-4600

Agenda: (times listed are MDT)

• 08.30 - 09.00 Executive session (closed)
• 09.00 – 09.15 Welcome & NRAO Overview – Tony Beasley
• 09:15 – 09:30 ALMA Budget Status – Phil Jewell
• 09.15 – 09.45 NAASC Status - Remijan (video)
  • NAASC Goals for 2018 - AIM
  • Staffing and Recruitment of SciStaff and DAs.
  • Role of the DAs in NAASC Operations
  • New roles within iSOpT, decisions, priorities and new initiatives and programs approved for Cycle 6.
• 10.15 – 10.45 ALMA Software Support Team – Brian Mason (video)
  • Current state of CASA and pipeline testing
  • Pipeline requirements capture and planning for Cycles 6 and 7.
  • Short Summary of Sanjay's Development Program
• 10.45 - 11.00 Discussion.
• 11.00 – 11.15 Break
• 11.15 – 11.45 * Updated - Science Overview & Publications - Al Wootten
  • ANASAC Charge #1: Scientific outcomes and impact from Cycles 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Is North America doing well - what are the challenges and are there specific actions that might increase scientific impact?
• 11.45 – 12:15 Data Processing Workflow Efforts – Catarina Ubach/Mark Lacy (video)
  • ANASAC Charge #2: Assess the status of Cycle 1, 2, 3,4 & 5 observations and progress made towards Cycle 6. For Cycle 5, are the data meeting user expectations? Are the data being released to the PIs in a timely fashion?
• 12.30 – 14:00 Lunch
• 14.00 – 14.45 Community Support Initiatives – Tony Remijan (video)
  • Report from the ALMA Ambassadors
  • Cycle 6 proposal statistics including demographics (see report posted below).
  • Outreach efforts/Helpdesk Support/f2f visitor support
  • SOS and student programs.
  • Summary report of the planning for the 2019 Workshop in Victoria - Gerald Schieven/Brenda Matthews (video)
    • A Joint NAASC-NRC Conference, Victoria, BC, May 2019
• 14.45 – 15.00 Discussion
• 15.00 – 15.30 Telescope Diagnostics Team – Catherine Vlahakis
  • Summary statistics from Cycle 4; current status of Cycle 5 completion statistics.
  • Present the plan from the Cycle 7 ObsMode - current state of all the new capabilities and where the ANASAC can contribute.
  • Review the AoD shifts and P2G Effort
  • Interaction with the JAO - especially with input to Diagnostics
• 15:30 - 15:45 - Break
• 15.45 – 16.30 * Current ALMA/NA plan for sustaining ALMA science to 2030/ALMA2030 Roadmap - Al Wootten
  • Science Sustainability working group roadmap.
    • Public Version (provisional) of The ALMA Development Roadmap
  • NA Project & Study Status
  • Correlator Project Summary Report
  • Elements of the ALMA2030 program of new science opportunities with ALMA were discussed at a special session at the North American Radio Science meeting in Boulder 4-7 January 2018. URSI-NA presentations are available at the link.
  • ANASAC Charge #3: The fifth Call for ALMA Development Studies/NA ended and results were announce, as happened for the Call for ALMA Development Projects/NA. Please comment on the process, which was accompanied by specific suggestions ('ALMA2030') developed by ASAC and by reports from previous Studies
• 16.30 – 17:15 - OPEN
• 17:15 – 18:00 Discussion -
• 18.00 – Dinner - Bodega

Zip file of all Presentations

Relevant Documentation

• Raw Data Release Pilot Program proposal
• Raw Data Release Pilot Program presentation to the ALMA Board
• NAASC Internal Memo 6 - Calendar of Upcoming Events for FY18
• Preliminary Cycle 6 Proposal Statistics

Questions to the ANASAC from the NA ARC Manager

• Continue to increase the publication rate for NA PIs/Co-Is. How is the best way to notify the community when their observing programs have been not published (> 2yrs).
  • Are they worried about this and if so, what should we do?
• Overall communication with the community from the NA ARC. Are the monthly emails informative, welcomed, annoying?
• What is the interest in a topical NAASC led science conference in 2020/2021? Science? Venue?
• Can the ANASAC/ASAC provide clear science use case for the “Maximum Collecting Area” (MCA) Array and under what constraints should it be offered?
• How closely do the recommendations and feedback from the ANASAC reflect the pulse of the community? (ie. Do we still need to send out user surveys?)

Committee Charges (NEEDS UPDATING!)

• Please address the following charges that are specific to this meeting:
• Committee Charges
  • Please address the following charges that are specific to this meeting:
    • ANASAC Charge #1: Scientific outcomes and impact from Cycles 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Is North America doing well - what are the challenges and are there specific actions that might increase scientific impact?
    • ANASAC Charge #2: Assess the status of Cycle 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 observations and progress made towards Cycle 5. For Cycle 5, are the data meeting user expectations? Are the data being released to the PIs in a timely fashion?
    • ANASAC Charge #3: The fifth Call for ALMA Development Studies/NA just ended, as did the Call for ALMA Development Projects/NA. Please comment on the process, which was accompanied by specific suggestions ('ALMA2030') developed by ASAC and by reports from previous Studies.
  • ANASAC Standing Charges
    • 1. To assist ASAC in presenting a North American view with respect to ASAC Charges (should they exist)
      • We anticipate a Charge such as:
        • ASAC Charge: The prototype for the ALMA Band 2 receiver is complete. In order to endorse the Band 2 cartridge for full production, the ALMA Board would like to hear (again) the ASAC’s opinion on the Band 2 science case.
        • The specific question the Board would like the ASAC to answer is:
        • Does the updated science case (attached) support a decision to proceed to production of Band 2 receivers?
    • 2. To lead community outreach through leadership of workshops.
      • a. Plans for next NAASC-sponsored workshops
        • i. Taiwan meeting, Victoria workshop sketch.
        • ii. Plans for community workshops, tutorials, etc...Will present pre-programs for Long Baseline Workshop,
    • 3. To provide a mechanism for widening ALMA's base within the community and feedback to the NAASC on community perception of ALMA.
    • 4. Evaluation of the ALMA Proposal Process: Cycle 5 and special ACA Call.