Dear Colleague:
A major task of NOAO's Science Operations Division is to receive, process, and review proposals for telescope time available through NOAO's nighttime programs. These now include KPNO and CTIO facilities, and will soon include the U.S. allocation of time on the Gemini telescopes, as well as allocations at independent observatories such as the HET, the MMT, and potentially the South Pole facility. To make the process of applying for telescope time as simple and as scientifically productive as possible for our user community, NOAO is attempting to unify proposals and procedures for all nighttime facilities.
SCOPE receives approximately 850 proposals each year for KPNO and CTIO during its two semester proposal cycles. These proposals are reviewed by four Telescope Allocation Committees, one for CTIO proposals, and discipline panels in galactic, extragalactic, and solar system astronomy for KPNO proposals. We expect the number of proposals received to increase substantially when the 8-m Gemini Telescopes begin scientific operations, expected in June, 2000, for Gemini North. Both the number of proposals and the increased complexity of proposals for these new facilities require changes to NOAO's proposal machinery. We will adapt the existing processes, which work well, and continue NOAO's focus on support of scientific programs rather than simple observing runs.
Many of you are faced with similar concerns related to telescope proposals at your observatories. It seems appropriate to convene a workshop this summer, to include Gemini staff, representatives from interested Gemini national project offices, and representatives from STScI and other observatories, to bring together people faced with the task of developing proposal processes. The goal would be to explore options, tasks, and mutual concerns, and to understand where joint, shared, or collaborative effort might be beneficial. Discussions should focus on immediate goals, however, rather than on the longer term directions of technology, since we have to have something working in less than a year for Gemini proposals!
We propose to host such a workshop at NOAO in Tucson on 10-11 August, and would like to invite you or your representative to take part. We also solicit suggested agenda items, and will circulate a draft agenda in early July. If you are interested in participating, please let me know.
Kristen Thomson (kthomson@noao.edu, (520) 318-8397) in the NOAO/SCOPE office will be providing logistical support for the meeting. She will distribute hotel information in the near future to those planning to attend.
Best wishes -
Caty Pilachowski
catyp@noao.edu
520 318-8289
Posted: 07Jul1998