Giant Segmented Mirror Telescope Science Working Group Kick-Off Meeting Information

 GSMT Science Working Group

Committee Charge:

 The NSF AST Division has authorized NOAO to establish and maintain a Science Working Group for the Giant Segmented Mirror Telescope.  This Working Group is intended to be the community based body that will develop the science case and justification for any federal investment by NSF or other agencies in GSMT. The Science Working Group will represent the US community in assembling relevant partnerships for describing and advocating the appropriate federal role in this project. This guidance is intended to be a product of all public, private and international groups that expect to play a role in the GSMT. SWG members are expected to actively participate in those technical, observational and theoretical astrophysical studies, which will be useful in defining and focusing the scientific objectives for the GSMT. The GSMT SWG has the following specific tasks, (but is not limited to them):

1. Develop the science cases and scientific priorities for a GSMT. Refine the science goals outlined in earlier reports prepared by participating institutions. This includes evaluation of the likely impact that advances expected with existing and near-term studies will have on the science goals of GSMT, along with consideration of the costs and benefits of alternative approaches. It also includes working with the scientific community to ensure that the goals continue to be exciting, important, and representative of the highest scientific priorities for a general  purpose optical/infrared observatory.
2. Develop a flowdown from key science to top level engineering goals and requirements. Develop performance metrics for the GSMT telescope, instrumentation, software, operations, and other aspects of the program; and assess performance against these metrics.
3. Identify the key instrumentation capabilities for a GSMT. Review currently proposed science instruments and propose alternate designs or complementary instrumentation that would enhance scientific usefulness, improve observing efficiency, or lead to potential cost reduction.
4. Establish the scientific relationship between GSMT and other major facilities (for examples NGST, ALMA, SKA, TPF etc)
5. With specific reference to the Adaptive Optics roadmap, establish the relationship between specific AO capabilities and science outcomes.
6. Identify the priorities for key technology developments.
7. Provide scientific assessments of design concepts and implementation plans for their impact on the overall scientific performance.
8. Assemble appropriate community-wide partnerships for preparation of any proposals to NSF for funding activities related to GSMT.

SUMMARY FROM KICK-OFF MEETING

The first meeting of the Science Working Group  was held at the NOAO offices in the main conference room in Tucson, Arizona on Monday, July 29 and Tuesday July 30.

Members Present: Barton-Gillespie, Bolte, Colless, Cruz-Gonzalez, Herter, Ho, Kudritzki, Rigaut, Simons
Absent: Woodward, Max, Bechtold
Others present: Dey, Johnstone, Mould, Najita, Ridgway, Stepp, Strom, Weedman

NSF PERSPECTIVE (Weedman)

NSF is looking to SWG to define what kind of GSMT the community wants and to foster partnerships to make it happen.

NSF is also looking to SWG to guide federal investments in a GSMT and making sure that a community consensus develops about a single GSMT program.

SWG perspective:

The community needs to perceive that the NSF indeed looks to the SWG for advice. Forging the needed consensus and support depends on this.

ACTION:

Rolf Kudritzki to work closely with Wayne van Citters to keep him apprised of committee activities and to enlist his support. First interaction planned for early August.

POSSIBLE ROLE OF THE NASA/NSF JOINT ADVISORY PANEL (Mould)

The COMRAA report recommended the formation of a NASA/NSF joint advisory panel charged with preparing an integrated strategic plan and to encourage cooperation and coordination between the agencies.

Plans are underway to form such a committee: NAAAC

When formed, a key issue is likely to be the role of GSMT in enabling full realization of the NGST DRM.

Weedman perspective:

It may be a while before the committee is formed, and it is not yet clear to what extent it will prove effective in influencing agency policy. He believes it would be unwise to link the case for GSMT too closely to NGST should NGST be delayed significantly. There is a powerful 'stand alone' science case for GSMT.

SWG perspective:

The committee should be cognizant of NAAAC and prepared to provide input.

ACTION:

Kudritzki to monitor NAAC formation and early activities and recommend a presentation by SWG to NAAAC at an appropriate time.

Chairman's Perspective (Kudritzki)

SWG can play a significant role in enabling a GSMT. A GSMT will be complex and costly. To bring the needed federal investment to the table will require organization and consensus building that to date has been the exception rather than the rule among O/IR astronomers. SWG can help bring about the needed cooperation and partnerships.

What SWG can do is to provide NSF with a unified strategic plan which lays out::

• a compelling science case that is easy to comprehend

• a coherent picture of astronomy in the next decade explaining why a GSMT is critical to advancing our science goals and how and why it is a central to enabling frontier research in the ALMA/NGST era.

To be effective, we need to summarize the accomplishments of 8-10m class telescopes over the past half decade; describe how far they will take us in the next decade, and explain carefully why a 30-m class telescope is needed to advance the frontiers of knowledge in 2012.

SWG should focus first on its role as a SCIENCE working group -- with prime responsibility for developing a compelling science case for a GSMT. SWG should NOT push for a particular GSMT, but rather advise NSF on the kind of GSMT needed by the community and the kinds of investments that can bring about broad public access to such a telescope -- consistent with the first priority recommendation (ground-based) of the decadal survey.

The SWG agreed that its primary role must be to understand the science drivers (and associated priorities) for a GSMT and its role in the 'system' of facilities a decade hence.

To guide NSF, SWG will eventually need to compare the efficacy of extant or developing design concepts against the key science missions for a GSMT.

ACTION:

SWG will provide the science context in which a GSMT will operate via preparation of a 'white paper' which will:

• outline contributions -- current and expected-- 8-10m telescopes

• outline discovery space of a next generation telescope that will enable unique and powerful science: what is the role of next generation telescope (s)

• summarize how the GSMT will not only do great science on its own, but what will it contribute in the context of next generation ground and space facilities (radio and optical)

• summarize limits we have reached in a BROAD range of science areas

• summarize new opportunities

• summarize the measurements needed and GSMT performance needed to carry out the fundamental science of the next decade

The SWG believed it essential both to involve a broad cross section of the community in its work, to ensure that its activities are well publicized, and that its work products are available in a timely manner.

ACTION:

As a first step, establish a public web site which will:

• summarize the SWG charter, membership and planned activities

• provide links to extant ELT projects both US and international, and do so in a manner that makes it clear that SWG is advisory to NSF and NOT to NOAO

Stepp to work with Novack, Kneale and Strom to establish the website. Review organization with Kudritzki.

SWG Membership (SWG discussion)

SWG membership should be expanded (<~ 5 members) to include:

• respected senior scientists heavily involved in advising NSF and NASA

• individuals involved with the decadal survey
• individuals involved with the CAA

Key in choosing individuals with these strengths is corresponding vision and perspective that would guide SWG in reaching consensus on the key science role of GSMT.

SWG also believed that a direct representative from Canada should be selected.

ACTION:

Kudritzki to contact Chris McKee and Charles Alcock.

Rolf will also select among members of the decadal survey O/IR panel as needed. He may also approach a member of the solar system community (e.g. Lunine and/or Jewett).

He should also approach one or more individuals in Canada who can bring their own and the Canadian community's science perspective on ELTs.

Finally, SWG believes that it would be desirable to have the perspective from individuals who have deep understanding of modern telescope systems. Kudritzki will approach Peter Gray.

Kudritzki will circulate proposed new members to SWG for commentary and confirm suitability with NSF.

Interaction with NSF (SWG reflections):

Close interaction with and strong, visible support from the NSF is sine qua non for SWG success in forging an effective community consensus that can serve NSF well.

ACTIONS:

Kudritzki to open a dialog with van Citters starting in early August. Regular summaries of SWG activities should be provided by telecon and personal visits.

Rolf should ask NSF to name a representative to attend all SWG meetings. (Dan Weedman suggested that the NSF's OIR coordinator [currently vacant] might be that person.)

Kudritzki should work with van Citters to establish mechanisms to introduce the committee to the community and encourage broad participation in its deliberations and support for its mission.

Interaction with other groups (SWG reflections)

SWG should establish contact with its counterparts in Europe, Japan, Canada and elsewhere.

SWG should also prepare presentations for NASA Origins and SEU advisory committees and establish ties with the NGST and ALMA SWGs.

SWG will need to contact other ELT groups in order first, to understand the science motivation and key drivers for their developing ELT design concepts, and second the concepts themselves.

ACTIONS:

Kudritzki (with assistance from Strom) will contact SWG analogs in Europe, Japan and elsewhere.

Kudritzki will contact all groups doing development work on ELTs, and make them aware that SWG will be asking them to prepare presentations summarizing scientific motivation + science drivers for their ELT concepts.

The SWG could engage the community at an AAS Special Session in Nashville in May. For this, a proposal must be sent to the AAS Council meeting in Seattle.

Developing a Deep Understanding of ELT Science Drivers

Helpful brief presentations were given by Bolte, Ho, Najita, Strom, and Herter on science drivers. In addition to those developed in the CELT Green Book and the GSMT Book, astrometric and far infrared science opportunities emerged in discussion.

SWG members need to invest time to understand ELT science cases. Synthesizing this information represents the starting point for SWG deliberations aimed at identifying key science drivers and the telescope performance needed to address them.

ACTIONS:

SWG members will lead small working groups that will:

• synthesize extant science cases from major ELT projects

• identify gaps

• provide commentary on key performance requirements

• summarize 8-10m science accomplishments and prospects

• place science in the context of ALMA, NGST, other facilities

• look at full range of science possibilities from 15 to 60m, indicating (rough cut) what kinds of science are best matched to what aperture

These groups (see below) will prepare initial summaries for review in early September, and 20-30m summaries for the planned mid-October SWG meeting in Hawaii.

SWG Sub Groups

SOLAR SYSTEM -- STROM (approach Lunine and Jewitt); would Jonathan serve on SWG if asked?

EXTRASOLAR PLANETS -- HERTER, Ridgway, Joan, Francois

STAR FORMATION + ISM -- HO, Strom, Joan, Bo Reipurth, Irene, Johnstone

STELLAR SEISMOLOGY -- ROLF; Jeff Valenti

HIGH PRECISION ASTROMETRY -- RIGAUT; help from Monet

CHEMICAL EVOLUTION AND SF HISTORIES OF GALAXIES -- ROLF; Jeremy

GALACTIC CENTER + AGN + BLACK HOLES -- BECHTOLD; Herter; Ho; Simons

COSMOLOGY AND LARGE SCALE STRUCTURE -- COLLESS; Jeremy

GALAXY EVOLUTION -- BETSY GILLESPIE; Colless

NB: Responsible individuals appear in CAPS

Two Year Goals and Cadence of Activities

By spring 2003, SWG should:

• synthesize extant science cases

• seek out additional science opportunities in these areas
• identify and prioritize if possible, the key science goals
• identify and prioritize if possible, key performance requirements
• understand the science cases and proposed design approaches of major ELT programs
• initiate a process for developing a quantitative measure of 'science value' against which to evaluate proposed approaches to GSMT

By spring 2004, SWG expects to lay out a strategic plan for NSF investment in the GSMT design phase that represents a broad community consensus.

Achieving these goals and forging consensus will require strong commitment from SWG and support from the NSF.

ACTIONS:

SWG will schedule monthly telecons starting in early SEP 02.

Holly Novack will check availability and establish a date and call-in procedures. Holly should research means of equipping these telecons with live document sharing.

SWG anticipates meeting in:

    Hawaii (mid 2002)
    Los Angeles (late January 2003)
    Washington, DC (late March/early April 2003) at NSF

Holly Novack will ascertain SWG availability and establish dates in consultation with Kudritzki.

Presentation were made by Michael Bolte, Paul Ho, Steve Strom, and Larry Stepp.  (See links below)

If you wish to contact any of the committee members via email, please replace the word "at" with the @ symbol in their address listed below.

Committee Members

Betsy Barton-Gillespie	University of Arizona Tucson, AZ 857 21	betsyg at cheetah.as.arizona.edu
Jill Bechtold	University of Arizona Tucson, AZ 85721	jill at as.arizona.edu
Michael Bolte	Univ of Calif at Santa Cruz 401 Kerr Hall Santa Cruz, CA 95064	bolte at ucolick.org
Matthew Colless	Australian National University Res. School of Astron. & Astrop. Cotter Rd, Weston Creek Canberra ACT 2611 Australia	colless at mso.anu.edu.au
Irene Cruz-Gonzalez	UNAM Instituto de Astronomia Apdo. Postal 70-264 Ciudad Universitaria Mexico D.F. 04510, Mexico	irene at astroscu.unam.mx
Terry Herter	Cornell University 202 Space Sciences Bldg Ithaca, NY 14853-6801	tlh10 at cornell.edu
Paul Ho	CfA 60 Garden Street Cambridge, MA 02138	ho at cfa.harvard.edu
Rolf Kudritzki	Institute for Astronomy 2680 Woodlawn Drive Honolulu, HI 96822	kud at ifa.hawaii.edu
Claire Max	LLNL L-413 7000 East Avenue Livermore, CA 94550-9900	max1 at llnl.gov
Francois Rigaut	Gemini Observatory 670 N. A`ohoku Place Hilo, HI 96720	frigaut at gemini.edu
Doug Simons	Gemini Observatory 670 N. A`ohoku Place Hilo, HI 96720	dsimons at gemini.edu
Steve Strom	NOAO 950 N Cherry Avenue Tucson, AZ 85719	sstrom at noao.edu
Chick Woodward	University of Minnesota Dept of Astronomy 116 Church St, SE Minneapolis, MN 55455	chelsea at astro.umn.edu
Science Support Staff
Sam Barden	NOAO 950 N Cherry Avenue Tucson, AZ 85719	sbarden at noao.edu
Arjun Dey	NOAO 950 N Cherry Avenue Tucson, AZ 85719	adey at noao.edu
Joan Najita	NOAO 950 N Cherry Avenue Tucson, AZ 85719	jnajita at noao.edu
Knut Olsen	NOAO 950 N Cherry Avenue Tucson, AZ 85719	kolsen at noao.edu
Stephen Ridgway	NOAO 950 N Cherry Avenue Tucson, AZ 85719	sridgway at noao.edu
Others Present
Jeremy Mould	NOAO 950 N Cherry Avenue Tucson, AZ 85719	jmould at noao.edu
Larry Stepp	AURA New Initiatives Office 950 N Cherry Avenue Tucson, AZ 85719	lstepp at gemini.edu
Dan Weedman	National Science Foundation Div of Astronomical Sciences 4201 Wilson Blvd, Rm 1045 Arlington, VA 22230	dweedman at nsf.gov
Douglas Johnstone	Herzberg Inst. of Astrophysics NRC of Canada/DAO 5071 W. Saanich Rd. Victoria ON V9E 2E7 Canada	doug.johnstone at nrc.ca