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Annual Report Astronomy Australia Limited 2011 / 12 Annual Report Astronomy Australia Limited Vision Astronomers in Australia will have access to the best astronomical research infrastructure. Mission AAL will achieve its vision by: 1. Engaging with Australian astronomers to advance the national research infrastructure priorities of the Australian astronomy decadal plan. 2. Advising the Australian Government on future investments in national astronomical research infrastructure. 3. Managing investments in national astronomical research infrastructure as required. Principles 1. Access to major astronomical research infrastructure should be available to any Australian-based astronomer purely on scientific merit. 2. The concept of national astronomical research infrastructure includes Australian participation in international facilities. 3. The AAO and CSIRO are empowered by the Australian Government to provide a component of the national astronomical research infrastructure and there is no need for AAL to directly manage investments to upgrade or operate the AAT and ATNF. Front cover image Gemini Legacy image of the complex planetary nebula Sh2-71 as imaged by the Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph on Gemini North on Mauna Kea in Hawai‘i. A research team, led by Australian astronomers David Frew and Quentin Parker (Macquarie University, Sydney) are studying the dimmer, bluer star to understand its nature. The long-assumed central star is the brightest star near the centre, but the much dimmer and bluer star (just to the right and down a little) might be the parent of this beautiful object. The image is composed of three narrow- band images, and each is assigned a colour as follows: H-alpha (orange), HeII (blue) and [OIII] (cyan). Image credit: Gemini Observatory/AURA Background image Dipoles on one “tile” of the Murchison Widefield Array; one of the first telescopes with no moving parts. Image credit: David Herne, ICRAR AAL Membership as of 30th June 2012 2 / Annual Report 11/12 Contents A message from the Chair 2 A message from the CEO 4 Project Reports 6 Overseas telescopes 7 Gemini and Magellan 7 Giant Magellan Telescope 11 Antarctic Astronomy 12 Pierre Auger Observatory 14 Australian-based telescopes 15 Murchison Widefield Array 15 Australia Telescope Compact Array C/X upgrade 17 Anglo-Australian Telescope Instrumentation 19 eResearch 2 1 HPC access & support 21 gSTAR 23 All-Sky Virtual Observatory 24 Scientific Publications 25 Gemini 26 Magellan 30 PLATO-R/AST3 31 Murchison Widefield Array 32 gSTAR 32 Pierre Auger Observatory 32 AAL in 2010/11 3 3 Financial Summary 34 Organisational Chart 37 Board of Directors 38 Project Committees 40 Members and their representatives as of 30th June 2012 42 Directors’ Report and Financial Statements 43 Astronomy Australia Ltd Code of Conduct 80 Acronyms used in this report 82 11/12 Astronomy Australia Limited \ Sec1:1 A message from the Chair In last year’s Annual Report, my message successor program to NCRIS in the 2012 foreshadowed some significant changes and Budget. The two objectives where AAL did new directions for AAL, and it is pleasing to particularly well was in securing new funding report here the successful implementation of and in the management of the astronomy many of them. EIF program. The award of a total of $2.8M in new research infrastructure grants is First and foremost was the Board’s decision an outstanding result in a difficult financial to simplify and revise AAL’s vision and environment. Moreover, the award of a mission, and to set a number of clear $1.7M National eResearch Collaboration objectives for the next few years. There were Tools and Resources (NeCTAR) grant which also changes and new challenges on the will allow AAL to significantly expand its funding front, with AAL’s original National activities in the e-Research domain through Collaborative Research Infrastructure overseeing the All Sky Virtual Observatory Strategy (NCRIS) grant having come to project, is most gratifying. The excellent an end, but with a new $10M Education progress and significant successes with all Investment Fund (EIF) grant to manage. This the infrastructure projects funded by AAL’s notwithstanding, there remained an important EIF grant can clearly be seen in the project need for AAL to identify and secure new reports contained in this document. research infrastructure funding. In terms of the operation of AAL as a public company, Of course there are objectives that have it had become clear that some changes not yet been achieved and require more were needed to have it run more efficiently work. Top of this list is Australia gaining and effectively. Furthermore, it needed to do membership of European Southern better in the way it selected and appointed Observatory (ESO). Here, AAL continued people to its advisory committees, and to to present the potential benefits of ESO achieve a better gender balance. membership to government, primarily through the 2011 Strategic Roadmap The Board’s decision to set seven major for Australian Research Infrastructure objectives, each defined by a series of consultation process. Having ESO mentioned sub-objectives, has been a good one and recognised as an effective model for in focussing AAL on its key priorities investing in and managing large-scale and measuring its performance more research infrastructure within this document, quantitatively. In 2011/12, excellent progress is a significant step forward. In addition, was made on most of these objectives; Deputy Secretary Patricia Kelly from DIISRTE the only one that did not progress was visited ESO’s Headquarters in Garching in the delivery of a new astronomy research September 2011, coming away with a good infrastructure investment plan as a result of understanding of the opportunities presented the government not moving to provide any by ESO. 2 / Annual Report 11/12 Throughout this last year, AAL continued to have now grown from 2.5FTE to 3.8FTE. be very well served by its advisory/ancillary In addition to having more staff, most committees, which grew to a total of five with importantly AAL has an excellent team, which the creation of the Australian Supercomputer has already made a very positive impact on Time Allocation Committee (ASTAC). The AAL’s operations and its dealings with its Board is very grateful to all those within members and stake-holders. our community who give of their time and Finally, it has been a highly eventful year expertise in serving on these committees. for the Board with the award of the 2011 Mindful of the need to have the right set of Nobel Prize in Physics to one of its Directors, skills and expertise on these committees, and Prof Brian Schmidt. Not many boards can to work towards a better gender balance, boast having a Nobel Laureate as one of the Board decided to formalize more the its directors, and AAL is very fortunate that committee appointment process. The key Brian continues to make himself available changes are an annual call for applications and give so generously of his time after such for appointment, and the creation of an a ‘life-changing’ event. In November 2011, Appointments Committee (a sub-committee Prof Jeremy Mould finished his three year of the Board). An important role of the latter term on the Board, and I would like to warmly is to consult the committee chairs as to thank him for his many valuable contributions skill and expertise requirements, and to to AAL during this time. Prof Stuart Wyithe make appointments accordingly. This new was the newly elected Director to the Board, approach appears to have worked well in its and it has been a pleasure to have him first year, although there is still some way to join us and take responsibility for overseas go in reaching the Board’s target of at least optical telescope access, including becoming 25% of committee members being female. Australia’s representative on the Gemini With AAL turning five in April 2012, it was felt Board. timely to review its processes and systems as a company, to better place it for its operation into the future. The decision was made to bring AAL’s finance management in-house, with Sue Russell being appointed as Finance Manager. Given the growth in the number of Prof Warrick Couch grants AAL manages, it was also decided Chair to employ a Project Officer. Dr Mita Brierley was appointed to this position. In addition, Dr Yeshe Fenner was appointed as Executive Officer, after the departure of Amanda Kocz. With these additions, AAL’s staffing levels 11/12 Astronomy Australia Limited \ 3 A message from the CEO AAL can celebrate another successful year, the amendment to the International Gemini having made significant progress with a Partnership Agreement which extended variety of projects and secured $2.8M in Gemini’s operations until December 2015. new grants for astronomy infrastructure. AAL had already secured the grants The largest new award was from the necessary to fund Australia’s operational National eResearch Collaboration Tools share of that extension, and transferred and Resources (NeCTAR) programme to the total payment of USD 5 million to commence the All Sky Virtual Observatory the US National Science Foundation in (ASVO) project. The other major grants June 2012. While Australian astronomers were from the Australian Government to continue to receive the majority of their support Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) access to large optical telescopes via the operations, and to continue Australian Gemini Observatory, AAL recognises the access to the Magellan telescopes. Minor strong interest in the European Southern grants were secured to assist with planning Observatory (ESO), and will continue to for engagement with the Atacama Large pursue the ESO option. Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) and During 2011/12 AAL’s eResearch activities Chinese telescopes in Antarctica. increased substantially. In February 2012 In addition to securing new funds, project AAL’s Astronomy Supercomputer Time highlights during 2011/12 include: a Allocation Committee (ASTAC) made workshop in September 2011 to agree the its first call for proposals for astronomy- final MWA construction plan and excellent dedicated high-performance computing progress expanding the MWA to a 128-tile resources.
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