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President's Column AAS Newsletter January/February 2011, Issue 156 - The Online Publication for the members of the American Astronomical Society CONTENTS President's Column Debra Meloy Elmegreen, [email protected] 2 From the By the time you read this article, the Seattle meeting will be history, and the path forward on the implementation of Astro2010 Decadal Survey recommendations may be more clear. But as I am writing Executive Office it, we are just in the midst of trying to understand how the new Congress will respond to scientific research needs in general and to astronomical priorities in particular, especially in light of the recently released Casani report on the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) cost overruns. Congress needs to be 3 reminded that basic research is important for the country. The benefits to society are broad, ranging from discoveries and innovative technologies that improve our lives, to a more technically competent workforce, The Meeting the creation of new industries, and a scientifically literate society. At the present, though, the outlook for Program increased support in astronomy, whether space-based or ground-based, appears bleak. This is a challenge for the astronomical community, as we look forward to implementing the New Worlds, New Horizons (NWNH) recommendations. 4 A lot is at stake. Astro2010 took JWST as a given in building its integrated program of activities, since our Journals Update task was to consider only those projects that were not yet underway. The top-ranked large space mission, WFIRST, is a relatively modest investment compared with JWST and Hubble Space Telescope (HST). Its carefully assessed cost and risk resulted in a realistic budget that should not be subject to the huge increases that befell the others. During the past few months, we have heard, through agency reports to 6 the NASA Astrophysics Committee, the inter-agency Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory Committee, Member and the National Research Council (NRC) Board of Physics and Astronomy, about the likely delay of the Wield-Field Infared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) following the further delay of JWST. The NWNH report Anniversaries recommended the formation of a Decadal Survey implementation advisory committee to address possible mid-course adjustments if circumstances changed a lot. It appears we will need that committee sooner rather than later. 10-11 I think NASA is taking a positive step in moving JWST from the Astrophysics Division and making it a 42nd DPS Meeting NASA-wide responsibility. That gives me hope that JWST, which is critical to our community, will still launch; indeed it cannot be allowed to fail. Much of the science of the next decade will use the data gathered by JWST, which will also serve as a springboard and as a complement to other endeavors. In addition, the leadership of the U.S. in astronomy depends on our development and execution of large 12 projects like JWST. Agency News This move of JWST also means that there should still be NASA Astrophysics funds to accomplish some of the exciting activities in the Decadal report. It is important to remember that the recommendations called for an integrated plan, giving equal weight to small, medium, and large priorities. Even if WFIRST Back page is delayed, the smaller missions and activities should still be done. Indeed, our community depends on Washington these. They include more frequent Explorer and suborbital launches that provide rapid data turnaround and training for the next generation of instrumentalists, and technology development, especially targeting News exoplanet and cosmic microwave background polarization research. These are also stepping stones to the large missions of the future. Regarding ground-based astronomy, increases in NSF Astronomy Division funding are also in jeopardy. My hope is that Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) and eventually a Giant Segmental Mirror Telescope (GSMT) can move forward into the NSF-wide Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction (MREFC) funding lines for large projects, but these may still require an Astronomy Division commitment to subsequent operating funds. The next NSF Senior Review (i.e., the prioritization of ongoing projects A A to consider possible closures) will be critical for opening the way towards new starts. We look forward to Cornell Caltech Atacama Telescope (CCAT) as a complement to Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA). S In addition, the recommended NSF mid-scale innovations program of competitive funding would go a continued on page 2 AAS Officers President's Column continued from front page Debra M. Elmegreen, President J. Craig Wheeler, Past-President Christine Jones, Vice-President long way towards advancing a variety of subfields by supporting projects such as advanced Lee Anne Willson, Vice-President adaptive optics, pathfinders towards a Square Kilometer Array (SKA) such as Hydrogen Epoch Nicholas B. Suntzeff, Vice-President of Reionization Arrays (HERA), high energy, and solar research. At the same time, support and Hervey (Peter) Stockman, Treasurer G. Fritz Benedict, Secretary augmentation to the core programs, including funding for our national observatories and for Richard F. Green, Pub Board Chair analysis, theory and theory networks, computation, archiving, and laboratory astrophysics, is Timothy F. Slater, Education Officer vital for carrying out the astronomical enterprise. Richard Fienberg, Press Officer & Education Outreach Coordinator The way forward partly depends on Congress and funding agencies getting our message of why Councilors astronomy is important to the nation, even during times of great fiscal stress. Decadal Survey Richard G. French leaders have been actively engaging Washington staffers in discussions. Kevin Marvel and Bahcall Edward F. Guinan fellow Bethany Johns, along with the AAS officers and the AAS Committee on Astronomy and Patricia Knezek Public Policy, will be particularly active this spring after the unveiling of President Obama’s James D. Lowenthal FY2012 budget request. I would like to acknowledge the generosity of Jack Burns, previous Robert Mathieu Nancy Morrison CAPP chair, and J. Craig Wheeler, our previous past-president, in agreeing to serve in those C. Megan Urry roles once again, following our untimely and tragic loss of John Huchra. Be sure to volunteer Charles E. Woodward for Congressional Visit Day taking place in April if you would like to be involved too, and take Jennifer Wiseman time to write to your member of Congress and let them know astronomy is important to you. We must not be complacent and assume that New Worlds, New Horizons will convince Congress Executive Office Staff Kevin B. Marvel, Executive Officer to fund our work; we must make our collective voice heard. Tracy Beale, Membership Services Administrator Chris Biemesderfer, Director of Publishing From the Executive Office Laronda Boyce, Meetings & Exhibits Coordinator Kevin B. Marvel, Executive Officer, [email protected] Kelly E. Clark, Chief Financial Officer Kim Earle, Director of Meeting Services As I write this column, we are preparing for the Seattle AAS meeting and preparing for Scott Garvey, Administrative Assistant the holidays. The meeting is setting up to have record attendance for a meeting outside Lisa Idem, Meetings Administrator of Washington. Nearly 2700 people will end up attending this meeting. [Note: 2950 actually Scott Idem, Systems & Network atended]. The AAS meeting continues to play an important role in our community, serving as Director Bethany Johns, Public Policy Fellow a focal point for our discipline, both scientifically and collaboratively. One of my great joys is Judith M. Johnson, Director of seeing members working side-by-side at our meeting, laptops open, focused gazes on glowing Communications screens displaying HST data, spectra from the Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET) or Chandra Kara North, Meetings Abstract images....it is great that so much collaboration and actual work gets done at our meeting. Administrator Faye C. Peterson, Director of Membership Services Our meetings have expanded regularly over the years and we continue to seek ways to enhance Crystal M. Tinch, Membership their value to our community. Allowing greater flexibility for splinter meetings, whether for Communications Manager collaborative teams, mission planning or even science workshops was one enhancement that led directly to increased attendance. Allowing undergraduates to present research was another step The AAS Newsletter (ISSN 8750- 9350) is published bi-monthly by endorsed by the AAS Council way back in 1998 that led to more attendance at our meetings. the American Astronomical Society, We have one of the highest attendance ratios in the non-profit scientific society sector. I think 2000 Florida Avenue, NW, Suite 400, this speaks to our strong sense of community and the continuing value of our meetings to our Washington, DC 20009-1231; Tel: members. We are always open to new ideas on how to improve our services to you and to our 202-328-2010, Fax: 202-234-2560, [email protected]; www.aas.org. discipline. Feel free to send them in so we can continue to enhance the Society’s value to you as a research astronomer, planetary astronomer, solar physicist, historian, high energy astronomer Items of general interest to be considered (aren’t we all?) or dynamicist. for publication in the AAS Newsletter should be sent to [email protected]. This is our first all electronic issue of the Newsletter. We have undertaken this change to a) Appropriate pictures are welcome. For information about deadlines and save money, b) save resources and have a positive impact on the environment and c) match submitting articles, see www.aas.org/ our methods of communication to our membership. Members who wish to receive a printed publications/newsletter.php. Items version and let us know, will continue to receive a printed version in a slightly different submitted to the AAS Newsletter are format. We anticipate this is a transitional phase for our Newsletter as further developments in not automatically included in the AAS Electronic Announcements or vice technology will allow new and innovative communication channels directly to our membership versa.
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