[asapmembers] Arecibo Science Advocacy Partnership: March 2010 Newsletter to Members

[Arecibo Science Advocacy Partnership]

Dear ASAP Member,
 Again we are writing to help keep you informed about important
developments
affecting the status and future of the Arecibo Observatory.  Your membership
support
provides the foundation for the ASAP's work.

The Observatory is now entering what is undoubtedly the most perilous and
uncertain period in its long history.  We see some very positive and
promising
developments, however none of the current threats to its future have been
fully
weathered or withdrawn.

All of us were very sorry to learn about the death of William E. (Bill)
Gordon,
the designer and builder of the Arecibo telescope, of February 16th.
 Obituaries
were printed by a number of national newspapers (e.g., see
NYT<http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/28/us/28gordon.html>
, WP<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/20/AR2010022003406.html>
, LA Times<http://articles.latimes.com/2010/feb/18/local/la-me-bill-gordon19-2010feb19>
).

Over the last few months, ASAP carried its advocacy for the Arecibo
Observatory
to the Mathematics & Physical Sciences Directorate (MPS) of the NSF—the
level
above the Astronomy (AST) Division.  Late last year Dr. Ed Seidel was
appointed
Acting Assistant Director of MPS and, given his astronomical background, the
Board
thought it especially important to meet with him.  This meeting took many
weeks to
schedule, but finally occurred in early January.  Board members, Tim
Hankins, John
Meriwether and Dan Stinebring represented ASAP, and AST Acting Directory
Craig
Foltz and NAIC Program Director Dana Lehr were also in attendance.  Major
points
from the meeting were:

--NSF assured us that they support AO's continued operation, but with a
different
 operational model and at a reduced funding level, as prescribed by the
Senior
Review (SR).

--ASAP offered strong critiques of the SR, and these were not rebutted
(maybe
even concurred with).  At high levels the SR is still regarded as a paragon
of
  management practice.  Whatever their own views the NSF people clearly feel

 *stuck* with the SR.  Apparently, the National Science Board is “holding
NSF's
 feet to the fire” to comply with SR recommendations.  Nonetheless, we
learned
that Lehr had presented to the
NSB<http://www.nsf.gov/nsb/meetings/2009/0923/major_actions.pdf> in
an effort to gain further support for AO.

--There was no explanation nor apology for the more than 15-month delay of
the
 Program Solicitation for a new management contract. The ASAP Board
continues
to advocate to NSF the soonest possible release of this “RFP”.

--Ed Seidel is supportive of the science AO is doing; he said that
gravitational
physics is (obviously) “near and dear to my heart”.  Lehr referred to AO as
a
 “glorious instrument”; she also said that it was well recognized that AO is
doing
excellent science.

A more complete summary of the meeting with Seidel can be found in the
report<http://www.areciboscience.org/ES_NSF_ASAP_Meeting_NotesV2.0abridged.pdf>
 to
the ASAP Board by Hankins, Stinebring and Meriwether, and Hankins informal
commentary<http://www.areciboscience.org/THH_on_ASAP-NSF_meeting_Abridged.pdf>
and
opinions on the meeting.

The AGS (formerly ATM) Division at NSF has committed to at least $1M/year
increased funding for AO.  In the past ATM has paid none of the
infrastructure costs of
running the AO. This will now change.

The National Research Council Report on Near Earth
Objects<http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12842> (NEO)
was released
23 January 2010. It is very favorable toward the AO.  Here’s a quote from
the news release:
“*... the report recommends that immediate action be taken to ensure the
continued *
* **operation of the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico.  NASA and NSF
should support *
* **a vigorous program of NEO observations at Arecibo, and NASA should also
support *
* **such a program at the Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex.
Although *
* **these facilities cannot discover NEOs, they play an important role in
accurately *
* **determining the orbits and characterizing the properties of NEOs within
radar range.*”

James S. Ulvestad was appointed AST Director at
NSF<http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=116331> on
February 1.  We note that
Jim Ulvestad is a radio astronomer.  He has recently been the Site Director
for NRAO's
VLA and VLBA in Socorro.  We view this as a positive development for the
future of the AO.
The ASAP Board is seeking a meeting with the new AST Director to explain
ASAP and its
objectives, and to offer our cooperation in ensuring AO's future scientific
vitality.

Membership.  During the ASAP Board meeting with the NSF in January, the NSF
again
indicated how impressed they were with the size of the membership of ASAP.
*The larger *
*the ASAP membership, the louder our voice will be heard in Washington.
*
*So*, *if you care about Arecibo, then please help find new ASAP members.  *
Graduate
student (or even undergraduates actively involved in AO work) members are
welcome,
and at this point financial support is less important than growing ASAP
numbers.  The
Membership Brochure <http://www.areciboscience.org/Membership_brochure.pdf> is
available for download.

    *Please* then help us build the ASAP membership!
    Please send this letter to your friends and associates and tell them
about the
ASAP website: http://areciboscience.org/.

    Please also write the Board with your suggestions and comments.  The
Board
is very eager to hear your suggestions both on how best to protect AO as
well as
suggestions for the structure and goals for the new AO!

            With sincere thanks and regards,

                The ASAP Board
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