[asapmembers] Arecibo Science Advocacy Partnership, MEMBER ALERT

[secretary at areciboscience.org]

Dear ASAP Member,
On October 13, the NSF announced a major change in the focus and objectives of the Arecibo Observatory, from a world-leading research facility to a STEM education center. The ASAP board is greatly concerned that the scope of the new NSF solicitation is too narrow.  ASAP fully supports the continuation of Arecibo’s leading role in STEM activities, but as a complement to its cutting-edge research, not at its expense.  STEM activities simply cannot flourish at the expense of research.

The NSF current solicitation <https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?WT.z_pims_id=506109&ods_key=nsf23505> provides only $5 million in funding over five years, and states that a third party contractor will be responsible for maintenance.  The only science to be done at Arecibo would be complementary to the STEM center, and it would not be funded under this solicitation:

“The solicitation does not include rebuilding the 305-meter telescope or operational support for current scientific infrastructure, such as the 12-meter radio telescope or Lidar facility. Teams seeking to utilize existing scientific infrastructure or proposing for new projects can submit proposals that are complementary to the scope of the new center. All proposals will go through the standard NSF merit review process. Interested parties are advised to contact a NSF program director in their program area to discuss the proposal prior to submission.”

To reverse this decision, we have at least these avenues to pursue:

    — Generate media attention so everyone understands that all is not lost, rebuilding the Observatory is still invaluable and viable, and the decision can be reversed. 

    — Work with individual Representatives and Senators to push the relevant committees to hold oversight hearings about Arecibo and challenge the NSF decision.  These hearings are the time and place where Congress, the source of all their funding, evaluate and give feedback about an agency’s programs. 

    — Work with Puerto Rican Rep. Jenniffer González Colón to involve the Hispanic Congressional Caucus and other sympathetic members to push in the same direction.

    — Reach out to the Puerto Rican institutions and other allies who can make their own protests and suggestions to NSF, as well as uniting with us. 

What you can do—

  1. Contact your Representative and Senators, tell them what’s happening and why it’s important, and urge them to press for oversight hearings so NSF has to justify its decision and be pressed to reconsider it. As a resource, talking points are below these action items.

  2. Contact your own local press, and anyone you know in national media, and get them excited about why rebuilding why Arecibo still has value, and the importance of challenging this decision and reversing it. 

  3. Use your social media accounts to tell our side of the story.  Right now only the NSF’s refusal to rebuild is being covered.  Talk about the possibilities you see instead.

  4. React and respond to media coverage.  Most are just quoting the NSF release.  Many outlets have a comment section or letters to the editor, and many people read those extensively.  

  5. Provide the Board with any national media contacts or others who could be helpful at this time.  Much more in-depth media coverage will be needed to help turn this situation around.  Personal Washington contacts at the policy and legislative level will be invaluable.  Think broadly about who you know who might be helpful at this time. 

 
Talking points for Congress and the media

  A. The U.S. has the opportunity to build a cutting edge telescope which will outclass anything in the world, and will expand our capacities for reaching out into space in completely new ways.  

  B. STEM education cannot stand alone.  The heart of it is igniting excitement through exposure to real scientists doing real science, including the opportunity to work side by side and be trained for the future. 

  C. Arecibo Observatory played a crucial role in mapping asteroids and it could again.  A new Arecibo could include multi-scale radar for asteroid research and exploration of lunar resources, and it could double the reach of planetary radar from Saturn to Uranus, a top priority of the recent planetary decadal survey. 

  D. Arecibo Observatory was at the core of U.S. leadership in radio astronomy.  If the NSF decision goes forward, that leadership will pass out of our hands.  The only alternative instrument in the world now is in China, so U.S. scientists must depend on it.  While we all hope for better relations with China, it is unwise to cede leadership in vital technology development and expertise in the fields of radio astronomy, atmospheric science and planetary defense.

  E. Arecibo Observatory was also central to U.S. leadership in atmospheric and geospace research.  Advanced atmospheric and geospace radars are now coming on line in Europe, South America, and China.  A new Arecibo could match and far surpass their capabilities.

  F. Bipartisan Congressional support was expressed in the CHIPS Act statement about the value of Arecibo.    

  G. NSF has strong funding now, and the amounts involved to run the site properly, or even to resurrect Arecibo, are relatively small.  NSF’s requested budget is up more than 18% next year.  The amount it took to run Arecibo in the past is a bargain at $12 million/year.  Even the full cost of rebuilding could be as litte as $500 million, in contrast to the $10 billion NASA spent on the Webb Telescope.  

  H. Since cultivating scientists from under-represented groups is a national priority, and it’s a step backward to scuttle a world-class scientific instrument located on a primarily Hispanic island.  Tens of thousands of students have already benefited from STEM programs at Arecibo, and Puerto Rican astronomers have repeatedly told us how Arecibo Observatory cultivated their belief that world class science could be done right there, and by them.  

  I. There are many scientifically and educationally exciting alternatives to build on the millions of dollars of investment in Arecibo over more than fifty years.  Arecibo is the most southerly placed observatory in US territory, it is pre-excavated for a single dish instrument, and it is in a radio-quiet zone.  Many additional receiving sites are available in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to enable Arecibo 3-D and high-resolution space and atmospheric observations.  Why squander this opportunity?



			Best Regards and Many Thanks,

				The ASAP Board
				
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