[asapmembers] ASAP rescoping

[ASAP Secretary]

Dear ASAP member,

 

As many of you know, NSF will be repurposing the Arecibo Observatory
in the coming months with plans to move from a research-focused
facility to an education-focused one. This will undoubtedly change the
historical purpose of ASAP as a science advocacy group.

Therefore, the ASAP Board calls for the members to join a rescoping
committee to discuss how ASAP will need to be transformed to meet
current challenges and evolve in the future to potentially return
science and research as the core focus of the facility in the future.
Will ASAP become a more political advocacy group to gather support for
a next-generation Arecibo Telescope, remain as guardians of the legacy
of the Observatory, or something else?

The ASAP Board election has traditionally taken place in July or
August; however, under the current circumstances the election will be
delayed until the rescoping committee has decided the future scope of
ASAP. ASAP members can volunteer in the rescoping committee until the
end of July, and the committee will meet and discuss ASAP's future
after the NSF publishes its future management plan for the site.
Current AO staff members are welcome to join the committee as well as
all other ASAP members. If you are interested in joining, please email

secretary at areciboscience.org.

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