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Astronomy and Astrophysics Survey
The most recent survey of astronomy and astrophysics, entitled The Decade of Discovery and chaired by John Bahcall, made recommendations for strengthening the ground-based astronomy infrastructure, achieving a balanced space program, and beginning the design and construction of new equipment. Since that study was published by the National Academy Press in 1991, important developments have taken place and many new opportunities have opened up. To address the challenges of the coming decade, the National Research Council has established the Astronomy and Astrophysics Survey Committee (AASC) under the auspices of the Board on Physics and Astronomy (in cooperation with the Space Studies Board).
Charge to the Committee
The committee will survey the field of space- and ground-based astronomy and astrophysics, recommending priorities for the most important new initiatives of the decade 2000-2010. The principal goal of the study will be an assessment of proposed activities in astronomy and astrophysics and the preparation of a concise report addressed to the agencies supporting the field, the Congressional committees with jurisdiction over these agencies, and the scientific community. The study will restrict its scope to experimental and theoretical aspects of subfields involving remote observations from the earth and space and analysis of astronomical objects. Missions to make in situ studies of the earth and solar-system objects, which have been treated by other National Research Council and Academy reports, will be excluded. Attention will be given to effective implementation of proposed and existing programs and to the organizational infrastructure and the human aspects of the field involving demography and education. Promising areas for the development of new technologies will be suggested.
A brief review of the initiatives of other nations will be given together with a discussion of the possibilities of joint ventures and other forms of international cooperation. Prospects for combining resources--private, state, federal and international--to build the strongest program possible for U.S. astronomy will be explored. Recommendations for new initiatives will be presented in priority order within different categories.
The committee will consult widely within the astronomical and astrophysical community and make a concerted effort to disseminate its recommendations promptly and effectively.
Membership of the Committee
Christopher McKee, University of California at Berkeley, Co-Chair
Joseph Taylor, Princeton University, Co-Chair
Todd Boroson, National Optical Astronomy Observatories
Wendy Freedman, Carnegie Observatory
David Hollenbach, NASA/Ames Research Center
David Jewitt, University of Hawaii
Steven Kahn, Columbia University
James Moran, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
Jerry Nelson, University of California, Santa Cruz
Bruce Partridge, Haverford College
Marcia Rieke, University of Arizona
Anneila Sargent, California Institute of Technology
Alan Title, The Lockheed-Martin Space Technology Center
Scott Tremaine, Princeton University
Michael Turner, The University of Chicago
NRC Staff:
Don Shapero, Director, Board on Physics and Astronomy
Joseph Alexander, Director, Space Studies Board
Robert Riemer, Study Director, Astronomy and Astrophysics Survey
Joel Parriott, Project Associate, Astronomy and Astrophysics Survey
Schedule
The Committee met according to the schedule below. The agendas for meetings were posted on the NRC Current Projects System.
Date
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Location
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Comments
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December 18-20, 1998
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Washington, DC
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First meeting of the committee. Panel chairs also attended. . Some presentations from that meeting can be found here.
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January 7, 1999
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Austin, Texas
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Public Session at American Astronomical Society Meeting. Some presentations from that meeting can be found here.
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May 6-8, 1999
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Washington, DC
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Second meeting of the committee. Panel chairs will also attend. Agenda: review of major proposed projects. Some presentations from that meeting can be found here.
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June 1, 1999
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Chicago
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Public Session at American Astronomical Society Meeting
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July 9-11, 1999
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Washington, DC
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Third meeting of the committee. Panel chairs will also attend. Agenda: review of the progress of the panels.
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September 30 - October 2, 1999
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Beckman Center, Irvine, CA
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Fourth Meeting of the Committee. Panel chairs will also attend. Agenda: priority setting. Photograph of the AASC
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The Committee has completed its report. The schedule for production and release of the report is shown below.
February, 2000
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Completion of final draft. NRC review process begins.
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May 19, 2000
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Public release of AASC report in prepublication form. Cochairs Christopher McKee and Joseph Taylor present the results of the report in a public meeting held at the Academies' headquarters in Washington. Web versions of the briefing materials are available.
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Summer, 2000
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Briefings for agencies supporting research in astronomy and for congressional committees with oversight of those agencies. Release of panel reports in prepublication form (Astronomy and Astrophysics in the New Millennium: Panel Reports)
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January 9, 2001
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Formal publication of report, Astronomy and Astrophysics in the New Millennium, by National Academy Press.
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Q1, 2001
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Formal publication of Astronomy and Astrophysics in the New Millennium: Panel Reports.
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Q2, 2001
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Publication of booklet summarizing the AASC report in layman's terms.
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Panels
The AASC obtained input on various specialties and cross-cutting issues through panels. Links to panel homepages may be found in the left column.
Project Support
This project is supported by federal grants from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the National Science Foundation. The Keck Foundation has provided substantial private-sector support.
More Information
Panels
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