Fwd: NOAO Survey Letters of Intent Due 15 Aug 2010

[Rob Seaman]

Last year a couple of teams from the VOEvent family looked into  
submitting NOAO Survey proposals.  Logistical concerns (eg, a key  
instrument was shipped to Chile) resulted in pursuing alternate  
research opportunities, but it's that time of year again (see below).   
Letters of intent are due 15 August 2010 for the observing semester  
beginning 1 Feb 2011.

NOAO provides competitively awarded (often oversubscribed) observing  
time on numerous facilities with a broad range of instrumentation.  In  
addition to forwarding this year's call for Survey proposals, I've  
appended my own email from last year describing the Survey program.

The conclusions of a recent review panel strongly support the  
continuation of Surveys at NOAO.  Given trends in astronomy, these  
almost inevitably will include interesting time domain  
investigations.  No reason that these shouldn't be proposed by members  
of the VOEvent community :-)

Rob
--

Begin forwarded message:

> Date: July 26, 2010 7:05:51 PM GMT-07:00
> Subject: NOAO Survey Letters of Intent Due 15 Aug 2010
>
> NOAO SURVEY PROGRAM LETTERS OF INTENT DUE AUGUST 15 2010
>
> The NOAO Survey Program will be accepting proposals for new surveys
> to start in the 2011A and 2011B semesters.  This program supports
> large observational projects that allow the identification of
> complete, well-defined samples that can yield both conclusions based
> on statistical analysis of the survey data itself and also provide
> important subsets for more detailed observations with larger
> telescopes.  In addition, surveys are expected to provide coherent
> datasets that will be useful for other researchers.
>
> Investigators must submit letters of intent to propose for the NOAO
> Survey Program to surveys at noao.edu by August 15, 2010 to be eligible
> to propose for an NOAO Survey Program commencing in the 2011A  
> semester.
> Letters should include the information below formatted as follows:
>
> o Title of Project
>
> o PI with full name of institution and contact information (phone &  
> email)
>
> o Co-I's with full names of institutions
>
> o Broad scientific goals of the program (enough detail to allow us to
> identify sensible reviewers)
>
> o Telescope/instruments to be requested in each of six semesters  
> (2011A
> through 2013B)
>
> We understand that this is preliminary information, and it may  
> change in
> detail as the proposal is developed.
>
> Proposals will be due September 15, 2010.
>
> Changes or clarifications to the guidelines for the Survey Program
> include the following:
>
> - All telescopes on which NOAO allocates time are available for
> surveys except for the Keck, MMT, Magellan, and Hale telescopes.
> Note that proposals for surveys on the Gemini telescopes are
> allowed.  Target of opportunity observations are not
> permitted within the Survey Program.
>
> - Proposers should be aware that NOAO's wide field IR imager, NEWFIRM,
> will be available on the Blanco telescope at CTIO through the first
> half of 2011B.  It will return to the Mayall telescope at KPNO and be
> available there starting in 2012A.
>
> - The Gemini instrument suite is expected to evolve during the  
> period for
> which survey proposals are being sought.  Proposers can use the Gemini
> and NGSC web pages to learn about planned changes.  Up to date
> information can be obtained from Verne Smith (vsmith at noao.edu),
> Director of NGSC.  Proposals that would require instruments in 2011A
> that are not as yet commissioned will not be accepted.
>
> - The nominal cap for the survey program is 20% of the telescope
> time, including commitments to ongoing surveys. However, survey time
> allocations will not be allowed to dominate the time with particular,
> desirable characteristics (dark time, use of particular instruments,
> times of year).  Large (>4.2m), medium (3.5m-4.2m), and small (<3.5m)
> telescopes are considered separately.  Survey allocations may exceed
> the cap for small telescopes if the overall oversubscription rate is
> low.
>
> - The maximum period over which survey observations are carried
> out is 3 years.  An exception may be made for time-domain surveys
> that require longer time coverage.
>
> - The deadline for survey proposals is September 15, 2010. The
> proposal form is longer and somewhat different than the regular
> proposal form, and it includes questions about management plan and
> data distribution.  The current version of the form will be available
> at the NOAO web site around August 15, 2010.
>
> - Proposals will be reviewed by a separate Survey Panel, prior to
> being considered by the merging TAC for inclusion into the ranked
> lists for the available telescopes.  They will be evaluated on
> scientific merit, broader impact to society, credibility of
> management plan, data distribution plan, and the value of proposed
> deliverables to community.  Separate grades in each of these areas
> will be combined to determine a final ranking.
>
>    - Note that there are a variety of ways to address broader  
> impact, the
>      NSFs second criterion, including involvement of students or the
>      inclusion of co-investigators from non-PhD-granting institutions.
>
>    - Note that for most surveys, reduced, calibrated images are a
>      desirable deliverable, as opposed to catalogs of objects.
>      Following recommendation for support by the NOAO TAC, NOAO
>      may negotiate an agreement on the deliverables, the manner
>      in which they will be distributed to the community, and the
>      schedule for delivery with successful proposers.
>
> - It is imperative that proposers carefully and explicitly justify
> the number of nights requested, including allowance for integration
> time on program objects and calibration exposures, as well as the
> appropriate overheads.  No increase for the expected weather
> statistics should be included.  We intend to grant time that
> includes an increase based on statistical weather information that
> should allow most surveys to complete their observations.  Surveys
> will be given one chance in their penultimate year to justify an
> additional supplemental allocation if they have suffered from
> technical problems at the telescope or weather significantly
> worse than average.
>
> For further information on the NOAO Survey Program, see
>
> http://www.noao.edu/gateway/surveys/

> From: Rob Seaman <seaman at noao.edu>
> Date: June 25, 2009 3:59:24 PM GMT-07:00
> To: IVOA List VOEvent <voevent at ivoa.net>
> Subject: NOAO Survey deadline, 31 July
>
> Hola,
>
> NOAO provides community access (meaning anybody with a viable  
> program: http://www.noao.edu/noaoprop/help/policies.html) to a wide  
> range of public and private observatory facilities.  For instance,  
> 419 observing proposals were received for 2009B.  In addition, NOAO  
> offers its survey program for more coherent long term programs:
>
> 	http://www.noao.edu/gateway/surveys
>
> The deadline for a LOI for the next round of surveys is 31 July  
> (proposal due 15 September):
>
> 	http://www.noao.edu/noao/noaonews/jun09/pdf/98obs_prog.pdf
>
> There have been about two dozen surveys over the past decade, with  
> about one in five having a time domain component (e.g., SNe,  
> microlensing, KBOs).  It would be good to raise the batting average  
> from that of a utility infielder.  "Survey" has tended to mean  
> discovering such transient phenomena, but there is no overt reason  
> why a well-conceived program of follow-up observations wouldn't be  
> considered (assuming the obvious logistical concerns are efficiently  
> managed).  For instance, such a program could constitute a pilot  
> program for LSST follow-up.
>
> The scope focuses on the scientific value of the data:  "A Survey  
> Program is a significant observational program which:
> 	• addresses novel, well-focused scientific goals;
> 	• enables scientific programs requiring large, statistically  
> complete, and homogeneous data;
> 	• provides a basis for planning more detailed follow-up studies;
> 	• enables extensive archival research; and
> 	• represents a significant enhancement over existing surveys."
>
> I see nothing to exclude transient response and other time domain  
> programs - certainly not the requirement to provide a basis for  
> detailed follow-up!  There needs to be a plan for data management -  
> surely this plays well to our group.  And the proprietary period is  
> limited - surely a VOEvent hallmark.
>
> The annual survey meeting is one of the more interesting events I  
> attend, both from the question of the science involved and the  
> diversity of experimental design layered on the same telescopes and  
> instruments.  It would be entertaining for me - as well as  
> potentially extremely valuable scientifically for you - if some  
> VOEvent tiger team were to pursue such a program.
>
> Rob
>
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