1. NSF Division of Astronomical Sciences MPS/AST Committee of Visitors February 7, 2011 Jim Ulvestad Division Director, AST

2. 2 Outline Recent Science Results (Why is NSF here?) Recent Science Results (Why is NSF here?) MPS and AST Ecosystem/Budget MPS and AST Ecosystem/Budget AST Staff Duties and Organization AST Staff Duties and Organization AST Budget and Proposal Pressure AST Budget and Proposal Pressure COV-2008 Recommendations COV-2008 Recommendations 7 February 2011 COV-AST-org-Ulvestad

3. Most Massive Neutron Star GBT measured modification of pulse periods from pulsar in binary pair with white dwarf GBT measured modification of pulse periods from pulsar in binary pair with white dwarf “Shapiro” delay “Shapiro” delay Modeling gives precise masses of system, with neutron star M=1.97M Sun Modeling gives precise masses of system, with neutron star M=1.97M Sun 3 Demorest et al. 2010, Nature, 467, 1081 7 February 2011 COV-AST-org-Ulvestad

4. Most Massive Galaxy Cluster South Pole Telescope detected 8x 10 14 M Sun galaxy cluster at z=1.07, using blind survey of Sunyaev- Zeldovich effect South Pole Telescope detected 8x 10 14 M Sun galaxy cluster at z=1.07, using blind survey of Sunyaev- Zeldovich effect Multi-color images (CTIO 4m) reveal numerous “old” galaxies Multi-color images (CTIO 4m) reveal numerous “old” galaxies 4 Brodwin et al. 2010, ApJ, 721, 90 7 February 2011 COV-AST-org-Ulvestad

5. An Earth-Sized Planet? Long-term monitoring of Gliese 581 radial velocities has most recently revealed Gliese 581g Long-term monitoring of Gliese 581 radial velocities has most recently revealed Gliese 581g ~3 Earth masses ~3 Earth masses ~1.3 Earth diameters ~1.3 Earth diameters In “habitable” zone where liquid water can exist In “habitable” zone where liquid water can exist 5 Vogt et al. 2010, ApJ, 723, 954 7 February 2011 COV-AST-org-Ulvestad

6. 6 MPS/AST Organization AST lives in Mathematical and Physical Science Directorate AST lives in Mathematical and Physical Science Directorate Largest research directorate in NSF, with budget approaching $1.4B Largest research directorate in NSF, with budget approaching $1.4B Total NSF budget is ~$7B Total NSF budget is ~$7B Other divisions: Chemistry, Materials Research, Mathematical Sciences, Physics Other divisions: Chemistry, Materials Research, Mathematical Sciences, Physics AST is the most “facilities-heavy” division AST is the most “facilities-heavy” division Total AST budget: $245M in FY 2010 Total AST budget: $245M in FY 2010 7 February 2011 COV-AST-org-Ulvestad EpochPerm. Prog.RotatorsTemp. Prog.Admin. 200710 (down 1)51 AAAS7 1/20109308 2/201110 (+1 vac)71 Fed temp7 STAFF COUNTS

7. MPS FY 2011 Budget Request AST budget doubled 2000-2010 7 February 2011 7COV-AST-org-Ulvestad

8. 8 AST Budget Pie 7 February 2011 COV-AST-org-Ulvestad FY11 Budget Request ~$250M

9. NSF-AST FY 2009 Program (including American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, ARRA) 7 February 2011 COV-AST-org-Ulvestad9 FY11 Budget ~$250M

10. 10 Management Since Feb. 2008 Division Director (DD) Division Director (DD) Wayne van Citters moved to MPS front office, April 2008 Wayne van Citters moved to MPS front office, April 2008 Craig Foltz served as DD until March 2010 Craig Foltz served as DD until March 2010 Jim Ulvestad appointed DD (rotator) March 2010 Jim Ulvestad appointed DD (rotator) March 2010 Deputy Division Director (DDD) Deputy Division Director (DDD) Eileen Friel left for Lowell Observatory, June 2009 Eileen Friel left for Lowell Observatory, June 2009 Nigel Sharp served as interim DDD until February 2010 Nigel Sharp served as interim DDD until February 2010 Vern Pankonin served as interim DDD, May 2010- January 2011 Vern Pankonin served as interim DDD, May 2010- January 2011 Vern Pankonin appointed DDD in January 2011 Vern Pankonin appointed DDD in January 2011 7 February 2011 COV-AST-org-Ulvestad

11. 11 Other Program Staff Changes Permanent Federal employees Permanent Federal employees Jeff Pier started August 2008; NOAO in 2009 Jeff Pier started August 2008; NOAO in 2009 Gary Schmidt started March 2010; Gemini in Nov. 2010 Gary Schmidt started March 2010; Gemini in Nov. 2010 Open position (replacing Pankonin’s Program Officer slot) advertised Open position (replacing Pankonin’s Program Officer slot) advertised Rotators (Intergovernmental Personnel Act=IPA) Rotators (Intergovernmental Personnel Act=IPA) Don Terndrup started in 2008 Don Terndrup started in 2008 Tom Statler and Scott Fisher in 2009 Tom Statler and Scott Fisher in 2009 Katharina Lodders in 2010 Katharina Lodders in 2010 Ed Ajhar and Maria Womack in 2011 (last week) Ed Ajhar and Maria Womack in 2011 (last week) Federal Temporary Employee Federal Temporary Employee Paul Morris in 2010-2011 Paul Morris in 2010-2011 7 February 2011 COV-AST-org-Ulvestad

12. 12 Administrative Staff Changes Craig McClure became Program Support Manager in 2009 Craig McClure became Program Support Manager in 2009 Donna O’Malley became Operations Specialist in 2009 Donna O’Malley became Operations Specialist in 2009 Liz Pentecost became Facilities Coordinator in 2009 Liz Pentecost became Facilities Coordinator in 2009 Heidi Griggs became Administrative Support Assistant in 2009 Heidi Griggs became Administrative Support Assistant in 2009 Diana Phan started as student in 2009, transformed to Program Assistant in 2011 Diana Phan started as student in 2009, transformed to Program Assistant in 2011 Kim Elliott moved to central MPS IT in 2010 Kim Elliott moved to central MPS IT in 2010 7 February 2011 COV-AST-org-Ulvestad

13. Division of Astronomical Sciences (AST) Office of the Division DirectorIndividual Investigator ProgramsMid-Scale & Future MREFC Projects FacilitiesAdministration Philip Puxley Atacama Large Millimeter Array Tomas Gergely Electromagnetic Spectrum Management Dana Lehr National Astronomy Ionosphere Center Jeffrey Pier National Optical Astronomy Observatory Vernon Pankonin National Radio Astronomy Observatory Craig Foltz National Solar Observatory Gary Schmidt Gemini Observatory James Ulvestad Division Director Vernon Pankonin Deputy Division Director Donna O’Malley Operations Specialist Elizabeth Pentecost Project Administrator Heidi Griggs Administrative Support Assistant Diana Phan Student Program Assistant Ann Butler Program Assistant Anton Jiggetts Program Technology Analyst Craig McClure Program Support Manager Nigel Sharp NVO/VAO, Large Synoptic Survey Telescope Donald Terndrup Giant Segmented Mirror Telescope Vernon Pankonin Mid-Scale Projects/ Instrumentation Richard Barvainis University Radio Observatories Gary Schmidt Advanced Technologies & Instrumentation Dana Lehr Astronomy & Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowships R.Scott Fisher Education & Special Programs (CAREER, REU, PAARE) Andrew Clegg Enhancing Access to the Radio Spectrum Jeffrey Pier Major Research Instrumentation Thomas Statler Planetary Astronomy Donald Terndrup Stellar Astronomy & Astrophysics Richard Barvainis Extragalactic Astronomy & Cosmology Katharina Lodders Galactic Astronomy Paul Morris Facilities Manager Ed Ajhar; Maria Womack

14. 14 Comments on Organization Program managers for facilities are all pulling double duty Program managers for facilities are all pulling double duty Vern Pankonin: NRAO + DDD + SKA + mid-scale Vern Pankonin: NRAO + DDD + SKA + mid-scale Phil Puxley: ALMA construction + operations Phil Puxley: ALMA construction + operations Jeff Pier: NOAO + MRI Jeff Pier: NOAO + MRI Gary Schmidt: Gemini + ATI Gary Schmidt: Gemini + ATI Dana Lehr: NAIC + AAPF Dana Lehr: NAIC + AAPF Craig Foltz: NSO + ATST Craig Foltz: NSO + ATST Nigel Sharp: LSST + VAO + DES + some EXC Nigel Sharp: LSST + VAO + DES + some EXC Don Terndrup: GSMT + SAA Don Terndrup: GSMT + SAA Rich Barvainis: UROs + EXC + mid-scale Rich Barvainis: UROs + EXC + mid-scale Individual Investigator Program Individual Investigator Program Scrambling to cover AAPF and EXC Scrambling to cover AAPF and EXC 7 February 2011 COV-AST-org-Ulvestad

15. 15 Managing Conflicts of Interest Ulvestad is rotator from AUI (NRAO, ALMA, VAO) Ulvestad is rotator from AUI (NRAO, ALMA, VAO) Fisher is rotator from AURA (Gemini, NOAO, NSO, VAO) Fisher is rotator from AURA (Gemini, NOAO, NSO, VAO) Schmidt is on leave from Arizona (LSST, GMT, LBT) Schmidt is on leave from Arizona (LSST, GMT, LBT) Other rotators have conflicts with home universities and collaborators Other rotators have conflicts with home universities and collaborators 7 February 2011 COV-AST-org-Ulvestad

16. 16 Empirical Law #1 Facility costs increase exponentially, while budgets increase linearly (at best) 1950s-1960s, ~$10M: KP, Green Bank, Arecibo 1950s-1960s, ~$10M: KP, Green Bank, Arecibo 1970s-1990s, ~$100M: VLA, VLBA, Gemini, GBT, Keck 1970s-1990s, ~$100M: VLA, VLBA, Gemini, GBT, Keck 2000s-2020s, ~$1B: ALMA ($1.3B), ATST ($0.3B), LSST ($0.5B), GSMT (3 X ~$1-2B), SKA (~$2-6B) 2000s-2020s, ~$1B: ALMA ($1.3B), ATST ($0.3B), LSST ($0.5B), GSMT (3 X ~$1-2B), SKA (~$2-6B) 7 February 2011 COV-AST-org-Ulvestad

17. Empirical Law #2 17 7 February 2011 COV-AST-org-Ulvestad Proposal success rate is on a long-term downward trend through all of NSF

18. Unrestricted Grants (AAG) Success rate in FY 2010 bounced slightly up to 22% because of hiatus in some development funding Success rate in FY 2010 bounced slightly up to 22% because of hiatus in some development funding Expect ≤ 18% in FY 2011 (number of proposals up ~23%!) Expect ≤ 18% in FY 2011 (number of proposals up ~23%!) NSF goal to complete 70% of all proposal actions within 6 months NSF goal to complete 70% of all proposal actions within 6 months 2009 completion took 11-12 months (ARRA) 2009 completion took 11-12 months (ARRA) 2010 completion took 10 months, due to short-staffing 2010 completion took 10 months, due to short-staffing Actions in FY 2011 Actions in FY 2011 More automated compliance checking More automated compliance checking More experienced IPAs; group efforts; use of admin. staff More experienced IPAs; group efforts; use of admin. staff Stay on top of deadlines Stay on top of deadlines Striving for more “non-competitive” designations in panels Striving for more “non-competitive” designations in panels 18 7 February 2011 COV-AST-org-Ulvestad

19. COV-2008 Recommendations-1 AST Staff requirements—NSF AST Staff requirements—NSF Double AST travel budget—NSF Double AST travel budget—NSF Use Senior Review to resist earmarks—as feasible Use Senior Review to resist earmarks—as feasible Regular Senior Review, every 10 yr?—sooner Regular Senior Review, every 10 yr?—sooner Astro2010 should re-examine past priorities—done Astro2010 should re-examine past priorities—done NSF flexibility in MREFC—NSF NSF flexibility in MREFC—NSF Diverse, competent review panels—maintained Diverse, competent review panels—maintained More info to proposers; less tolerance of non- compliance—compliance done, staffing not adequate for more information to proposers More info to proposers; less tolerance of non- compliance—compliance done, staffing not adequate for more information to proposers 19 7 February 2011 COV-AST-org-Ulvestad

20. COV-2008 Recommendations-2 Engage with cyber-infrastructure efforts—as appropriate; LSST Engage with cyber-infrastructure efforts—as appropriate; LSST Re-examine instrumentation programs—in progress Re-examine instrumentation programs—in progress Maintain unsolicited mid-scale program—re-evaluating Maintain unsolicited mid-scale program—re-evaluating Balance UROs and radio system—steady state now Balance UROs and radio system—steady state now Caution on burden of re-competition—NSB policy Caution on burden of re-competition—NSB policy Implement Senior Review recommendations for NOAO—followed major recommendations Implement Senior Review recommendations for NOAO—followed major recommendations Start ATST—done Start ATST—done Consider moving ESM to MPS or NSF OD—under discussion Consider moving ESM to MPS or NSF OD—under discussion 20 7 February 2011 COV-AST-org-Ulvestad

21. 21 Primary Issues & Concerns AST staffing and budget levels AST staffing and budget levels Execution of adequate oversight Execution of adequate oversight Responsiveness to community Responsiveness to community How to communicate with community effectively? How to communicate with community effectively? Long-term budget prognosis Long-term budget prognosis Ongoing facility operations reduce flexibility Ongoing facility operations reduce flexibility Long-term strategic plan and portfolio review is critical Long-term strategic plan and portfolio review is critical Cannot accommodate increased AAG pressure Cannot accommodate increased AAG pressure US competitiveness in ground-based OIR US competitiveness in ground-based OIR Gemini challenge provides the opportunity to craft a more coherent US national observatory Gemini challenge provides the opportunity to craft a more coherent US national observatory Long-term future of Gemini partnership? Long-term future of Gemini partnership? Success of GSMT programs? Success of GSMT programs? Operation of large, new MREFC projects Operation of large, new MREFC projects Home for solar research in NSF? Home for solar research in NSF? 7 February 2011 COV-AST-org-Ulvestad