AAO staff consultation
Last Thursday 10 August 2017, AAO General Manager Neville Legg and I provided a briefing to the CSIRO Staff Association, which represents AAO staff, on the progress of the optical astronomy measure, and invited the association’s questions and views.
Deputy Secretary Sue Weston and Head of the Science and Commercialisation Policy Division Jane Urquhart will meet with AAO staff at Siding Spring Observatory via videoconference on Friday 18 August 2017. Sue and Jane will also visit AAO staff at North Ryde on Friday 25 August 2017. There will be an opportunity at both events for staff to ask questions.
AAT consortium led by the Australian National University
Following a good deal of discussion and organisation between the ANU, AAO, AAL, and the department, the outgoing Director of Gemini, Dr Markus Kissler-Patig, will provide the ANU and its consortium partners with advice about effective operating models to consider for the AAT under its new operational management. Dr Kissler-Patig will visit Australia for a two-week consultancy commencing on 25 September 2017. His report is expected by the end of October.
National optical instrumentation capability
The department has been working with the newly formed Reference Group for Optical Astronomy (below) on an expression of interest (EOI) process which will provide a framework within which interested parties can formally register their interest in building a new national, industry focused capability in optical astronomy instrumentation. The EOI will take place over coming months with a view to agreeing new arrangements by the end of December 2017.
Reference Group for Optical Astronomy
My last update mentioned our plans for a Reference Group for Optical Astronomy. The group met for the first time last Thursday 10 August in Canberra and via teleconference. The purpose of the group is to provide advice to the department on the establishment of the optical instrumentation capability specifically, and the implementation of the optical astronomy measure more broadly.
Chaired by Prof. Peter Quinn, who is also the chair of the AAO Advisory Committee, the group comprises key astronomy stakeholders from universities, government, and the research sector. The inaugural meeting was productive and collegiate, and consensus was achieved on the principles and frameworks for the establishment of the optical instrumentation capability, a key element of the EOI process. The group is expected to meet again in the first weeks of September to discuss the EOI.
I will continue to provide you with regular updates over the coming months. Make sure you sign up at the link below to get on our mailing list. And remember, if you have specific questions, you can email us directly – details below.
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