A Man for All Wavelengths
Roger Blandford
and the
Astronomical Community
John Huchra
CfA
Oct 2009
Roger’s Scientific Side
200 papers, multiple threat,  invariant
even solar!
Egypt 2006
Not Roger !
Longevity & Impact!
But breadth & wisdom can get you
into serious trouble --- and has!
Major National Committees & Panels in just the last decade:
AANM HEA Panel 1998-2000
AAS Council 1999-2002
CAA Co-Chair 2002-2006
Space Studies Board 2002-2006
MPS Advisory Committee 2001-2004
Quarks to the Cosmos (Physics of the Universe) 2002-4
NAS Decadal Survey Mid-Course Review
NSF OIR Roadmap Committee
NSF AST Senior Review (Chair) 2005-2006
and now ASTRO2010 (Chair)
It’s a Dirty Job …
NSF Senior Review
Called because resources
were running out and
very little progress was
being made in AST on
the ground-based projects
recommended in AANM
Its underpinnings still hold today
For the SR, we devised a process. Key
elements included
(1) Involve people --- town halls, open
meetings
(2) Stay broad --- avoid attempts to fence off
programs. Consider all budgets.
(3) Maximize scientific return
After a year’s
work
Principles developed for the Senior Review
The Base Program
Additional Findings
1. The Scientific Challenge. Proper maintenance of current facilities while simultaneously
developing and beginning operations of the proposes new facilities is infeasible under any
reasonable expectations for federal budget support based on past funding levels. The cuts
that are recommended here are as deep as they can be without causing irreparable
damage and will only allow s start to be made on the new initiatives. The scientific promise
of the proposed facilities is so compelling and of such broad interest and importance that
there is a strong case for increasing the overall AST budget to execute as much of the
science as possible.
2. The Operations Challenge. Major astronomical observatories typically take at least a
decade to plan,construct and commission. They are usually operated for several decades.
The full cost of operating, maintaining, upgrading, exploiting and decommissioning them are
many times the cost of construction. Realistic life cycle costing for observatories that are
under construction or consideration is an essential part of planning.
3. The Strategic Challenge. Construction on the ATST may begin as early as 2009 (so as
to be operational in 2014) and there is a strong scientific case for proceeding with the
GSMT the LSST and the SKA as soon as feasible thereafter. A realistic implementation
plan involves other agencies and independent and international partners. Some choices
need to be made soon, others can await the conclusions of the next Decadal Survey. Much
work is needed, scientifically, technically and diplomatically, to inform this plan.
4. Towards a Coherent National Astronomy Enterprise. In order to meet the
challenge of (multi-)billion dollar, ground-based optical-infrared and radio
observatories, there will have to be strong collaboration between the federal and
independent components of the US astronomical enterprise and firm leadership
by AST. A high level commission addressing optical and infrared facilities
provides one way to start to bring together the diverse components of the
national program to begin to realize the fullpotential of the US system.
5. Future Reviews. Balancing the demands of the current program against the
aspirations of the future program is an ongoing obligation. The senior Review
process should be implemented as a standard practice within the Division of
Astronomical Sciences and should be a consideration included in the next
decadal Survey.
And now ASTRO 2010
Planning for this started in 2006!
Roger selected as chair in the summer of 2008
Process defined over the first few months
5 Science Panels (PSF,SSE,GAN,GCT,CFP)
4 Program Panels (OIR,RMS,EOS,PAG)
6 Infrastructure Study Groups
(CDH,DEM,FFP,IPP,EPO,APP)
Town Halls, Open Meetings, White Papers,
Position Papers, Project Submissions
Hundreds of people have been involved so far
(P.S. I’m accepting suggestions for a good title!)
Context
The good, the bad & the ugly
Astronomy, scientifically has been very successful in the
last decade
Astronomy “draws” students & the public
Opportunities  in major funding lines (e.g. ATST)
Now  many other related “decadal” survey
NASA Astrophysics flat or declining
NSF burdened by operations costs, grant success at 20%
DOE officially in the game
A&A not currently identified with National priorities
NSF currently has a significant leadership problem
NASA SMD Budgets
But awaiting Augustine & Decadal Survey
Its Still a Dirty Job….
And how is it going?
Under Roger’s deft leadership we are on
schedule --- expect a
report release summer
2010.
The science is exciting
and compelling.
The public loves us.
and the pictures speak for themselves
Last Call -- A plea from me and the AAS
Astronomers and Astrophysicists need to
participate in the process, starting from
service on committees and panels,
including editorial and refereeing work, high
level advisory committees, and, perhaps
most importantly, service in the agencies
themselves.
Roger has stepped upto the plate--- will you!
Thank you, Roger
from all the Astronomical
Community
and
Happy Birthday!