May 17, 2002

from: C. Carilli (NRAO)
to: SKA International Science Advisory Committee (ISAC)
re: Groningen SKA meeting
cc: R. Ekers, H. Butcher, J. Tarter,  K. Kellerman

After a number of very productive years of shepherding the SKA science
case, Russ Taylor has decided to step down as chair of the SKA ISAC to
focus on his duties as SKA executive secretary. Ron Ekers and the
international SKA steering committee (ISSC) have asked me to perform
the duties of ISAC chair for the next two years, and I feel my first
duty is to applaud Russ for the excellent job he has done, in
particular with the 1998 Science Case document with Robert Braun and
organizing the various ISAC meetings over the subsequent years.

Besides for introducing the above change, the purpose of this note is
to remind you that the members of the SKA ISAC are invited to meet in
Groningen August 13-15, 2002, along with the engineering management
team (EMT) and the ISSC (see http://www.lofar.org/ska2002/). Prior to
the Groningen meeting the R&D teams from various countries will submit
for critical review white paper reports outlining their SKA designs.
The broad goals for the ISAC in Groningen can be outlined as follows:


-- Evaluate the white paper designs in the context of the level 1 
science case for the SKA, and provide feedback to the EMT and ISSC.

-- Make a detailed plan for updating and revising the SKA science case
document(s). The discussions thus far have been fairly general. We
need to evolve the process into more concrete and quantitative
'proposals' aimed at addressing key problems of broad interest to the
scientific community. An attempt should be made to compare our science
goals with those of future observatories at other wavelengths
(optical, Xray, IR,...), pointing out areas unique to radio astronomy,
as well as areas of complementarity. Clearly, this is an iterative
process, since the science case feeds-back into the telescope
design. My hope is that in Groningen the situation will become better
defined once the white paper designs have been considered in some
detail.

-- As part of evolving the science case, we should consider the
organization and make-up of the ISAC. Are some areas under/over
represented?  Are we missing key people?  One area we are particularly
weak in is theoretical astrophysics.  For instance, in Bologna the EOR
group had two excellent theorists involved, and their influence was
reflected in the high quality of the report. We should also consider
approaching observers at other wavebands.

--- Consider future meetings of the ISAC. Should we meet prior to the
SKA meeting in Australia in August 2003?  Should we consider holding a
larger meeting inviting a broader segment of the astrophysics
community, of the type held in Amsterdam in 1999?


Russ Taylor is in the process of collating the level one science goals
and telescope specs as delineated in the discussions in Bologna and
Berkeley, and I have been cross-referencing these goals with the 1998
science case document and the 1999 KNAW Amsterdam proceedings to look
for gaps etc... The results of this process will be communicated to
the ISAC in the next month or so. The Bologna group reports can be
found at: http://www.skatelescope.org/ska_memos.shtml.

I expect that the chairs of the ISAC panels will have access to the
white paper designs prior to the Groningen meeting. There should be
enough time to make a rough pass through the designs, and iterate with
panel members, or other knowledgeable individuals, identifying key
areas that might require work (calculations etc...)  prior to
Groningen. If/when the reports become available, I will schedule a
(short) phone conference with available individuals to discuss how to
proceed.

There are a number of important near-term goals and issues to be
addressed in Groningen. And in the end, we are discussing the long
term future of radio astronomy.  I feel we are obligated to generate
the strongest science case possible in the context of our current
knowledge of astrophysics, one that will be compelling to the general
(astro)physics community.  Your presence and voice would be greatly
appreciated.

Looking forward to seeing you there,
Chris Carilli
Socorro NM USA