January 29, 2003

from: Carilli
to: ISAC
re: Matrix review and future events
cc: Tarter, Schilizzi, Kellerman

The ISSC met in January at Arecibo. Later today I will put the ISAC 
report (in powerpoint) at:
http://www.aoc.nrao.edu/~ccarilli/SKA.shtml
There were a number of issues that were raised that need to be
considered by the ISAC.  And to those who have not heard, I have the
good news that Richard Schilizzi is the new SKA project director.

1. The white paper proposers will be submitting (by June?) detailed
responses to the EMT and ISAC comments.  The ISSC requested that we
review the compliance matrix and make sure the WGs agree on the
information presented therein. This review process was started in
November, but thus far only three working groups have reported (see my
note from November 20, 2002 for details). The review material should
be communicated (through the working group chairs) to S. Rawlings (cc:
Carilli) before Feb 15. We need to finalize this by March 1, at which
point we will move on to more enjoyable activities. Steve Rawlings
will send out a more detailed reminder next week, and we will hold a
telecon the penultimate week of February for final discussion.

2. Planning for the Geraldton SKA meeting has begun. All ISAC members
will get a formal invitation soon. If you know of other scientists
interested, please send the names to me and Ken Kellerman
(kkellerm@nrao.edu).  Details of the meeting can be found on the SKA
home page, and a rough outline of planned ISAC activities in Geraldton
is given in the ISAC report to the ISSC from Arecibo. 
 -- Please inform me and Ken whether you are coming
 -- Chairs of the WGs: if you cannot attend, make sure you 'second'
    someone as acting chair at the meeting. 

3. The focus of the ISAC over the coming months will be to decide on
chapters and authors/project teams for the revised science book. The
plan is to make this an edited volume through an established
publisher. Steve and I will make a first pass on possible chapters and
authors based on the previous ISAC meetings and other documentation,
which will then be distributed to the ISAC for review, comment, and
revision. Our primary goal in Geraldton is to finalize this process,
and present the final plan to the ISSC. We also hope to have a few of
the more advanced project teams present their preliminary ideas and
material in Geraldton. The following year will then be used by the
project teams to do the detailed work, and write the chapters.  Part
of this effort will be to define a 'design reference mission' to
communicate to the authors.

4. There will be a joint ALMA/SKA/OWL science meeting in Berlin
Nov. 5-7 2003. R. Schilizzi has suggested we organize a 'science
retreat' for the ISAC, and related scientists, immediately thereafter,
at the Lorentz center in Leiden. The purpose of this retreat would be
to gather the project teams for the science book. The retreat would
service as a venue for the project teams to make detailed plans, and
monitor progress, for their respective projects.  The Lorentz center
offers a unique environment for such workshops.
 --Please let Richard and I know whether you could attend such a 
   retreat.