nsf division of astronomical sciences

NSF Division of NSF Division of Astronomical Astronomical

SciencesSciences MPS/AST Committee of MPS/AST Committee of

VisitorsVisitorsFebruary 7, 2011February 7, 2011

Jim UlvestadJim UlvestadDivision Director, ASTDivision Director, AST

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OutlineOutline Recent Science Results (Why is Recent Science Results (Why is

NSF here?)NSF here?) MPS and AST Ecosystem/BudgetMPS and AST Ecosystem/Budget AST Staff Duties and OrganizationAST Staff Duties and Organization AST Budget and Proposal PressureAST Budget and Proposal Pressure COV-2008 RecommendationsCOV-2008 Recommendations

7 February 2011 COV-AST-org-Ulvestad

Most Massive Neutron Most Massive Neutron StarStar

GBT measured GBT measured modification of pulse modification of pulse periods from pulsar periods from pulsar in binary pair with in binary pair with white dwarfwhite dwarf ““Shapiro” delayShapiro” delay

Modeling gives Modeling gives precise masses of precise masses of system, with neutron system, with neutron star M=1.97Mstar M=1.97MSunSun

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Demorest et al. 2010, Nature, 467, 1081


Most Massive Galaxy Most Massive Galaxy ClusterCluster

South Pole Telescope South Pole Telescope detected 8x 10detected 8x 1014 14 MMSunSun galaxy cluster at galaxy cluster at z=1.07, using blind z=1.07, using blind survey of Sunyaev-survey of Sunyaev-Zeldovich effectZeldovich effect

Multi-color images Multi-color images (CTIO 4m) reveal (CTIO 4m) reveal numerous “old” numerous “old” galaxiesgalaxies

4Brodwin et al. 2010, ApJ, 721, 90


An Earth-Sized Planet?An Earth-Sized Planet? Long-term Long-term

monitoring of Gliese monitoring of Gliese 581 radial velocities 581 radial velocities has most recently has most recently revealed Gliese 581grevealed Gliese 581g ~3 Earth masses~3 Earth masses ~1.3 Earth diameters~1.3 Earth diameters

In “habitable” zone In “habitable” zone where liquid water where liquid water can existcan exist

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Vogt et al. 2010, ApJ, 723, 954


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MPS/AST OrganizationMPS/AST Organization AST lives in Mathematical and Physical AST lives in Mathematical and Physical

Science DirectorateScience Directorate Largest research directorate in NSF, with Largest research directorate in NSF, with

budget approaching $1.4Bbudget approaching $1.4B Total NSF budget is ~$7BTotal NSF budget is ~$7B Other divisions: Chemistry, Materials Other divisions: Chemistry, Materials

Research, Mathematical Sciences, PhysicsResearch, Mathematical Sciences, Physics AST is the most “facilities-heavy” divisionAST is the most “facilities-heavy” division

Total AST budget: $245M in FY 2010Total AST budget: $245M in FY 2010


Epoch Perm. Prog.

Rotators Temp. Prog.

Admin.

2007 10 (down 1)

5 1 AAAS 7

1/2010 9 3 0 82/2011 10 (+1

vac)7 1 Fed

temp7

STAFF COUNTS

MPS FY 2011 Budget Request MPS FY 2011 Budget Request

Amount PercentAstronomical Sciences $228.67 $85.80 $245.69 $251.77 $6.08 2.5%Chemistry 211.67 87.36 233.73 247.56 13.83 5.9%Materials Research 282.52 108.17 302.67 319.37 16.70 5.5%Mathematical Sciences 224.84 97.34 241.38 253.46 12.08 5.0%Physics 262.47 96.30 290.04 298.19 8.15 2.8%OMA 33.70 - 38.33 39.56 1.23 3.2%Total, MPS $1,243.88 $474.97 $1,351.84 $1,409.91 $58.07 4.3%

(Dollars in Millions)

FY 2009 Omnibus Actual

FY 2009 ARRA Actual

FY 2010 Estimate

FY 2011Request

Change OverFY 2010 Estimate

$100.00

$150.00

$200.00

$250.00

$300.00

$350.00

$400.00

FY00 FY01 FY02 FY03 FY04 FY05 FY06 FY07 FY08 FY09Total

FY10Estimate

FY11Request

MPS Subactivity Funding(Dollars in Millions)

AST

CHE

DMR

DMS

PHY

OMA

AST budget doubled 2000-20107 February 2011 7COV-AST-org-Ulvestad

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AST Budget PieAST Budget Pie


FY11 Budget Request ~$250M

NSF-AST FY 2009 ProgramNSF-AST FY 2009 Program(including American (including American

Reinvestment and Recovery Act, Reinvestment and Recovery Act, ARRA)ARRA)

7 February 2011 COV-AST-org-Ulvestad 9

FY11 Budget ~$250M

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Management Since Feb. Management Since Feb. 20082008

Division Director (DD)Division Director (DD) Wayne van Citters moved to MPS front Wayne van Citters moved to MPS front

office, April 2008office, April 2008 Craig Foltz served as DD until March 2010Craig Foltz served as DD until March 2010 Jim Ulvestad appointed DD (rotator) March Jim Ulvestad appointed DD (rotator) March

20102010 Deputy Division Director (DDD)Deputy Division Director (DDD)

Eileen Friel left for Lowell Observatory, Eileen Friel left for Lowell Observatory, June 2009June 2009

Nigel Sharp served as interim DDD until Nigel Sharp served as interim DDD until February 2010February 2010

Vern Pankonin served as interim DDD, May Vern Pankonin served as interim DDD, May 2010-January 20112010-January 2011

Vern Pankonin appointed DDD in January Vern Pankonin appointed DDD in January 20112011


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Other Program Staff Other Program Staff ChangesChanges

Permanent Federal employeesPermanent Federal employees Jeff Pier started August 2008; NOAO in Jeff Pier started August 2008; NOAO in

20092009 Gary Schmidt started March 2010; Gemini Gary Schmidt started March 2010; Gemini

in Nov. 2010in Nov. 2010 Open position (replacing Pankonin’s Open position (replacing Pankonin’s

Program Officer slot) advertisedProgram Officer slot) advertised Rotators (Intergovernmental Personnel Rotators (Intergovernmental Personnel

Act=IPA)Act=IPA) Don Terndrup started in 2008Don Terndrup started in 2008 Tom Statler and Scott Fisher in 2009Tom Statler and Scott Fisher in 2009 Katharina Lodders in 2010Katharina Lodders in 2010 Ed Ajhar and Maria Womack in 2011 (last Ed Ajhar and Maria Womack in 2011 (last

week)week) Federal Temporary EmployeeFederal Temporary Employee

Paul Morris in 2010-2011Paul Morris in 2010-2011


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Administrative Staff Administrative Staff ChangesChanges

Craig McClure became Program Support Craig McClure became Program Support Manager in 2009Manager in 2009

Donna O’Malley became Operations Specialist Donna O’Malley became Operations Specialist in 2009in 2009

Liz Pentecost became Facilities Coordinator in Liz Pentecost became Facilities Coordinator in 20092009

Heidi Griggs became Administrative Support Heidi Griggs became Administrative Support Assistant in 2009Assistant in 2009

Diana Phan started as student in 2009, Diana Phan started as student in 2009, transformed to Program Assistant in 2011transformed to Program Assistant in 2011

Kim Elliott moved to central MPS IT in 2010Kim Elliott moved to central MPS IT in 2010


Division of Astronomical Sciences (AST)

Office of the Division Director

Individual Investigator Programs Mid-Scale & Future MREFC Projects

Facilities

Administration

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 UlvestadDivision Director

Vernon PankoninDeputy Division Director

Donna O’Malley Operations Specialist

Elizabeth Pentecost Project Administrator

Heidi GriggsAdministrative Support Assistant

Diana PhanStudent Program Assistant

Ann Butler Program Assistant

Anton Jiggetts Program Technology Analyst

Craig McClureProgram 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

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Comments on OrganizationComments on Organization Program managers for facilities are all pulling Program managers for facilities are all pulling

double dutydouble duty Vern Pankonin: NRAO + DDD + SKA + Vern Pankonin: NRAO + DDD + SKA +

mid-scalemid-scale Phil Puxley: ALMA construction + Phil Puxley: ALMA construction +

operationsoperations Jeff Pier: NOAO + MRIJeff Pier: NOAO + MRI Gary Schmidt: Gemini + ATIGary Schmidt: Gemini + ATI Dana Lehr: NAIC + AAPFDana Lehr: NAIC + AAPF Craig Foltz: NSO + ATSTCraig Foltz: NSO + ATST Nigel Sharp: LSST + VAO + DES + some Nigel Sharp: LSST + VAO + DES + some

EXCEXC Don Terndrup: GSMT + SAADon Terndrup: GSMT + SAA Rich Barvainis: UROs + EXC + mid-scaleRich Barvainis: UROs + EXC + mid-scale

Individual Investigator ProgramIndividual Investigator Program Scrambling to cover AAPF and EXC Scrambling to cover AAPF and EXC


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Managing Conflicts of Managing Conflicts of InterestInterest

Ulvestad is rotator from AUI (NRAO, ALMA, Ulvestad is rotator from AUI (NRAO, ALMA, VAO)VAO)

Fisher is rotator from AURA (Gemini, NOAO, Fisher is rotator from AURA (Gemini, NOAO, NSO, VAO)NSO, VAO)

Schmidt is on leave from Arizona (LSST, GMT, Schmidt is on leave from Arizona (LSST, GMT, LBT)LBT)

Other rotators have conflicts with home Other rotators have conflicts with home universities and collaboratorsuniversities and collaborators


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Empirical Law #1Empirical Law #1Facility costs increase exponentially, Facility costs increase exponentially,

while budgets increase linearly (at while budgets increase linearly (at best)best)

1950s-1960s, ~$10M: KP, Green 1950s-1960s, ~$10M: KP, Green Bank, AreciboBank, Arecibo

1970s-1990s, ~$100M: VLA, VLBA, 1970s-1990s, ~$100M: VLA, VLBA, Gemini, GBT, KeckGemini, GBT, Keck

2000s-2020s, ~$1B: ALMA ($1.3B), 2000s-2020s, ~$1B: ALMA ($1.3B), ATST ($0.3B), LSST ($0.5B), GSMT (3 ATST ($0.3B), LSST ($0.5B), GSMT (3 X ~$1-2B), SKA (~$2-6B)X ~$1-2B), SKA (~$2-6B)


Empirical Law #2Empirical Law #2


Proposal success rate is on a long-term downward trend through all of NSF

Unrestricted Grants Unrestricted Grants (AAG)(AAG)

Success rate in FY 2010 bounced slightly up to 22% Success rate in FY 2010 bounced slightly up to 22% because of hiatus in some development fundingbecause 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 NSF goal to complete 70% of all proposal actions within 6 monthswithin 6 months 2009 completion took 11-12 months (ARRA)2009 completion took 11-12 months (ARRA) 2010 completion took 10 months, due to short-staffing2010 completion took 10 months, due to short-staffing

Actions in FY 2011Actions in FY 2011 More automated compliance checkingMore automated compliance checking More experienced IPAs; group efforts; use of admin. staffMore experienced IPAs; group efforts; use of admin. staff Stay on top of deadlinesStay on top of deadlines Striving for more “non-competitive” designations in panelsStriving for more “non-competitive” designations in panels


COV-2008 COV-2008 Recommendations-1Recommendations-1

AST Staff requirements—NSFAST Staff requirements—NSF Double AST travel budget—NSFDouble AST travel budget—NSF Use Senior Review to resist earmarks—as Use Senior Review to resist earmarks—as

feasiblefeasible Regular Senior Review, every 10 yr?—soonerRegular Senior Review, every 10 yr?—sooner Astro2010 should re-examine past priorities—Astro2010 should re-examine past priorities—

done done NSF flexibility in MREFC—NSFNSF flexibility in MREFC—NSF Diverse, competent review panels—maintainedDiverse, competent review panels—maintained More info to proposers; less tolerance of non-More info to proposers; less tolerance of non-

compliance—compliance done, staffing not compliance—compliance done, staffing not adequate for more information to proposersadequate for more information to proposers


COV-2008 COV-2008 Recommendations-2Recommendations-2

Engage with cyber-infrastructure efforts—as Engage with cyber-infrastructure efforts—as appropriate; LSSTappropriate; LSST

Re-examine instrumentation programs—in progressRe-examine instrumentation programs—in progress Maintain unsolicited mid-scale program—re-Maintain unsolicited mid-scale program—re-

evaluatingevaluating Balance UROs and radio system—steady state nowBalance UROs and radio system—steady state now Caution on burden of re-competition—NSB policyCaution on burden of re-competition—NSB policy Implement Senior Review recommendations for Implement Senior Review recommendations for

NOAO—followed major recommendationsNOAO—followed major recommendations Start ATST—done Start ATST—done Consider moving ESM to MPS or NSF OD—under Consider moving ESM to MPS or NSF OD—under

discussiondiscussion


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Primary Issues & ConcernsPrimary Issues & Concerns AST staffing and budget levelsAST staffing and budget levels

Execution of adequate oversightExecution of adequate oversight Responsiveness to communityResponsiveness to community How to communicate with community effectively?How to communicate with community effectively?

Long-term budget prognosisLong-term budget prognosis Ongoing facility operations reduce flexibilityOngoing facility operations reduce flexibility Long-term strategic plan and portfolio review is Long-term strategic plan and portfolio review is

criticalcritical Cannot accommodate increased AAG pressureCannot accommodate increased AAG pressure

US competitiveness in ground-based OIRUS competitiveness in ground-based OIR Gemini challenge provides the opportunity to craft Gemini challenge provides the opportunity to craft

a more coherent US national observatorya 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 projectsOperation of large, new MREFC projects Home for solar research in NSF?Home for solar research in NSF?


nsf division of astronomical sciences

Documents

ast fy

ast budget pie7

budget request ast budget

orgulvestadmps fy

vac71 fed temp7covast

organizationast budget

btotal nsf budget

earth masses