VLBI Future meeting at CfA (2003 September 03)

committee members: 
Shep Doeleman 
Colin Lonsdale
Al Marscher 
David Wilner

participants:
Lincoln Greenhill
Liz Humphreys
Svetlana Jorstad
Maryam Modjaz 
Jim Moran
Bob Phillips
Mark Ratner

Colin Lonsdale opened meeting with a powerpoint presentation describing 
the Committee and its charges, and also examples of VLBI science. Audience 
was not large but included the main VLBI group at the CfA.  Many comments 
came from participants during Colin's presentation. The small size of the 
audience facilitated group discussion.

Notes were taken by Shep Doelman and David Wilner.

Procedural question: the committee does most of its work by telecon and 
e-mail, but the full committee plans a face-to-face meeting.

Various comments made on the presentation of graphs that show VLA/VLBA 
parameter space coverage.  Tb vs. Baseline graph for the VLA/VLBA 
appears to overestimate the sensitivity of the instruments; all the 
boxes representing the range for each instrument/configuration should 
be shifted upwards. A figure that shows the US capabilities over the
full range would be good.  Assumptions that go into sensitivity graphics 
must be up front and clear. Might be useful to present capabilities in 
another context-- could decide what sources we'd like to observe and 
showcase VLBI capabilities, i.e. can detect an L* galaxy out to redshift z, 
etc...

Exactly what would it take (BW and apertures) to get to thermal Tb's?

Has anyone contacted the Gamma ray community?  Not just GRBs. The 
GLAST satellite has a users committee that we should be interacting with. 

Several expressed strong opinions that software is a big reason why VLBI 
is perceived to be hard.  Data reduction is the biggest hurdle.

Are there any plans at NRAO to link funds to observing time? Discussion
of pilot GBT student funding program.  

Technical improvements to VLBA? Exactly what does it take to put MK5 on 
the VLBA? Can the VLBA migration from tape to disk media be a gradual one 
so that the money doesn't have to come all at once?

Lots of discussion on path to SKA and the US vision. The EVLA I,II represents 
a uniquely capable instrument and could be a stepping stone to SKA, 
especially with regard to infrastructure, e.g. developed sites.
Question of how EVN plans should be considered in formulation of US position.

Discussion of possible questions for proposed questionaire to be issued by 
committee to a select group of astronomers for opinions on VLBI.
Suggestion for additional question: If you collaborate now with VLBI people, 
would you consider continuing by yourself? Concern expressed about response 
rate. How will the data, which is largely in 'essay' format, be collated and 
analyzed? Should use check-boxes to make responding and evaluating easier, 
but also give people opportunity to be eloquent.  Consensus that if a good 
response rate and good response quality will require the committee to contact 
people by phone and get them to fill out questionnaire.

Extensive discussion about how to get young people into field:
- NSF now making grants to people for VLBI research (indication that
  3 out of 7 grants awarded in AGN panel).
- Need to get funding built into awarded time. Current situation favors 
  users with funding "independent" of NSF, in particular foreign observers
- Decadal Review says that a percentage of total construction cost should 
  be spent *each year* for data analysis.  For "moderate ground based 
  facilities", the recommendation is 5%. VLBI should be getting funds 
  based on VLBA construction.
- Compare VLBI papers/$ against HST, or VLA papers/$
- Can we tap into NASA money for data analysis?
  Probably not unless there's a specific VLBI related mission.
- Discussion about young investigators getting tenure and
  not going into VLBI since no money means no tenure.
  Funding problems make VLBI at best one part of multi-wavelength approach 
  for young faculty who derive support from NASA, e.g. Chandra

Some strong opinions on NRAO outreach and PR efforts-- NRAO has to do better 
job getting science stories to media. (Ask STScI what really works for them.)

Discussion about how to boost attendance at future open meetings. 

--- end of minutes