Date: Tue, 20 Feb 2001 15:59:01 -0700 (MST)
Subject: DPS Mailing #01-07: NASA response on grant delays; HST Feedback
Greetings, DPS Members-
+------------------CONTENTS:-----------------------------+
|1) NASA Response to Grant Delays |
|2) Feedback to Planetary Scientists on HST Cycle 10 |
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NOTES FROM THE CHAIR - NASA Grant Delays Being Addressed
Dr. Ed Weiler, Associate Administrator for Space Science at NASA, contacted
me over the weekend to say that he had read every one of your statements
regarding delays in grant notification and funding. He regards the problem
as serious, and has directed Dr. Guenter Riegler, Director of the Research
Program Management Division, and his staff - starting this week - to develop
solutions and options to fix these problems. It is also receiving attention at
the highest levels at Goddard Space Flight Center where grants are processed.
He does not promise immediate relief, but I believe that the current problems
will be resolved very soon.
Weiler has given Riegler carte blanche to bring in a few detailees from JPL
and Ames Research Center for a few months to assist in getting through the
short term issues (which includes, I presume, picking up slack on missions
as more time is devoted to the Research and Analysis grants programs). Weiler
is also calling for scientists interested in serving as an IPA to contact
Riegler ASAP. I strongly urge you to consider answering these calls.
Mark V. Sykes ([email protected])
ADDENDUM:
An IPA (from "Intergovernmental Personnel Act") is typically a temporary
two-year position, renewable for two years, in which a person acts as a
mission program scientist and/or manages one of the grant programs. It is
being used here as a generic term to include scientists at centers, private
organizations, and universities. An IPA must have a Ph.D. or equivalent in a
field of space science relevant to the program area covered by the position.
Experience in related observational and/or instrumental research is desirable.
IPAs are expected to succeed in a demanding work environment and to demonstrate
a high degree of initiative. IPAs should be familiar with NASA's space
science research programs and possess an ability to comminicate effectively
with the scientific community, educators, and the media. Salary is competitive
with senior scientists at universities. Allowances for relocation and travel
expenses and occasional trips to the home institution are included. A modest
amount of time is available for research. To provide a partial offset for time
spent away from research at NASA Headquarters, a "re-entry grant" equivalent
to half of his/her salary will be issued after return to the home instution.
The duration of this grant will equal the time spent at Headquarters.
Contact information for Dr. Riegler is as follows:
Dr. Guenter Riegler
Director, Research Division
Office of Space Science
NASA Headquarters
300 E Street, SW
Washington, DC 20546-0001
Phone: 202-358-1588
Email: [email protected]
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Feedback on HST Cycle 10 to planetary science community from the
solar system review panel (not official views of STSCI).
- We would like to remind the planetary science community that HST
continues to be a well-funded program and a valuable resource for
planetary research. Proposers - new and old - are encouraged to
submit proposals (particularly medium or larger proposals) for new
observations or to study archival data.
- The panel encourages STScI to consider including proposals
concerning extra-solar planets in the solar system panel. This would
balance out the size of review panels and allow comparison of solar
system vs extra-solar observing projects.
- Approximately 1/5 of the proposals were supported in planetary
science, as across astronomy as a whole.
- Proposals need to clearly state the scientific goals, putting them
in the larger context of planetary science and of astronomy as a
whole. Remember that panel members are planetary scientists but may
not be familiar with your area of research.
- The STScI is encouraging larger (>100 orbits) proposals. Since
these are reviewed by the TAC, comprising scientists from across the
spectrum of astronomy, these large proposals need to be particularly
clear in their presentation of the impact of the observations.
- Images do not reproduce well in the proposals. Proposers are
encouraged to put images and preprints on a website which is
referenced in the proposal. Reviewers cannot be obliged to go to such
sites so the proposal should still stand on its own. But, some
reviewers of Cycle 10 would have liked the opportunity to read
unpublished papers referenced in the proposal as well as view higher
quality images.
- The publication record of the proposal team is considered very
seriously. The panel has an impression that planetary scientists
tend to be slower to publish than the rest of astronomy. This impedes
the task of supporting requests for further data.
- Some proposals (particularly ToOs or SNAPs or surveys), where the
data are timely and/or of broad interest, might benefit (in the
review) from having shortened proprietary periods, and proposers
should consider this option seriously.
HST Cycle 10 Solar System Panel
Chair, Fran Bagenal
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Nick Schneider, on behalf of the DPS Committee
(submissions to Al Harris: [email protected])