Optical Astronomy in Australia

Optical Astronomy in Australia- Communication #6

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Welcome to the latest regular update on the implementation of the 2017-18 Budget measure on optical astronomy. This update provides lots of information about opportunities for Australians as part of the strategic partnership with the European Southern Observatory.

Optical Astronomy in Australia - Communication #6

Domestic arrangements

AAO staff consultation
The August departmental visit to Siding Spring Observatory was very productive and a follow-up visit is planned for 10-11 October 2017. Clare McLaughlin, General Manager Science Agencies Governance Branch, and Jemma Markowski from the department’s Optical Astronomy Taskforce will meet with AAT staff and members of the Coonabarabran community. Future visits are being planned – we’ll keep you posted.

Future AAT consortium led by the Australian National University
Dr Markus Kissler-Patig has arrived in Australia to provide independent advice to the ANU, its consortium partners, and the department on options for the future operating model of the AAT. Dr Kissler-Patig spent last week at Siding Spring Observatory and is at the AAO’s North Ryde facilities this week. Thanks to the staff for making Dr Kissler‑Patig welcome and for pulling together all the information he has required.

The Australia-ESO Strategic Partnership

ESO governance bodies
Following an open, self-nominated process conducted by Astronomy Australia Limited (AAL), Australia’s representatives for the ESO Council have been finalised. We congratulate Professor Matthew Colless on his appointment as an expert Astronomer to the ESO Council who will represent Australia alongside the government representative, Deputy Secretary Sue Weston. We look forward to working closely with Matthew over the next three years to progress Australia’s engagement with ESO.

Further, the department has put forward nominations to ESO for Australian astronomers to take up positions on the Users Committee and Scientific Technology Committee. ESO will advise us of the outcome of the nomination process soon. Thanks to AAL for undertaking this process.

ESO Community Days
Last month’s ESO Community Days went extremely well and were attended by more than 100 people. ESO Director for Science, Dr Rob Ivison, and Head of the Observing Programs Office at ESO, Dr Ferdinando Patat, delivered presentations and held one-on-one discussions with astronomers who were considering applying for observing time. I am told that the presentations were extremely useful and also very entertaining.

Nominations for Period 101 have now closed and I have been informed that ESO received 55 applications led by Australian Astronomers. Good luck to all who applied.

For future reference, the AAO has made copies of Dr Ivison’s presentation on ESO facilities and Dr Patat’s presentation on time allocations processes available on its website. To obtain recordings of their presentations, please contact the International Telescope Support Office (ITSO).

                                Don’t forget that Australians are now eligible to apply for ESO jobs (provided, of course, you meet all the other criteria!)
                            

The strategic partnership is about more than observing time
While the ESO Community Days focused on applying for observing time, there are many other opportunities available to Australian astronomers under the strategic partnership.

ESO offers fellowships for early-career scientists at its Headquarters in Garching near Munich, Germany, and at its astronomy centre in Santiago, Chile. It also offers Engineering and Technology Research Fellowships for those looking to play a part in ESO's R&D projects. Applications for all fellowships close on 15 October 2017.
ESO operates a Studentship Programme that offers PhD students, including those enrolled in Australia, to work and study at ESO under the co-supervision of an ESO staff astronomer. Applications close on 15 May and 15 November each year.
ESO has a Scientific Visitor Programme, with visits ranging from weeks to months in either Garching or Santiago. Potential applicants are encouraged to directly contact any ESO staff member or fellow with whom they may wish to collaborate and coordinate their planned visit with them. Applications may be submitted at any time.
ESO organises and sponsors a wide variety of workshops and conferences each year, mainly but not exclusively in Europe. Every March, ESO puts out a call to members of the ESO community to team up with ESO staff and fellows in Chile and/or in Germany.

ESO in the news
Astronomers using ESO’s Very Large Telescope (pictured below) at the Paranal Observatory in Chile have detected the presence of titanium oxide in the atmosphere of a planet 815 light years from earth. This discovery is extremely exciting and bodes well for future exoplanet exploration.

                                Do you have questions about ESO? Dr Devika Kamath of ITSO has worked with ESO’s User Support Department to prepare a set of Frequently Asked Questions about ESO processes.
                            

I will continue to provide you with regular updates over the coming months. Make sure you sign up at the link below to get our mailing list. And remember- if you have specific questions, you can email us directly - details below.

Clare McLaughlin
General Manager
Science Agencies Governance Branch
Science and Commercialisation Policy Division

Department of Industry, Innovation and Science | www.industry.gov.au | www.science.gov.au

Science and Commercialisation Policy Division
The Department of Industry, Innovation and Science

Our mailing address is:
OpticalAstronomy@industry.gov.au

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