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ATNF ATUC MEMORANDUM

To: ATUC
From: Jessica Chapman
Date: 23 November 2005
Subject National Facility Support Report


1. TAC information

TAC statistics and ATNF publications

TAC statistics are provided on the ATNF website at the address
http://www.atnf.csiro.au/observers/tacstats.

ATUC has requested a comparison of the time allocation for proposals with
ATNF PIs and with other Australian PIs.

For the period January 2001 - March 2006, the following statistics apply:

ATCA proposals with ATNF PIs:
83% of submitted proposals were allocated time.
Total time allocated / total time requested = 0.75[1]
Total time requested = 16,781 hours

ATCA proposals with other-Australian PIs:
77% of submitted proposals were allocated time.
Total time allocated / total time requested = 0.65
Total time requested = 11,746 hours

Parkes proposals with ATNF PIs:
94% of submitted proposals were allocated time.
Total time allocated / total time requested = 0.75
Total time requested = 12,396 hours

Parkes proposals with other-Australian PIs:
90% of submitted proposals were allocated time.
Total time allocated / total time requested = 0.85
Total time requested = 10,575 hours

Overall, proposals with PIs from other Australian institutions are almost
as successful at gaining telescope time as proposals with ATNF PIs and this
indicates that the 'quality' of ATNF and non-ATNF Asutralian proposals is
similar. However In 2004 & 2005, ATCA and Parkes proposals with ATNF PIs
requested a considerably larger amount of time than other Australian
proposals and this explains the difference in the time allocation.

Publications

The number of publications for 2005 are not finalised but the total number
of publications appears to be similar to 2004. So far, the publications
database includes 94 refereed publications that include data from ATNF
facilities, and 31 other refereed and published publications that include
ATNF staff. For comparison the number of refereed publications for 2004,
with ATNF data, was 111. The publication numbers for 2005 will be finalised
early in 2006.

Publication numbers for the ATCA, Mopra, Parkes and Tidbinbilla do not
include VLBI papers. However the contribution of the different facilities
to VLBI papers will be included as additional information in the 2005
annual report.

2. OPAL

OPAL (Online Proposal Applications and Links) is a new web-based
application for telescope proposal submissions. OPAL was released on 1
November, after extensive testing for user acceptance and robustness.
Several tutorial and demonstrations on OPAL were held in November and so
far the feedback on OPAL has been very positive. Many suggestions made
during the testing period have been implemented.

All telescope applications for the deadline on 15 December 2005 must be
made using OPAL. OPAL is available at http://opal.atnf.csiro.au. A Users
Guide is also available at this address.

We welcome any feedback on OPAL from ATUC.

3. ATNF outreach and education

In 2006, the ATNF outreach and education will include activities in WA. In
addition to the Parkes teachers Workshop, we will be holding a 2.5-day
teachers workshop in Geraldton around March 2006. This will be held in
collaboration with Scitech and local teachers.

ATNF in conjunction with schools in the Mid West region of WA, Scitech and
Charles Sturt University Remote Telescope has applied for an Australian
Schools Innovation in Science Technology and Mathematics (ASISTM) grant
from DEST. The Expression of Interest was successful and the proposal is
now on the short-list. If successful, ATNF staff will spend time with
schools in remote WA near the Mileura site during 2006. The scheme
"Wildflowers in the Sky" aims to engage students in science through
astronomy. Students will be engaged by hands-on activities and inquiry-
based learning to observe the day and night sky using a range of
technologies from the unaided eye through to remotely controlling
telescopes via the internet. They will actively collaborate with students
in other schools and work with scientists from the ATNF.

As well as the development of the new exhibits and displays at the Narrabri
Visitors Centre, the centre is now showing ViewSpace in the theatrette.
This is a multimedia exhibit for science centres and planetariums developed
by the Space Telescope Science Institute. ViewSpace provides beautiful high
resolution images, movies and animations with interpretive captions that
are regularly updated to incorporate the latest astronomy news.

The ATNF is now also a member of the Star Tec group (State of the Art
Research Telescopes Education Consortium). It allows education and outreach
staff from the major observatories to meet and discuss common issues and
developments and share ideas. Other members include Gemini, Keck, NRAO,
NOAO, SALT and STScI.
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[1] Calculated for all submitted proposals, including those that were not
allocated time.