Prof. Mike Kelley recently asked for a meeting with Cornell President David Skorton, a meeting which subsequently occurred on Monday, August 27, to discuss the Arecibo situation from a near earth space science perspective.  The President invited Joe Burns (Vice Provost for Physical Science & Engineering); Robert Richardson (Senior Science Advisor to the Provost and President); Bob Buhrman; (Vice Provost for Research) and Steve Johnson (Vice President for Government and Community Relations). Prof. Emeritus Don Farley also attended.  Topics on the table were as follows:

On the importance of the Arecibo Observatory (AO) to near Earth Space Science, both Space Weather and Near Earth Asteroid/Planetary Studies, at Cornell University—the non-(classical) Astronomy Faculty

On the fact that Arecibo is the world’s most powerful scientific radar, has unique capabilities of national importance and will never be duplicated — once gone it is gone forever 

On the fate of the most successful K-12 and teacher education center at any NSF facility

On the impact of de-commissioning on the people working at and living near Arecibo

On the original agreement concerning the Operations and Management portion of the Arecibo budget

On our perception that Cornell University is not doing enough to counter the NSF Astronomy Division’s plan

Some efforts we perceive to be needed immediately

Mike and Don came away from the meeting feeling much more satisfied with Cornell’s efforts and plans for the future.  The President is ready and eager at any time deemed appropriate to take the case to the highest levels at NSF.  For reasons not entirely clear to Mike and Don, it has been thought thus far that this might do more harm than good.  But this position seems to be changing and some significant high level effort will occur this fall for sure.  Our ideas were respected and President Skorton asked us to provide him with a tutorial on radar as an upper atmospheric tool.  Vice President Johnson promised to provide input to our community concerning key people whom we can contact and who might be able to help.