In 2009, STScI director Matt Mountain appointed the JWST Advisory Committee (JSTAC) to advise the STScI on the Institute's readiness to support science operations with JWST, the implementation of NASA's science policies, and other matters related to the general observer program. Garth Illingworth is the JSTAC Chair. We provide links below to the JSTAC charter and membership. Garth and the members of the JSTAC would welcome comments and concerns from future Webb observers.
Dec 2015: The 12th Meeting of the James Webb Space Telescope Advisory Committee (JSTAC)
The JSTAC met at STScI on Dec 02-03rd 2015. The committee heard updates on the status, schedule, and budget of the JWST program from NASA HQ and GSFC, including a presentation on the mirror integration. STScI presented the committee a complete update on their work for science and flight operations for JWST, including separate presentations related to JWST calibration and pipeline development, data analysis tools, proposal preparation tools, strategy for future workshops and science conferences, planning for the Early Release Science program, and expected Cycle 1 program sizes.
As an outcome of this meeting, the JSTAC recommended forming a JWST Data Processing Working Group to advise the Institute on priorities and development of JWST user tools. The group will be chaired by JSTAC member B. Abraham, and will include JSTAC, STScI, and broader community members. A letter was submitted to the STScI Director by the JSTAC on Dec 22nd 2015 regarding the formation of the working group and its charter.
A letter was submitted to the STScI Director by the JSTAC on Feb 17th 2016 regarding the committee’s recommendation for STScI to release the new JWST Exposure Time Calculator to the scientific community as soon as possible.
May 2015: The 11th Meeting of the James Webb Space Telescope Advisory Committee (JSTAC)
The JSTAC met at STScI on May 21-22nd 2015. The committee heard updates on the status, schedule, and budget of the JWST program from NASA HQ and GSFC. STScI presented the committee a comprehensive update on their work for science and flight operations for JWST, including separate presentations on activities related to engaging the science community on JWST, data analysis tools, planning for the Early Release Science program, and the E/PO landscape. NASA Astrophysics Director Paul Hertz also gave the community an update on the status of the Astrophysics program and current/future work to plan for the next Decadal Survey.
A letter was submitted to the STScI Director by the JSTAC on May 22nd 2015 regarding the committee’s recommendation for the level of GO grant funding for JWST data analysis. The letter includes a report from a subcommittee of the JSTAC outlining both top-down and bottoms-up approaches to derive the amount of funding.
Dec 2014: The 10th Meeting of the James Webb Space Telescope Advisory Committee (JSTAC)
The JSTAC met at STScI on Dec 03-04th 2014. The committee heard updates on the status, schedule, and budget of the JWST program from NASA HQ and GSFC, including an update on CV2 and the sunshield. STScI also presented the committee a comprehensive update on JWST data analysis tools, an approach for setting categories of proposals for JWST Cycle 1, ideas on shaping the format of an Early Release Science program, and a general update on the status of the Science and Operations Center.
A letter was submitted to the STScI Director by the JSTAC on Jan 07th, 2015 regarding the committee's recommendation for parallel science observations on JWST.
April 2014: The 9th Meeting of the James Webb Space Telescope Advisory Committee (JSTAC)
The JSTAC met at STScI and GSFC on Apr 29-30th 2014. During the first day of the meeting at STScI, the JSTAC heard presentations from STScI on the FY14 budget, an overview of the Science and Operations Center, activities happening under Project Science for JWST, a presentation on the science capability of parallel observations with JWST, and a number of policy discussions related to grant administration, duplications, observing overheads, and the JWST proposal planning system. During the second day of the meeting at GSFC, the JSTAC heard presentations from the GSFC Program Manager and the Senior Project Scientist for JWST, as well as updates on the Observatory and Commissioning from GSFC Project Scientists. The committee also had a tour of the GSFC facilities.
A letter was submitted to the STScI Director by the JSTAC on Nov 30th, 2014 regarding the committee's recommendations on a number of areas that impact operations for JWST. These include, 1.) How observing overheads are charged, 2.) How the grant funding levels are established and how grant funding will be issued to the community, 3.) The methodology for reviewing and selecting proposals, and 4.) developing the duplication policy.
April 2014 Update
A presentation was made by the Chair of the JWST Advisory Committee (JSTAC), Garth Illingworth, at the JWST Science Working Group meeting on April 01st, 2014. The presentation was focused on the JSTAC's recommendations for maximizing the science reward from JWST. It included a discussion of JWST's Early Release Science Program, Community Fields, and recommendation for shorter default proprietary time on all JWST GO observations. The foot note with ** on Slides 29 and 31 were added after the presentation, based on comments from the SWG.
A second presentation was given to the SWG by JSTAC member Lisa Storrie-Lombardi, on 'Science Planning for a Limited Lifetime Mission – Spitzer Experience'.
In addition to the presentation, two letters (see below) from the November 2013 JSTAC meeting summarize their recommendation on these topics.
Nov 2013: The 8th Meeeting of the James Webb Space Telescope Advisory Committee (JSTAC)
The JSTAC met at STScI on Nov 21-22nd 2013. During the meeting, the NASA HQ Acting Program Director, the GSFC Program Manager, and the Senior Project Scientist for JWST each presented updates on the Program budget, schedule, status, and Science Working Group activities. STScI also presented several talks on the status of community interaction initiatives, ongoing work on building data simulations, and the overall readiness of the Science and Operations Center. The Science Mission Office at STScI shared with the committee some ideas on JWST observing cycles, different types of potential proposal categories, and the Early Release Science program and asked the committee for advice on these topics.
A letter was submitted to the STScI Director by the JSTAC on March 31st, 2014 regarding the committee's recommendation for JWST Early Release Science and Community Fields.
A letter was submitted to the STScI Director by the JSTAC on March 31st, 2014 regarding the committee's recommendation for JWST proprietary period for GO observations.
July 2013 Update
A presentation was made by the Chair of the JWST Advisory Committee (JSTAC), Garth Illingworth, and JSTAC member Brad Peterson to the JWST Science Working Group on July 22nd, 2013. The presentation summarizes JSTAC recommendations for shorter proprietary time periods for JWST observations, to maximize the scientific return from the mission.
May 2013: The 7th Meeeting of the James Webb Space Telescope Advisory Committee (JSTAC)
The JSTAC met at STScI on May 08-09th 2013. The meeting included updates to the committee from NASA HQ, GSFC, and STScI, on the program status and budget, project science, status of the S&OC, and plans for JWST's early release science program and data analysis tools. There was also a discussion of JWST grant funding needs, proprietary time, and lessons learned from previous large missions.
A letter was submitted to the STScI Director by the JSTAC on July 28th, 2013, concerning the committee's recommendation for the level of GO funding during JWST science operations.
December 2012: The 6th meeting of the James Webb Space Telescope Advisory Committee (JSTAC)
The JSTAC met at STScI on Dec 10-11th 2012. Several presentations were given, including the status of STScI's readiness for science operations, proactive outreach strategies, SODRM update, and much more. Action items were collected for the next meeting, which will occur in May 2013.
May 2012: The 5th Meeting of the James Webb Space Telescope Advisory Committee (JSTAC)
A webex JSTAC meeting was held on May 18th to review the status of JWST. Presentations were given by NASA HQ, the STScI Directorate, and the JWST Mission Office at STScI.
February 2012 Update
This letter from the JSTAC was sent to Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State, U.S. Department of State and Dr. John P. Holdren, Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy, Executive Office of the President of the United States, and was copied to the cc list on page 3 of the letter.
June 1-2, 2011:The 4th Meeting of the James Webb Space Telescope Advisory Committee (JSTAC)
The JSTAC met at STScI on June 1 and 2 to review development status.
December 1-2, 2010: The 3rd Meeting of the James Webb Space Telescope Advisory Committee (JSTAC)
The 3rd meeting of the JSTAC was held at the STScI on Dec.1-2, 2010. The committee reviewed the recommendations of the ICRP report and NASA's response from Eric Smith and the new Project Manager, Bill Ochs. NASA and STScI scientists presented reports on the primary mirror development and outreach to the astronomical community.
Letter to Dr. J. P. Holdren, Director of the Office of Science and Technology
May 27-28, 2010: The 2nd Meeting of the James Webb Space Telescope Advisory Committee (JSTAC)
The 2nd meeting of the JSTAC was held at the STScI on May 27-28, 2010. The committee reviewed the considerable progress in both the JWST Project and the SOC development since the meeting in November. It also considered ways to provide science data to the community early in mission in order to maximize Webb's lifetime productivity over its nominal lifetime.
JSTAC Letter on Legacy Science
November 4-5, 2009: The 1st Meeting of the James Webb Space Telescope Advisory Committee (JSTAC)
The 1st meeting of the JSTAC appointed by Matt Mountain was held at the STScI on November 4-5, 2009. In addition to hearing briefings on the technical and scientific progress of the project, the JSTAC discussed and made recommendations on the NASA science policies and their implementation. The JSTAC will meet semi-annually to advise on the Institute's readiness to conduct the Webb science mission.