[ASA] SKA science update for ASA members

[John O'Byrne]

Dear ASA Members
 
SKA Science Update
 
One of the aims of the ANZSCC Science Advisory Committee (SAC) is to improve our communication within the Australian astronomical community. As SAC chair, I would like to take this opportunity to provide a set of updates on a few recent SKA happenings and invite your input/responses. 
 
1.     Summary of the SKA Key Science Projects (KSP) workshop (by Jill Rathborne, CSIRO) 
 
In August 2015, ~120 international astronomers met in Stockholm, Sweden to begin discussions around SKA Key Science Projects (KSPs). The principle aims of this workshop were to aid and facilitate the development of potential KSP concepts and collaborations, and to explore commensality between different science areas. The workshop was the first in a planned series that will likely occur approximately annually. The intention is that these workshops will build toward a call for Letters of Intent for KSPs around 2018. Sixteen astronomers participated from Australian and New Zealand.
 
CASS recently hosted an informal meeting for the Australian community to summarise this workshop and to provide a forum for discussion. The program and links to slides can be found here: http://www.atnf.csiro.au/research/workshops/2015/ASKAPEarlyScience/Program.html <http://www.atnf.csiro.au/research/workshops/2015/ASKAPEarlyScience/Program.html>.
 
A document containing short summaries of the discussions held within several of the Science Working Groups (SWGs) can be found at http://www.ska.gov.au/science/Documents/2015-10-09-SKA_KSP_workshop-Summary.pdf <http://www.ska.gov.au/science/Documents/2015-10-09-SKA_KSP_workshop-Summary.pdf>
 
 
2.     Online Australian/NZ science content on www.ska.gov.au <http://www.ska.gov.au/> (by Jerry Skinner, Australian SKA Project Office)
 
 
As part of our commitment to keeping the Australian scientific community up to date on SKA developments, we have made some improvements to the online content available at www.ska.gov.au <http://www.ska.gov.au/science>.
 
The Science section (www.ska.gov.au/science <http://www.ska.gov.au/science>) of the site now provides clearer information about the SKA science priorities (through the recent SKA science book), updates readers on SAC activities and lists the SKA science working groups and their Australian members (with a view to encouraging greater collaboration).
 
In addition, an ‘SKA Science’ email address SKA.Science at industry.gov.au <mailto:SKA.Science at industry.gov.au> has been set up to allow people to ask specific science-based questions. If you have a ‘scientific’ query about the SKA or SKA research in Australia/NZ, send an email to this address and the Australian SKA Office and SAC Chair will determine who we think the best person (in science, government or industry) might be and seek a response. Note: please allow a reasonable time period for us to connect you with the right person. 
 
This site is under continuous improvement: suggestions for additional content or other useful links are welcome and should be made to jerry.skinner at industry.gov.au <mailto:jerry.skinner at industry.gov.au>

3.     Next ANZSCC SAC meeting: 6 November 2015 – Professor Carole Jackson, ANZSCC SAC Chair

The next SAC meeting will be on 6 November 2015 at ICRAR-Curtin. Key items on the agenda include:
The next ‘OzSKA’ meeting
Efforts to encourage the SKA SWGs to hold key meetings in Australia, and perhaps even the next KSP workshop
Ongoing communications & updates in the Aus/NZ SKA community
 
The SAC welcomes input from the community regarding SKA science strategy and is always open to suggestions for topics that ANZSCC should consider.
 
Carole Jackson
ANZSCC SAC Chair
 
Professor Carole Jackson
Professor, Radio Astronomy & WA Premier’s Fellow
International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR)

Street Address
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Email |carole.jackson at curtin.edu.au <mailto:carole.jackson at curtin.edu.au>
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