The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) aims to construct the deepest, widest image of the Universe ever produced. Following commissioning in 2021/22 it will conduct a ten year survey of the sky using a specially designed 8.4 m diameter telescope in Chile with an extremely wide field of view. In 2015, CAASTRO and the LSST Corporation signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) to allow a named list of Australian Principal Investigators (PIs) to access survey data from the LSST.  AAL has now novated the agreement and represents Australian astronomers wishing to participate in the LSST project.
 
Participation under this program costs USD(2013)$20,000 per PI per year over a 10-year period. There is also an additional data access fee. While AAL has not committed to funding Australia’s LSST participation, it will help coordinate the Australian PIs as they seek to secure funds for access to LSST, primarily expected to be through ARC LIEF and university grants. The original MoA allowed for 10 named PIs, each of whom can have four associated junior researchers who will also have rights to LSST data. AAL seeks to refresh the current list of named PIs via this open call for nominations. Applicants should in general be established senior researchers, with the ability to lead a small team of junior researchers within their institution. Demonstrated involvement with LSST science and/or survey management experience is highly desirable.
 
If you consider yourself well placed to contribute to this LSST engagement and development of a LIEF bid for submission in early 2019, via your expertise, ideas, and experience, please email applications@astronomyaustralia.org.au with a maximum three page application comprising:

• a covering letter describing your expertise relevant to LSST science and the science you wish to do with the LSST;
• a brief CV including grants awarded;
• a statement of intent to seek monetary support for the LIEF bid from your institution.

 
In addition AAL will appoint one PI as the “Australian Science Lead” to lead the Australian engagement with LSST and coordinate the LIEF bid. Should you wish to be considered for the Australian Science Lead role, you should include an additional statement indicating two or more of:

• Demonstrated leadership within LSST science and/or governance networks.
• Demonstrated leadership within a key LSST science area.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate large funding applications.

 
In considering applications, AAL will first consider appointment to the Australian Science Lead role. The successful candidate for that role will be invited to have input into the remainder of the PI refresh process.
 
AAL is committed to equity and diversity and encourages applications from all interested candidates with relevant expertise and skills. ​AAL will also endeavour to maximise engagement across Australian institutions in this process, but please note, as AAL is not directly funding Australian LSST access, there may be limitations to this consideration.
 
Please do not hesitate to contact AAL if you have any questions regarding this process:
 
Mita Brierley, Senior Program Manager
Stuart Ryder, Program Manager
 
Applications close on Friday 5th October 2018, 5 PM AEST. Late applications will not be accepted.

AAL and the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science are pleased to announce the launch of the Australian ESO Forum. This Forum is intended to enhance the flow of information and ideas among experienced and prospective Australian users of ESO facilities and data. Here users can find:

• Answers to several Frequently Asked Questions from new ESO users.
• Blog postings from Australia's representatives on ESO committees, and other ESO users.
• An overview of what ESO offers and how to apply. The next Call for Proposals in Period 103 is due to be issued at the start of September.
• A summary of Australian proposal statistics and allocations to date. Did you know that Australian-led proposals were awarded more than 8% of the available VLT time in the current Period 101?
• An “ESO Collaboratory” where users can post ideas for new ESO proposals, seek out collaborators, and/or offer to join these projects.
  
• A list of all recent and upcoming ESO-related events in Australia, including the first Australia-ESO Joint Conference on “Linking galaxies from the epoch of initial star formation to today” from 18-22 Feb 2019 in Sydney, for which registration is now open.
  
• The latest Tweets from @ESO.
  

 
RSS feeds are available for the ESO blogs and Collaboratory, so users can keep up to date with the latest postings. All members of the Australian astronomy community are welcome and encouraged to post comments and questions, and guest blog posts are welcome. Please contact eso-forum@astronomyaustralia.org.au with any contributions and suggestions.

Applications close on Wednesday 29th August 5 PM AWST.

On behalf of the Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT) Council, Astronomy Australia Limited (AAL) seeks applications for the AAT Time Allocation Committee and AAT Users’ Committee (AATUC).  These two committees are continuations of the Australian Time Allocation Committee and AAO Users’ Committee respectively, previously managed by the Australian Astronomical Observatory. Their operation is expected to largely remain similar to those of their predecessors.
 
ATAC will meet twice a year in person, with the next meeting scheduled for early November. AATUC will meet twice a year via videoconferencing, with the next meeting scheduled for mid-October.
 
If you consider yourself well placed to contribute to one of these committees via your expertise, ideas, and experience, please email applications@astronomyaustralia.org.au with a maximum three page application with:

•  a covering letter describing your expertise relevant to the committee terms of reference
• a brief CV
• any relevant conflicts of interest.

AAL is committed to equity and diversity and encourages applications from all interested candidates with relevant expertise and skills.

​Please do not hesitate to contact AAL if you have any questions regarding these committees:

Mita Brierley, Senior Program Manager
Mark McAuley, CEO


Applications close on Wednesday 29th August 5 PM AWST. Late applications will not be accepted.

More details may be downloaded below:
​

The Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) Organisation have announced the release of the 2018 Science Book describing GMT’s strengths and its potential for scientific discovery.
The book describes the transformative impact that GMT will have on areas spanning observational astrophysics—from exoplanets around neighboring stars to the formation of the first, most distant stars, galaxies, and black holes in the universe. It also describes the GMT itself, explaining its unique design and capabilities, including the first-generation instrument suite that has been chosen to maximize the GMT’s scientific impact during early operations.

​The Science Book can be downloaded in pdf format from the GMTO website.

AAL is very pleased to announce the launch of its Science Advisory and Project Oversight Committees.

In order to make informed decisions about the best way to invest in astronomy infrastructure, the AAL Board relies upon strategic and technical advice from its advisory committees. AAL has adopted a new structure for these committees, with effect from July 2018. Four pre-existing advisory committees were dissolved, and two new committees created.

The AAL Science Advisory Committee (ASAC), to be chaired by Professor John Lattanzio of Monash University, will be responsible for providing strategic advice to the board on questions surrounding the infrastructure required to answer the key science questions in the decadal plan. Further details on the committee and its membership can be found here.

​The AAL Project Oversight Committee (APOC), to be chaired by Dr Katrina Sealey of AAO-Macquarie, has responsibility for undertaking regular evaluations of AAL funded projects. Further details on the committee and its membership can be found here.

AAL is delighted to be partnering with Macquarie University, the Australian National University and the University of Sydney, to form Australian Astronomical Optics (AAO) - a collaborative national capability in optical instrumentation. The combined capability will strengthen Australia's bids for large international contracts at leading observatories world-wide. AAL will support the new AAO through a $20million commitment of astronomy NCRIS funds over 4 years.

From the 1st July 2018, Macquarie University has taken on the capability of the Australian Astronomical Observatory's instrumentation group, which previously sat within the Australian Government Department of Industry, Innovation and Science. For further details of the transfer of the old AAO instrumentation capability to Macquarie, and the newly established national AAO capability, see the Macquarie media release.

These new arrangements, along with those for operations of the AAT, are part of an Australian Government package announced in the May 2017 Federal Budget: Maintaining Australia's Optical Astronomy Capability. This package includes a 10-year strategic partnership with the European Southern Observatory (ESO), which gives Australian astronomers access to ESO facilities in Chile, including the four 8.2m-diameter telescopes of the Very Large Telescope.

AAL is delighted to announce the establishment of the AAT Consortium. The Consortium, which includes thirteen Australian universities and managed by AAL, will fund and oversee operations of the 3.9m Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT) from July 2018. 

Located at the Siding Spring Observatory, the AAT is Australia's largest optical telescope, and currently operated by the Australian Astronomical Observatory (AAO). It has been instrumental to Australian optical astronomy over the past 40 years, and a suite of world-class instruments will continue to see it undertaking competitive science in the coming years.
​
The new arrangements for AAT operations are part of an Australian Government package announced in the May 2017 Federal Budget: Maintaining Australia's Optical Astronomy Capability. This package includes a 10-year strategic partnership with the European Southern Observatory (ESO), which gives Australian astronomers access to ESO facilities in Chile, including the four 8.2m-diameter telescopes of the Very Large Telescope.

The AAT Consortium will be governed by the AAT Council, with representation from all of the contributing university partners. AAL will act as Manager of the Consortium, with the telescope to be operated by the Australian National University. 

The AAT Consortium includes: The Australian National University (operator), The University of New South Wales, The University of Sydney, Macquarie University, Western Sydney University, The University of Melbourne, Swinburne University, Monash University, The University of Queensland, The University of Southern Queensland, Curtin University, The University of Tasmania and The University of Western Australia, with AAL as Consortium Manager.

See also: ANU media release (external link)

We are delighted to announce the recruitment of Dr Stuart Ryder to AAL. Stuart brings to the AAL team a decade of experience as Head of the AAO’s International Telescopes Support Office. He has also been a prolific user of major optical telescopes including Gemini, Keck, Subaru and ESO’s Very Large Telescope. Stuart will commence employment with AAL as a program manager in the Sydney office from the 2nd July 2018.

Astronomy Australia Limited (AAL) seeks applications for its Science Advisory and Project Oversight Committees.  These two new committees are expected to hold their first meetings in August 2018, and will replace AAL’s four existing advisory committees.
​
If you consider yourself well placed to contribute to one of these committees via your expertise, ideas, and experience, please email applications@astronomyaustralia.org.au with a maximum three page application with:

•  a covering letter describing your expertise relevant to the committee terms of reference
• a brief CV
• any relevant conflicts of interest.

AAL is committed to equity and diversity and encourages applications from all interested candidates with relevant expertise and skills.

​Please do not hesitate to contact AAL if you have any questions regarding these committees:

Mark McAuley, CEO, 03 9214 8036;
James Murray, Senior Program Manager, 03 9214 8426;
Mita Brierley, Senior Program Manager, 02 9850 6371

Applications close on Tuesday 19th June 5 PM AWST. Late applications will not be accepted.

More details may be downloaded below