A report on the planning of Geraldton 2003
(December 2001)
1. Background
Note: The inputs provided by past Workshop chairpersons,
Working Group chairpersons and the LOC are gratefully acknowledged.
The 2003 SKA International Workshop will be held in Geraldton, Western Australia,
from Tuesday 29 July to Friday 1 August, i.e. immediately following the IAU
General Assembly in Sydney, New South Wales.
Geraldton, Western Australia, has a population of 25,000, and is 400 km north
of Perth on the Indian Ocean; access is by a one-hour plane journey from
Perth. Plane travel between Sydney and Perth takes about five hours.
A Local Organising Committee (LOC) has been formed as follows:
Mr. Graeme Baesjou (CEO, Mid West Development Commission), located at Geraldton
Western Australian Government representative (tbd)
Dr. Jamie Biggs, (Director, Perth Observatory)
Ms. Felicity Mitchell (Project Manager, Mid West Development Commission),
located at Geraldton
Dr. Bruce Thomas (CSIRO)
It is recommended that the Scientific Organising Committee previously used
in planning former Workshops be replaced by a Workshop Planning Committee
(WPC) given that the Workshop is likely to concentrate on the details of
technical, scientific, site and other critical planning issues. It is further
recommended that the WPC consist of:
- Working Group Chairpersons (3)
- Executive Secretary, ISSC
- Past Chairpersons, SKA Workshops and/or ISSC members
(2)
In addition, it is proposed that an Australian scientific representative
(currently Dr. Michelle Storey) liaise between the LOC and WPC on a "day-to-day"
basis.
The Mid West Development Commission is preparing to book the accommodation
for the Workshop in mid February. Any comments which could affect the numbers
and types of rooms to be booked is requested before that date.
2. Form of Workshop
(a) Given that the Workshop follows directly after the
IAU meeting, and that by 2003, many of the key scientific, technology and
costing issues will need to be discussed in considerable depth, it is assumed
that Geraldton 2003 should concentrate on the activities of the Working Groups
and to aim to resolve key costing and long-term planning issues.
(b) The concept of having half the Working Groups operating
at any one time seemed to function well at Berkeley 2001, and is considered
an optimum arrangement. This would mean 3 (or possibly 4) operating at any
one time, so that each participant could be involved in two Working Groups.
Therefore, the total number of Working Groups is divided into two "Clusters"
such that each Cluster consists of a diverse set of Working Groups to maximise
participation.
(c) A preliminary schedule has been drawn up (see Annex)
based on the above requirements. Note that several meeting rooms will be
tentatively booked for the morning of Day 5 if required by the ISSC.
(d) It is not clear from the input provided to date whether
a room needs to be allocated for posters; perhaps posters can be used in
association with discussions of the specific Working Groups.
3. Maximum number of participants and conference accommodation
Jodrell Bank 2000 had 60 participants and Berkeley 2001 had 130. Given that
the IAU meeting in Sydney will likely cover many general aspects of astronomy
relevant to the SKA, the number attending Geraldton 2003 could be between
60 and 100. There is one hotel in the centre of Geraldton, which has the
following facilities:
• Large room - theatre style, seating 100
• Conference rooms - 4 off with seating between 20 and
30.
This would appear to be optimum to meet our requirements.
We will also need to provide for placing of posters, and provision of office
facilities (typing, copying, etc.), and several small rooms for separate
discussions
Felicity Mitchell (MWDC)
Michelle Storey (CSIRO)
Bruce Thomas (CSIRO)
(on behalf of Geraldton 2003 LOC)
Annex
An indicative program for general planning purposes
Day Time Activity
Tuesday (29 July) 09:00 - 10:30 Overview:
Reports of Working Groups (Auditorium)
10:30 - 11:15 Coffee, tea and scones
11:15 - 12:30 Schedule of SKA planning
(ISSC and Project Office), (Auditorium)
12:30 -13:30 Light lunch (provided)
13:30 - 15:00 Working Groups (Cluster
1) - preliminary meetings
15:00 - 15:45 Coffee, tea and profiteroles
15:45 - 17:15 Working Groups (Cluster
2) - preliminary meetings
18:30 -22:30 Workshop Dinner with invited
speaker
Wednesday (30 July) 09:00 - 12:30 Working
Groups (Cluster 1) (Coffee, tea and scones provided as required between 09:30
- 11:30)
12:30 - 13:30 Light lunch (provided)
13:30 - 17:00 Working Groups (Cluster
2) (Coffee, tea and profiteroles provided as required between 15:00 - 16:30)
Thursday (31 July ) 08:45 - 10:15 Working
Groups (Cluster 1)
10:15 - 11:00 Coffee, tea and scones
11:00 - 12:30 Working Groups (Cluster
2)
12:30 - 13:30 Light lunch (provided)
15:00 - Organised tour: fly participants
to typical station to view station life, with BBQ etc. (eg. Wooleen Station)
Wrap-up day
Friday (1 August) 09:00 - 10:30 Conclusions
of Working Groups (Cluster 1) - Auditorium
10:30 -11:15 Coffee, tea and scones
11:15 - 12:30 Conclusions of Working
Groups (Cluster 2) - Auditorium
12:30 -13:30 Light lunch (provided)
13:30 - 15:30 Action Plans for technical,
budgeting, political activities including priorities for national effort.
16:55 Flight to Perth (or stay overnight
for self-organised tours)
Saturday (2 August) 09:00 - 13:00 Reserved
for ISSC, etc.