[ASA] ESO Scientific Technical Committee - Nominations for new appointment 2021-2023

Wed Sep 16 08:40:11 AEST 2020

Call for Nominations to the ESO Scientific Technical Committee   

Applications close Friday 2 October 2020, 7 PM AEST (5 PM AWST). Late applications will not be accepted.

Under the Strategic Partnership between Australia and ESO, Australia is entitled to representation on four ESO governance bodies: The ESO Council, Finance Committee (FC), Scientific Technical Committee (STC), and Users Committee (UC). The Australian Government and AAL seek to ensure strong engagement between the astronomy community and ESO, so that Australia’s astronomy community can make the most of this unprecedented 10-year scientific partnership and meet the goals of the Decadal Plan for Australian Astronomy 2016-2025. 

Australia’s inaugural Observer to the ESO STC, A/Prof. Michael Ireland (ANU), has decided that he will not continue to a second three-year appointment to this role, upon the conclusion of his current appointment at the end of 2020. The Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources acknowledges A/Prof. Ireland for his service in representing the interests of the Australian astronomy community on the STC since 2017, and for the expert, objective advice and insights he has provided in the critical establishment phase of the Australia-ESO Strategic Partnership. 

The Department has asked AAL to invite Australian astronomers to self‑nominate for this role, using the attached cover sheet. The deadline for nominations by e-mail to applications at astronomyaustralia.org.au <mailto:applications at astronomyaustralia.org.au>  is 7pm AEST (5pm AWST) on Friday 2 October 2020. On receipt of nominations, AAL will conduct an internal merit-based short-listing process and will advise the Department on the three most suitable candidates for the STC representative role. At its meeting on 1-2 December 2020, the ESO Council will consider the candidates and select the Australian Observer to the STC, based on candidates’ merits and ESO’s need to ensure adequate coverage of relevant astronomical techniques and disciplines on each Committee. ESO would especially welcome expertise in the areas listed below, as these are currently the most pressing skills sought by the STC:  

*        Interferometry and Adaptive Optics (AO) at optical/IR wavelengths

*        Innovative operational models

*	data archiving
*	cosmology 

*        Mid-IR astrophysics, particularly relating to the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT)

Australia’s Observer to the STC will be appointed for a term of three (3) years, with the possibility of reappointment for a further three-year term. The selected representative must be available to attend all STC meetings during their appointment term, starting from the first STC meeting of 2021, expected to be in around mid-April 2021 (to be confirmed), and under usual circumstances would be held at ESO Headquarters, Garching, Germany. There is no remuneration associated with participation on the ESO governing bodies. However, ESO covers reasonable travel and accommodation expenses for the Australian STC Observer to attend the meetings of the STC. 

Australia’s representatives on ESO governing bodies also participate as ex officio members on the Australia-ESO Coordinating Group, convened by the Department to ensure Australia presents a consistent, collaborative, and broadly representative position in its engagement with ESO governance bodies as a whole, and the ESO Council in particular. This Group meets up to four times per year, with most attendees participating by video link. Members engage with the astronomy community to ensure that its views are considered by the Group in advising on Australia’s position on matters relating to the ESO Strategic Partnership. 

Enquiries about this position can be directed to AAL Program Manager Dr Stuart Ryder: Stuart.Ryder at astronomyaustralia.org.au <mailto:Stuart.Ryder at astronomyaustralia.org.au> .

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