Minutes of first PATH2KSA telecon 26 May 2008 ============================== (1) Attendees: Paul Alexander (Cambridge), Rainer Beck (MPIfR), Leonid Gurvits + Zsolt Paragi (JIVE), Aris Karastergiou (Oxford), Francois Levrier (Oxford), Garrelt Melma (Stockholm), Tom Osterloo (ASTRON), Steve Rawlings (Oxford), Mario Santos (Lisbon). Roberto Scaramella (Rome) , Ben Stappers (Manchester), Wim van Driel (Paris) Apologies: Michael Kramer (Manchester), Thijs van der Hulst (Groningen), Huib van Langevelde (2) The Path2SKA project is being developed as a Marie Curie FP7 Initial Training Network. The closing date will be 2 September 2008, so we need to get organised soon. SR will be gathering together material on http://www-astro.physics.ox.ac.uk/~sr/Path2SKA.html The aims and progress of PATH2SKA will be monitored by the European SKA Consortium, of which TvdH is chair and WvD and SR are co-chairs. Attendees were encouraged to read http://www.ukro.ac.uk/mariecurie/application_info/guides/2008/080404_itn_guide.pdf Themes. Training PhD students to be future SKA radio astronomers with direct experience with pathfinders and direct contact with industry. Develop European cohesion and impact in pathfinder science and the SKA, and exploit industry. Size. 6-10 partners is recommended for large programmes. Once we have industrial partners, we are likely to be larger. This means groups must be keen and active if they are to participate. GM noted a 12-partner proposal they previously submitted was criticisd for having too many partners. Anyway, we are large enough to go for the top end of the allowed range of money, i.e. 4.5-million Euros. Must employ mainly (at least 80% in staff months). Early Stage researchers (ESRs) --- first 4 years of research career. (up to 5 years sometimes OK, but pre-PhD). Some more senior scientists allowed. Durations, 4 years. Spans time from pathfinders to phase-1 SKA, assuming 2009 start for Path2SKA. 36months for ESRs. 24 months for ERs. ACTION. Institute representatives to confirm willingness to participate in PATH2SKA via an email to SR. (3) There will be critical external partners: SPDO, Pathfinder projects etc. These need to be brought into the loop as quickly as possible. Full partners can get resources etc: associated partners can host our people on secondment. FULL involvement of industry, means they will need some of the resource, and count towards the total number of partners. ACTION. SR to contact Richard Schilizzi, and pathfinders identified below. (4) Are there clashes/synergies with other proposals? Maybe targetted initiatives for LOFAR and EVN. GM noted there might be an ITN on "early cosmic structure + reionization (EOR)", including Groningen (Ger), thought to be led by Ilian Iliev (moving form Zurich to Sofia). None of these look like showstoppers for us. (5) Proposed Draft Structure WP1 Management ============== The group on this telecon provides de facto management at this point, Need to have proper management. <0.5 million Euros. WP2 Science Exploitation of SKA Pathfinders ============================ Rough budget ~1million Euros. Projects that should definitely be appoached. WSRT/Apertif eVN LOFAR MeerKAT ASKAP eMERLIN GMRT Others to be considered Embrace/2PAD/AAVS. MWA LWA FAST Secondments important to non-European partners. ACTION. SR to contact definite pathfinders to gauge interest. WP3 Science Simulation for SKA ==================== Rough budget ~1million Euros. Essentially continuation of SKADS DS2-T1 sky simulations, and SKADS DS2-T2 data simulations. This can include algorithmic development (as can linked activity in WP4 - knowledge transfer). Dividing lines between PREPSKA and PATH2SKA activity in these areas must be clear, but as one is postdoc work, and one PhD students this may be relatively straightforward - Path2SKA research should not be on critical path of SKA project. WP4 Knowledge Transfer ====================== Rough budget ~1.5million Euros Various possibilities from giant international corporations to University Spin-offs were discussed. Will need one or two face-to-face meetings with potential industrial partners. Mention of science journalism: GM mentioned this appeared a negative factor in previous submission. WP5 Networking + Outreach (including conferences etc) =================================== Rough budget ~0.5million Euros. Needs more careful reading of notes, and possibly discussions with EC to determine what is most useful here. Workshops? Conferences? Public Outreach? Other aspects of training not directly related to the research element, ACTION. All institutes, please email SR names from institute for participation in each WP. Then SR will distribute this information so working groups can form and organise themselves. ACTION on all. Make definite suggestions as to industrial partners to WP4 Working Group once it is formed. (6) AOB None Next meeting. In ~1month