Investing for Discovery and Sustainability in Astronomy in the 2020s. (arXiv:1901.08605v1 [astro-ph.IM])
<a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Najita_J/0/1/0/all/0/1">Joan R. Najita</a>
As the next decade approaches, it is once again time for the US astronomical
community to assess its investment priorities for the coming decade on the
ground and in space. This report, created to aid NOAO in its planning for the
2020 Decadal Survey on Astronomy and Astrophysics, reviews the outcome of the
previous Decadal Survey (Astro2010); describes the themes that emerged from the
2018 NOAO community planning workshop “NOAO Community Needs for Science in the
2020s”; and based on the above, offers thoughts for the coming review. We find
that a balanced set of investments in small- to large-scale initiatives is
essential to a sustainable future, based on the experience of previous decades.
While large facilities are the “value” investments that are guaranteed to
produce compelling science and discoveries, smaller facilities are the “growth
stocks” that are likely to deliver the biggest science bang per buck, sometimes
with outsize returns. Investments in data-intensive missions also have benefits
to society beyond the science they deliver. By training scientists who are well
equipped to use their data science skills to solve problems in the public or
private sector, astronomy can provide a valuable service to society by
contributing to a data-capable workforce.
As the next decade approaches, it is once again time for the US astronomical
community to assess its investment priorities for the coming decade on the
ground and in space. This report, created to aid NOAO in its planning for the
2020 Decadal Survey on Astronomy and Astrophysics, reviews the outcome of the
previous Decadal Survey (Astro2010); describes the themes that emerged from the
2018 NOAO community planning workshop “NOAO Community Needs for Science in the
2020s”; and based on the above, offers thoughts for the coming review. We find
that a balanced set of investments in small- to large-scale initiatives is
essential to a sustainable future, based on the experience of previous decades.
While large facilities are the “value” investments that are guaranteed to
produce compelling science and discoveries, smaller facilities are the “growth
stocks” that are likely to deliver the biggest science bang per buck, sometimes
with outsize returns. Investments in data-intensive missions also have benefits
to society beyond the science they deliver. By training scientists who are well
equipped to use their data science skills to solve problems in the public or
private sector, astronomy can provide a valuable service to society by
contributing to a data-capable workforce.
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