Dear Colleagues,
This Indico page describes the process for collecting inputs from the broad Dutch astronomical community on plans for an ASTRON-led application for an NWO Research Infrastructure grant in 2023-2024.
Introduction
In line with the Strategic Plan for Astronomy in The Netherlands 2021-2030, ASTRON is identifying ways to retain the current strong role of our community over the full wavelength range. The upcoming NWO Research Infrastructure grant is a major funding opportunity towards realizing this ambition.
We have started working on a timeline that will help us shape a proposal by the end of this year, to be ready for submission in 2023. Although several options have emerged within ASTRON already, we wish to engage our community as a whole.
Therefore, a major part of this process will be to consult our community in the Netherlands, for soliciting ideas on how to put our proposal together, alongside the context of ASTRON’s mission and strategy.
Process and timeline
- August/September 2022: collect inputs from the community using a Google Form: see below
- Late September / early to mid October 2022: a delegation from ASTRON, and including Director Dr. Jessica Dempsey, will be visiting the universities for open Town Hall meetings (see below) to discuss ideas and answer questions. The inputs received in the Google Form will be important for setting the stage, but the discussions will not be limited to discussing only the submitted ideas.
- November 2022: the NRAAC (Netherlands Radio Astronomy Advisory Committee) will be consulted for advice and comments on the proposed options. They will communicate this to the ASTRON Director and Management Team.
- December 2022: ASTRON Director, Dr. Jessica Dempsey, will announce the selected plan and thereby kick-off the more detailed preparatory work.
Google Form
Please use the Google Form to convey to us your ideas about compelling projects that fit well within the NWO-RI funding instrument:
https://forms.gle/1dx2EXCPyxK2qtDDA
We would welcome your input by 23 September at the latest.
Town Hall meetings
You are welcome to attend one - or more - open, hybrid Town Hall meetings, hosted by the universities; see below and in the menu on the left. If you would like to attend, in person or online, please register using the link below.
