The Collaboration Board of the Pierre Auger Observatory Project convened in Prague, Czech Republic, on June 19, 2012.
The meeting was attended by 39 of 57 CB members, for details consult the attendance list.
Agenda
CB chairs: Ron Shellard (chair), Lukas Nellen (co-chair)
The CB chair opens the CB meeting and presents the agenda.
Material: Slides for "Beyond 2015"
The co-spokesperson and convener of the task "beyond 2015," Jim Matthews, reviews the objectives and status of the task. A main aim is to identify a science objective for an Auger upgrade. Target dates for task reports are the FB meeting in September and the Malargüe meeting in November. Jim motivates active participation. A first session takes place later during the Prague analysis meeting. A corresponding website will be installed.
The importance of a good science objective and of going towards an upgrade is stressed by CB participants in the subsequent discussion.
Proposed dates from original agenda.
Two options are offered for the first Malargüe meeting in 2013, February 24 - March 1 and March 3-8. The first date has the advantage of being in advance of the ICRC abstract deadline (March 1). No strong objections are expressed by the CB against the first date. The CB chair concludes the approval of the first date, February 24 - March 1, 2013, for the first Malargüe meeting.
Two options are offered for the 2013 analysis meeting, May 27-31 and June 3-7. It is remarked that travels in the US might be difficult due to memorial day on May 27. The question of the meeting location arises. The CB chair informs the CB that so far, the only offer to host the 2013 analysis meeting came from Portugal (Mario Pimenta). The CB chair asks if there is another offer. No further offer is made. The CB chair proposes to have the 2013 analysis meeting at the second date, June 3-7, in Portugal, and asks if there are any objections. No objections are made and the proposal is concluded as accepted.
Two options are offered for the second Malargüe meeting in 2013, Nov 11-16 and Nov 14-19. The Malargüe day will take place on Saturday, Nov 16. Arguments exchanged in a short discussion about the preferred date consider the Malargüe day participation and the travel convenience. The two options are put to vote. 30 votes are in favour of the first option, 8 in favour of the second. The meeting will take place from Nov 11-16, 2013.
Material: Slides for Atmospheric Science at Auger
The CB chair invites Rémi Losno, LISA, University Paris Diderot, to present their proposal. Rémi Losno gives a brief overview of the scientific background and aims. For atmospheric studies, the aim is to measure dust and gas at the Auger site. This would include the installation of new facilities. The proponents request to have access to the scalar and LIDAR data, to get the possibility to install detectors on site, and to get some help from the local staff.
In the subsequent discussion, the general view is expressed to support interdisciplinary activities such as the currently proposed one. Questions arise about technical issues such as demands concerning the LIDAR, and about providing more detailed and specific information concerning the requests. Following a proposal from the spokespersons, the CB expresses its positive view about the proposal and invites the proponents to work out a detailed proposal together with the management.
Material: Slides for Conference Committee renewal
The spokesperson, Karl-Heinz Kampert, informs the CB that Ingo Allekotte stepped down from his membership in the Conference Committee due to new, other obligations. The spokesperson proposes Vitor de Souza to replace Ingo. This is accepted by acclamation.
Material: Slides on FD shifts
The spokesperson reviews the situation concerning FD shifts. In March, a critical situation occurred with then 17 out of 48 shift places in 2012 not filled. A list of the balances of countries and institutions has been put together by the FD task leader, Radomir Smida. After contacting institutional representatives, the situation is now much improved for this year. The spokesperson encourages early signing for shifts. Shift dates up to 2030 are listed in GAP-2011-039. The spokesperson mentions that other service work for the Collaboration, such as the drum calibration, should be accounted for in the balance list. For this, the FD task leader will judge the relevance of such activities that, as usual, have to be inserted in the site activity calendar. The spokesperson also lists some possible measures in case of a negative balance which include that collaborators of the corresponding institutes are not considered for conference talks or removed from the author list.
In the subsequent discussion, the possible role of remote shifts is considered. Jan Ridky estimates that a minimum of 4 local shifters will be needed anyway per shift.
Material: Slides on publication charges
The spokesperson proposes to pay publication charges in future from the operations budget. So far, individual institutes needed to volunteer to pay. The CB unanimously accepts the proposal. The spokesperson notes that the decision needs to be approved by the FB as well. The PC chair, Piera Ghia, points out that a current payment of a journal fee is pending. The spokesperson confirms a quick solution will be found.
Material: Slides on joint publication
The spokesperson presents the idea to aim at a joint publication using Auger and TA data for an anisotropy search with full sky coverage. First considerations have already been prepared by the corresponding task leaders, Olivier Deligny and Joao de Mello Neto. The spokesperson would like to know if the CB is in general positive about this idea. If so, the details will be worked out and presented to the CB.
No objections are raised against proceeding as proposed by the spokesperson, and it is expressed that such a joint publication would be good for science and for the future.
Nothing was raised.