Letters of Intent received in 2013

LoI 2015-197
Focus Meeting: Astronomy in Hawaii - Past, Present and Future

Date: 4 August 2015 to 6 August 2015
Category: Focus meetings (GA)
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Contact: Markus Kissler-Patig (mkissler@gemini.edu)
Coordinating division: Division B Facilities, Technologies and Data Science
Other divisions: Division C Education, Outreach and Heritage
Co-Chairs of SOC: Paul Coleman (University of Hawaii, Institute for Astronomy)
Doug Simons (CFHT)
Nobuo Arimoto (Subaru (NAOJ))
Taft Armandroff (W.M.Keck Observatory)
Markus Kissler-Patig (Gemini Observatory)
Chair of LOC: ()

 

Topics

- History of Hawaiian/Polynesian astronomy and sea wayfaring
- History of modern astronomy in Hawaii
- Leading-edge research using Hawaii observatories
- Legacy scientific discoveries from Hawaii observatories
- State of astronomical facilities/capabilities in Hawaii
- Key technologies in use and site characteristics enabling forefront research
- Collaborative operations and development plans and opportunities
- Enabling the future of astronomy through workforce development and education opportunities
- Future of astronomical research facilities in Hawaii
- Hawaii as the home of the Pan Pacific Observatory

 

Rationale

The summit of Mauna Kea is among the premier observing sites worldwide and now hosts the largest collection of observatories ever assembled. A significant fraction of astronomical research globally is attributable to Hawaii based facilities, which are geographically at the nexus of leading and emerging scientific and economic arenas in North and South America, Asia, and Australia. In the midst of this remarkable setting, astronomy has been an important part of Hawaiian culture for centuries, leading to an extraordinary fusion of ancient and modern astronomical expertise in the world’s most remote archipelago. Given the depth and breadth of subjects pertaining to astronomy in Hawaii, and the venue of the IAU General Assembly in 2015, we propose a Focus Meeting during the GA which will provide opportunities for a diverse range of participants to share their discoveries and convey their visions for the future of astronomy in Hawaii.

The president of Division B, D.Silva, has endorsed the proposal

Institutions (and contacts) supporting the present proposals:
Bishop Museum M.Shanahan
CSO S.Golwala
CFHT D.Simons
Gemini Observatory M.Kissler-Patig
`Imiloa Astronomy Center K.Kimura
Joint Astronomy Center G.Davis
NRAO (VLBA-MK) D.Frail
Subaru (NAOJ) N.Arimoto
TMT G.Sanders
UH IfA G.Hasinger
UH Hilo R.P.Martin
W.M.Keck Observatory T.Armandroff

Proceedings editor:
A.Tokunaga, UH IfA