Continued Evolution of the JCMT

 

In the Summer Solstice issue of E-Cass, I described the strategic considerations leading to changes in the partnership that operates the JCMT. In summary,

·         The Netherlands (20% share) withdrew from the partnership on 31 March this year;

·         in Canada, NRC (25% share) will withdraw from the partnership on 30 September 2014; and

·         in view of these developments, the UK (55% share) decided to cease operating the telescope on 30 September 2014.

The decisions in The Netherlands and Canada to withdraw from the JCMT were both driven by commitments to ALMA under highly-constrained funding environments.

 

The end of the partnership is not, however, the end of the telescope. As the owner of the facility, the UK funding agency for astronomy, the Science and Technology Facilities Council, issued an Announcement of Opportunity on 21 June soliciting interest in taking over its operation. I am pleased to report that four Expressions of Interest were received: one each from the UK and Canadian communities, one from Purple Mountain Observatory, and one from the East Asia Core Observatories Association (a loose affiliation between astronomy agencies and institutes in Taiwan, China, South Korea and Japan). From my perspective as Director, it is particularly gratifying that our users in the UK and Canada value their access to the JCMT and wish to remain active participants in the observatory. The Canadian EoI was submitted by Chris Wilson (McMaster) and was signed by 37 other astronomers from the community.

 

A workshop, to bring together the four entities that submitted Expressions of Interest, will take place at about the time this edition of E-Cass is issued. The objectives are (a) to establish the framework of a new partnership that can take over the operation of the JCMT from 1 October 2014, and (b) to formulate plans for a proposal to the University of Hawaii, which will become the legal owner of the facility.

 

In the meantime, observatory staff continue to support the Board’s science programme with their customary dedication and professionalism; please see the companion article in this edition of E-Cass by Doug Johnstone for a summary of scientific and operational activities.

Professor Gary Davis, Director, JCMT