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More information on the Astro 2020 Decadal Survey is available below the table that follows.

Guidelines on how (not) to write an Astro2020 White Paper:

Lynne Hillenbrand, who served on the Astro2010 Decadal Survey Committee, has prepared some common sense guidelines on how to write an effective decadal white paper:

Lynne Hillenbrand Presentation - click here.

STScI and JHU Participation and Organization

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To help organize science input from STScI and JHU staff, please take the time to fill out the two tables below.  The first (science papers) is organized using the most commonly chosen keywords (provided by STScI's Science Mission Office) based on a survey of the science staff.  In most cases, your specific research theme should be listed under one of these keywords as a second layer.  If it is the case that your research area is not well represented by a particular keyword, then please feel free to add a new keyword.  Also, please make sure to add a title or short research theme that summarizes the topic of the white paper you are interested in, under each of the major themes. This will make it easy for other astronomers to join the effort.   Every paper should be listed as a new row.  Please indicate whether you are willing to lead the writing of the paper or willing to help contribute as a co-author by listing your name in the appropriate column. Feel free to add entries that you are interested in, but unable to lead.

Science White Papers

Technology, State of the Profession, and other White Papers

Astro 2020 Specific Information

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• Mar 2016 – The CAA began discussions about Astro 2020
• Jan 2017 – A Town Hall meeting at the AAS solicited community input on the framework of Astro 2020
• Jan 2018 – A Town Hall meeting at the AAS solicited community input on the framework of Astro 2020
• *Spring 2018 – A Decadal Survey “Consultation Group” was formed to draft the statement of task and prospectus for Astro 2020. 
• Mar 2018 – The Astro 2020 proposal was submitted to NASA, NSF, and DOE
• Jul 2018 – The call for Astro 2020 white papers was released to the community
• Dec 2018 – Astro 2020 Chair will be selected marking the formal start of the survey
• Jan 2019 – A Town Hall meeting and other community outreach activities will be organized at the AAS.
• Jan 7^th 2019 – Window for submitting white papers will open
• Feb 19Mar 11^th 2019 – Deadline for submitting white papers
• Mar 20^th 2019 - Deadline for submitting NOI letters for Programmatic / State of Profession / Mission White Papers
• Mar/Apr Feb/Mar 2019 – Decadal Survey committee begins meeting to discuss the survey
• May/Jun 2019 – Decadal Survey panels begin meeting to discuss white papers
• May 2020 – Decadal Survey panels complete their reports and deliver it to the main committee
• Aug 2020 – Review of survey and panel reports begins
• Dec 2020 – Astro 2020 is completed and the report is released to the agencies and the public

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Community input to the Committee on Astronomy and Astrophysics (CAA) at the Jan 2017, Jan 2018, and other meetings stressed the importance of involving junior scientists in the Decadal Survey process.  In response to this, the National Academies is organizing an “Early Career Focus Session” about Astro 2020.  More information is available here. ...(TBD)...

About 50 Early Career Scientist met at the Keck Center in DC on 8th and 9th October. We had a great discussion — basically on two main themes: Decadal Surveys (how it was done in the past, what can be improved, our involvement in these Surveys etc) and State of the Profession (equality, jobs, future etc). I believe all individual feedback/comments from the discussion are still being collected. After that 3-people lead team will summarize everything in  one WP (or more). Additionally, others may lead their own WPs on the topics we discussed.

STScI Participants

• Nimish Hathi
• Kevin Stevenson

Astro 2020 - Large Mission Concept Studies

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