What we are: Two 8m telescopes, capable of forefront imaging and spectroscopy

1. The Gemini Observatory • What we are: • Two 8m telescopes, capable of forefront imaging and spectroscopy • at optical and IR wavelengths. • A young Observatory designed to enable and support the observational programs of a broad, international community of astronomers. • What we want to be: • The Observatory that consistently delivers the highest quality data allowed by conditions that will lead to breakthroughs in astrophysics. • That continues to evolve to provide breakthrough capabilities • An Observatory that provides the partnership with a lasting scientific legacy. • How we will get there: • Engaging the partners in the evolution and development of the Observatory • Operating the Observatory so it maintains leadership in a well chosen, focused number of observational capabilities that will enable breakthroughs in astrophysics by the Gemini partners

2. The Gemini Observatory • What we are: • Two 8m telescopes, capable of forefront imaging and spectroscopy • at optical and IR wavelengths. • A young Observatory designed to enable and support the observational programs of a broad, international community of astronomers. • What we want to be: • The Observatory that consistently delivers the highest quality data allowed by conditions that will lead to breakthroughs in astrophysics. • That continues to evolve to provide breakthrough capabilities • An Observatory that provides the partnership with a lasting scientific legacy. • How we will get there: • Engaging the partners in the evolution and development of the Observatory • Operating the Observatory so it maintains leadership in a well chosen, focused number of observational capabilities that will enable breakthroughs in astrophysics by the Gemini partners

3. The Gemini Observatory • How we will get there: • Engaging the partners in the evolution and development of the Observatory • Ensure a vigorous visitor program of scientists and engineers • Target community leaders • Initiate a staff exchange program with partner institutions • Host workshops and seminars • Ensure current and future development programs are done in partnership with community institutions • Operating the Observatory so it maintains leadership in a well chosen, focused number of observational capabilities that will enable breakthroughs in astrophysics by the Gemini partners • Promote vibrant scientific life in Hilo and La Serena • Promote a culture of innovation at the Observatory

4. Gemini’s Environment 2000 2010 SIRTF Keck I&II Keck-Inter. ESO-VLTI SOFIA NGST ALMA SIM VLA-upgrade UT1,UT2,UT3,UT4 Magellan 1&2 HET LBT Michelle NIFS Hokupa’a 2011 2015 Gemini N ALTAIR + LGS GMOS Gemini S GAOS -> MCAO 2000 2010 CELT OWL GNIRS NICI Flam. 2 T-RECS and maybe GSMT… LSST VISTA Exploitation of the decade of adaptive optics The era of the “giants”

5. Jean Rene Roy here

6. A 10 year perspective Gemini in 2010 • The Gemini N&S Telescopes • The capabilities • The operating modes • The Gemini Observatory in 2010 • The competitors • Our neighboors in Hawaii and Chile • The science legacy: the GSA • Internal scientific life • Innovation culture • The Gemini Observatory in 2020-2040

7. The Gemini N&S Telescopes 2010 Telescope capabilities • Optimize capabilities exploiting Gemini fine IR imaging • Produce highest strehl ratios imaging capability allowed by AO techniques and natural conditions on MK/CP • Implement AO correction over the largest field (MCAO) • Optimize observatory/telescope environment for best IQ • Ensure maximum sky coverage for AO imaging (NGS) • Maximize mid infrared imaging field of view • 1-2 arcmin mid IR imager • Push mid IR spectroscopic capabilities • Mid IR is most direct link with ALMA science • Maximize IFU field size capability exploiting optimal detector real estate • Optical Super IFU (Simon Morris) • Near IR: GIRMOS (MCAO) and Super NIFS (OH suppression, multiple LGS)

8. Gemini N&S 2010 operation modes • Designed to maximize scientific return to partnership • ISS 3-instrument capability on both telescopes by 2004 • Queue observation optimization techniques now used • 70-75% queue observing, 20-25% remote, real-time data assessment, 10-5% classical observing in mid 2004 • Classical observing restricted to ‘large’ collaborative projects or “mini-queues” • Based on complete implementation of high level software by 2003 • Issues • “Observing” will be difficult for the “untrained” • Observations will be extensively pre-planned, highly constrained (essential for Laser AO) – no different from HST observations • PI’s ‘observing’ role will be target selection and data assessment • Continuing disintermediation of National Gemini Office's role • Delivery of fully working instruments is critical • Delivery of front-end user Tools essential

9. The Gemini Observatory 2010our competitors • Who are they? • Ground-based: VLT, Keck, Subaru, HET, etc… Magellan, MMT; ALMA, SKA (for $) • Space based: SIRTF, NGST, SNAP • How do we position ourselves? • We must offer unique capability • Scientific complementarity with ALMA and NGST

10. The Gemini Observatory 2010 --our neighbors in Hawaii and Chile • We must go beyond “good neighbor” relationship • Trade capabilities and telescope time • HIRES on Keck and UVES on VLT vs Michelle and T-Recs time • MCAO imaging vs. ? • How to engage IfA beyond “just a telescope user” attitude? • Issues • IfA leadership role on future large initiative on MK (GSMT, CELT) • Post NIO effort: what if AURA looses NOAO contract? • Abingdon II process • Plan instrumentation “collectively” • Workshop jointly with Keck, VLT, Subaru, etc.? • Role of “US System” and TSIP?

11. The Gemini Observatory 2010Science Legacy • Fully functional Science Archive by the end of 2002 • Advanced capabilities 2004+ • Users to perform more sophisticated queries • Retrieved data more directly usable • Extracting science information from raw data and storing into catalogues • Legacy observing programs • Key science initiatives from community which are capable of winning large, multi-national allocations • International TAC capable of allocating large chunks of time, accountable to Gemini Board

12. The Gemini Observatory 2010Science Legacy • Scientific output from Gemini Observatory • 2000: 1 paper in refereed journal (RJ) • 2001: 2 papers in RJ • 2002: estimated 20-30 papers in RJs • 2003: estimated 70-100 papers in RJs • 2004+: estimated 150+ papers in RJs • Tools to monitor impact through citation will be in place in 2002 • Science archive to link papers, citations, TAC rating proposals (phase I and II) and telescope/instrument time

13. Operating the Gemini Observatory in 2010 -maintaining balance and commitment • Focus on providing ‘leadership facilities’ to the partnership • Promote vibrant scientific life in Hilo and La Serena • Promote a culture of innovation

14. The Gemini Observatory 2010Gemini internal science life • Promote vibrant scientific life at HBF and LS • Achieve 30-40% research time in 2003 • Vigorous visiting program: summer interns, sabbaticals, visiting observers on extended stays • Gemini astronomers to spend a substantial time at facility instrument institution • GN&GS vigorous exchange of science staff • Issues • Expand office space • Directorship needs to stay connected to one of the site • How to maintain a “trading zone” (Peter Galison, 1997*) with fewer visiting observers? * Image and Logic – A Material Culture of Microphysics, University of Chicago Press

15. The Gemini Observatory 2010Gemini’s innovation culture • Promote vibrant technical life in Hilo, LaSerena & Tucson • Achieve 10-20% development time in 2003 • Vigorous visiting program: summer interns, sabbaticals, visiting engineers on extended stays • Gemini engineering/instrumentation staff to spend a substantial time at facility instrument institution • GN&GS vigorous exchange of technical/engineering staff • Issues • Encouraging Observatory based development culture balanced with support needs • Expand development space • Directorship needs to stay connected to one of the site • How to maintain a “trading zone” with few visiting instrumentalists/engineers?

16. Gemini in 2020, … in 2040? • The 20-40 years perspective • The need for very long term plan • Issues • ESO and a group of east Asia countries (Japan, China, Korea and Taiwan) are planning for a 20-40 year horizon • Planning horizon is much shorter in the Gemini partner communities • Who should assume the leadership of this thinking? • What is the Board position? • Gemini can act as a “think tank” : NIO type of resource

17. … Gemini in 2040? • Issues • The USA, largest Gemini partner, is divided and does not have a clear strategic vision • Growth we see in European and Japanese astronomy are both institutional and technology funding challenges to US “status quo” • Institutional challenges: VLT+UK, Subaru and ALMA • Interferometry, "second generation" VLT instruments and investments in AO/MCAO will be technology and funding challenges • The US fiefdom mentality is strong • Several US astronomers “fear” international collaboration • Promotion of “diversity” masks strong self-interest • Resulting “Balkanization” of US community hardly conducive to strategic long-term planning

18. … Gemini in 2040? • Issues • Resources required for modern groundbased astronomy will soon rival Particle Physics • What are the lessons learned? • How do we create a coherent “mind set” which engages the US, European and Asian astronomical communities and funding Agencies? • Our vision should go beyond CELT/GSMT/OWL (this was easy) and should extend beyond ground-based astronomy on Earth • What about a ground based lunar or asteroid based telescope? (a reasonable perspective for 2040…) • One 50 m single aperture lunar telescope, a network of 8m+ interferometrically connected telescopes (OHANA++) • Partnership with STScI: added value capability to NASA for building an extraterrestrial ground based telescope