My Trip to Washington D.C.

1. My Trip to Washington D.C.

2. The Purpose • Large Synoptic Survey Telescope will become a major line item in the budget next year • We wanted to inform the representatives that this was coming • Show how LSST is good both for science and their congressional district

3. The Telescope • 8.4m telescope doing 6 color photometry • 3x3 degree field of view • Covers the observable sky once every 3 nights for 10 years • 3200 Megapixel camera (7s readout 2x15s exposures) • r ~ 24.5 per image 27.5 coadded • 150 petabytes of images • 30 petabyte database

4. The Science • Probing Dark Energy and Dark Matter • Weak Lensing • BAO • SN Ia • Taking an Inventory of the Solar System • 90% NEO larger than 140 meters • Exploring the Transient Optical Sky • Mapping the Milky Way • Parallax and proper motion good to 1 mas over 10 years

5. Technology and Education • Technology • LSST is going to have a massive data flow rate (30 TB / night) • Partners like Google and Bill Gates are interested in technology development • Education • The data is available to all US institutions immediately • A powerful resource for small schools • Fisk-Vanderbilt Bridge program • Public Outreach

6. Talking to a Staffer • Treat them with respect • Hit your main talking points • Use analogies • Telescope is a movie camera • The Netflix of astronomical data • A pipeline of information • Tell them how it affects their district • Technology and Education are key • Bring Business Cards • Enthusiasm, Enthusiasm, Enthusiasm

7. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R–Tenn.) 3rd District, East -- Chattanooga, Oak Ridge • Jim Hippe, Legislative Director • On the Science, Space and Technology Committee • Has Oak Ridge National Lab in District (2 LSST participants) • Has strong thoughts on fiscal discipline • Is in a difficult primary Residence: Ooltewah Born: Oct. 11, 1962; Manhattan, N.Y. Religion: Roman Catholic Family: Wife, Brenda Fleischmann; three children Education: U. of Illinois, B.A.L.A.S. 1983 (political science); U. of Tennessee, J.D. 1986 Military Service: None Career: Lawyer Elected: 2010 (1st term); Defeated John Wolfe Jr., D, to succeed Zach Wamp, R, who ran for governor Political Highlights: No previous office Committees: Science, Space & Technology (Energy & Environment; Technology & Innovation)

8. Rep. Jim Cooper (D–Tenn.) 5th District, Nashville • Page Krugman, Legislative Assistant • Vanderbilt and Fisk are in his district • Has strong thoughts on fiscal discipline • Is very pro Vanderbilt interacting with the larger community Residence: Nashville Born: June 19, 1954; Nashville, Tenn. Religion: Episcopalian Family: Wife, Martha Hayes Cooper; three children Education: U. of North Carolina, B.A. 1975 (history & economics); Oxford U., B.A., M.A. 1977 (Rhodes scholar); Harvard U., J.D. 1980 Military Service: None Career: Investment firm owner; investment bank managing director; lawyer Elected: 2002 (11th term) Political Highlights: U.S. House, 1983-95; Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, 1994 Committees: Armed Services (Oversight & Investigations - ranking member; Tactical Air & Land Forces) Oversight & Government Reform (Government Organization, Efficiency & Financial Management; Regulatory Affairs, Stimulus Oversight & Government Spending; TARP, Financial Services & Bailouts of Public and Private Programs)

9. Rep. Steve Cohen (D–Tenn.) 9th District, Memphis • Craig Dulniak, Office Manager • Only white representative of a majority minority district • Was Vanderbilt’s mascot • Is very interested in education opportunities for schools in his district • Is very interested in increasing minority representation in science Residence: Memphis Born: May 24, 1949; Memphis, Tenn. Religion: Jewish Family: Single Education: Vanderbilt U., B.A. 1971 (history); Memphis State U., J.D. 1973 Military Service: None Career: Lawyer Elected: 2006 (3rd term) Political Highlights: Democratic nominee for Tenn. House, 1970; Tenn. Constitutional Convention, 1977-78 (vice president, 1977-78); Shelby County Commission, 1978-80; Shelby County General Sessions Court, 1980-80; defeated for election to Shelby County General Sessions Court, 1981; Tenn. Senate, 1983-2006; sought Democratic nomination for governor, 1994; sought Democratic nomination for U.S. House, 1996 Committees: Judiciary (Courts, Commercial & Administrative Law - ranking member; Crime, Terrorism & Homeland Security) Transportation & Infrastructure (Aviation; Highways & Transit; Water Resources & Environment)

10. Rep. John D. Dingell (D–Mich.) 15th District, Southeast -- Ann Arbor, Taylor, parts of Dearborn and Dearborn Heights, Ypsilanti • Neal Ullman, Legislative Assistant • Longest serving representative • Recently forced out as Chair of Energy & Commerce • Is very supportive of science and technology Residence: Dearborn Born: July 8, 1926; Colorado Springs, Colo. Religion: Roman Catholic Family: Wife, Debbie Dingell; four children Education: Georgetown U., B.S. 1949 (chemistry), J.D. 1952 Military Service: Army 1944-1946 Career: County prosecutor Elected: 1955 (28th full term) Political Highlights: No previous office Committees: Energy & Commerce (Commerce, Manufacturing & Trade; Energy & Power; Health; Oversight & Investigations)

11. Round Table • Meet with the Staff of the Subcommittee on Research and Education • Round table participants: • Bill Smith of AURA • Danny Powell with the National Computer Science Academy • Mark Subbarao with Adler Planetarium • Fred Gillman with Carnegie Mellon • Melé Williams, Majority Staff Director • Dahlia Sokolov, Minority Staff Director • I covered educational avenues for LSST using Vanderbilt as a guide

12. Office of Federal Relations • They are our connection to Washington • What They Do: • Setup the meetings • Provide background material • Provided coaching • Got me from meeting to meeting • Critiqued each meeting • Shout out to Kara Allen for doing a great job

13. Any Questions?