Markus Kissler-Patig
Director’s Message
Gemini Observatory starts 2016 by looking into the future.
During the last three years, Gemini Observatory underwent a massive transition with
an approximately 25% reduction in budget. The transition was successful, and the Observatory transformed. See the article starting on page 10 in this issue for a summary
of this milestone. Now it is time to focus on the future, specifically on what Gemini will
look like beyond the year 2020.
As mentioned in the last edition of GeminiFocus, the Gemini Board has set up a Strategic Vision Committee, whose charge can be found on Gemini’s website (view here). In
essence, the Strategic Vision identifies the Observatory’s purpose, direction, and fundamental principles. It directly addresses the role the Observatory will play beyond 2021
and considers a variety of funding and partnership scenarios.
By the end of this year, the Strategic Vision will be in place. Along the way, we will seek
input from the user community on how they see the way forward and what opportunities we should pursue. If you have ideas, please feel free to share them in the form
of White Papers, or just e-mail them to me ([email protected]). In June we will host a
formal community consultation.
Once the Gemini Board approves the Strategic Vision, the Observatory will develop a
Strategic Plan. This detailed roadmap for reaching a preferred future will be aligned
with, and derived from, the Strategic Vision; it must encourage new opportunities,
consider budget shifts, and examine the changing landscape of astronomical facilities.
Once the Board approves the Plan, the Observatory will own it.
The Observatory will have until mid-2018 to prepare this Strategic Plan. The timeline
conforms to the Assessment Point (within calendar year 2018) executed by the Gemini
Board, in accordance to the International Agreement governing the Gemini Observatory. At the Assessment Point, our international partners will confer about the future of
the Observatory and state their intentions to remain in the Partnership.
April 2016
GeminiFocus
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