Simons Observatory:UK Community Meeting

Meeting Rationale:

A three-day meeting of the UK astrophysics and cosmology community to explore the scientific opportunities afforded to the UK community through a major UK role in the Simons Observatory (SO).

The meeting will take place at the Royal Astronomical Society’s main lecture room (Burlington House) in central London on the afternoons of the 6th, 7th and 8th September 2022. (The mornings of each day will be left for breakout meetings and/or free time.) Remote participation will also be possible.

Planning for a major UK role in SO is well advanced and the UK collaboration (SO:UK) has recently been awarded significant funding for the project. The UK contribution includes a UK-based data centre and a program of data processing algorithm development. A major UK role in the observatory infrastructure/instrumentation has also been proposed, and is currently undergoing final review. Both the data centre and algorithm development aspects are focussed on the production and delivery of the Science-Ready Data Products (SRDPs) arising from the SO observations. The SO:UK program will thus leverage a key role for the UK within SO and will position the wider UK community well for subsequent science exploitation of the SO data.

The purpose of this open meeting is to advertise the SO project, and the UK’s role within it, and to invite UK-based scientists to consider how the forthcoming SO survey data can help advance their own areas of scientific interest.

The meeting will take the form of a series of invited talks and associated discussion sessions. Each day will also include a fireslide session providing an opportunity for participants to advertise their SO-related research.

Face mask policy:

Unless medically exempt, all in-person participants are required to wear a face mask whilst in the lecture room (during the talks and discussion sessions).

Meeting code of conduct:

The organizers are committed to making this meeting productive and enjoyable for everyone, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, nationality or religion. We will not tolerate harassment of participants in any form. Please follow these guidelines:

• Behave professionally. Harassment and sexist, racist, or exclusionary comments or jokes are not appropriate. Harassment includes sustained disruption of talks or other events, inappropriate physical contact, sexual attention or innuendo, deliberate intimidation, stalking, and photography or recording of an individual without consent. It also includes offensive comments related to gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race or religion.

• All communication should be appropriate for a professional audience including people of many different backgrounds. Sexual language and imagery is not appropriate.

• Be kind to others. Do not insult or put down other attendees.

Participants asked to stop any inappropriate behaviour are expected to comply immediately. Attendees violating these rules may be asked to leave the event at the sole discretion of the organizers without a refund of any charge.

Any participant who wishes to report a violation of this policy is asked to speak, in confidence, to any of the meeting organizers.