FACA Committee Purpose & Justification The information in this plan was imported from the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) database and transformed into StratML Part 1, Strategic Plan, format. Fiscal Year:2011 Committee Type: Scientific Technical Program Advisory BoardAstronomy and Astrophysics Advisory Committee NSF 0a1e033b-5563-44c7-aaa8-abced7fe8f88[ Location : (http://stratml.fido.gov/dick/NSFFACA13883.xml) ][ Federated Name : (urn:nsf.gov:agency:53:committee:13883:) ][ Agency Name : (National Science Foundation) ][ Agency Acronym : (NSF) ][ Agency Domain : (nsf.gov) ] [ Agency Web Site : (http://nsf.gov ) ][ Committee Name : (Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory Committee) ][ Committee Type : (Scientific Technical Program Advisory Board) ][ Committee Web Site : () ][ Goal? : (yes) ][ Vision? : (yes) ][ Mission? : (yes) ] National Science Foundationhttp://nsf.gov Members are selected to be representative of the scientific areas encompassed by astronomy and astrophysics. Every effort is made to achieve a diverse membership with representation including individuals from underrepresented groups and different geographic regions. By legislation NSF and NASA appoint 4 members each, the Department of Energy appoints 3 members, and the Office of Science & Technology Policy (OSTP) appoints 2 members.Advise the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the Department of Energy (DOE) on selected issues within the field of astronomy and astrophysics that are of mutual interest and concern to the three agencies. Astronomy and astrophysics is understood to encompass observations and theoretical investigations of astronomical objects and phenomena, including the sun and solar-system bodies. Provide assessment of and recommendations concerning:- The identification of gaps and duplications between the three agencies in areas such as research, analysis programs, missions, observatories, facilities and archives.- The development of the strategic plan for the three agencies for astronomy and astrophysics.- Areas which may benefit from coordinated formulation, solicitation of proposals for research and/or hardware development and financial support.78d4c946-cfc5-4b4f-b238-3d1061ea24f8Astronomy is in the midst of a period of extraordinary scientific discovery. The path ahead leads to the exploration of some of the most exciting aspects of our universe: the nature of dark matter and dark energy in the universe, the formation of galaxies at early times, the nature of massive black holes, the formation of stars and planetary systems, and the detection of planets like Earth around other stars. NASA, NSF, and increasingly DOE, together provide the opportunities for astronomical research that have allowed this nation to demonstrate its scientific and technological leadership worldwide. The framework that led to this leadership was established by the decade-long plan of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Astronomy and Astrophysics Survey Committee 2001 Decadal Survey, “Astronomy and Astrophysics in the New Millennium” (hereafter the “Decadal Survey”). The recommendations given in the AAAC report are intended to further the implementation of the Decadal Survey, and more recent NAS studies, such as “Connecting Quarks with the Cosmos” (CQC). These NAS studies herald a decade of remarkable scientific opportunities. The diverse approach to astronomical research offered by NASA, NSF and DOE is key to the scientific success and public visibility achieved in astrophysics over the last several decades. It remains a central aspect of the future success of astronomy. Joint programs between NASA, NSF and DOE, implemented within a healthy scientific research budget, are also of great benefit to the nation’s astronomy and astrophysics research enterprise. By drawing on the different strengths of the agencies’ approaches to achieving the science goals of the astronomical community, the nation will realize greatly enhanced value from its investment in astronomy.The NAS Committee on the Organization and Management of Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics (COMRAA) recommended in 2002 the establishment of an advisory committee to deal with the increasingly important interfaces between the agencies involved in supporting astronomy and astrophysics. Support for this by the Executive Branch and Congress led to the establishment of the Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory Committee (AAAC) to: 1) assess, and make recommendations regarding, the coordination of astronomy and astrophysics programs of NSF, NASA, and DOE; 2) assess, and make recommendations regarding, the status of the activities of NSF and NASA as they relate to the recommendations contained in the National Research Council’s 2001 Decadal report, and the recommendations contained in subsequent National Research Council reports of a similar nature; and 3) issue an annual report to Congress and the agencies no later than March 15.e03f8581-f210-404a-9dfb-f65a80c555e3To provide analysis, recommendations, and viewpoints on issues of mutual interest to the three agencies. No other balanced forum exists.e3102b97-0297-4551-bb9c-b9919bee5c3b43e72a74-837d-4f4e-adc4-ee1d15ceea6442e274b8-285d-4f13-b684-423a773802732010-10-012011-09-302013-07-09Gannon (J.)Dickgannon_dick@yahoo.com