Panel Advisors and Observers

In the course of the HST panel meetings, other personnel may visit panels during the deliberation process to provide advice, monitor discussions and provide logistical support.

Advisors

Panel Advisors are Institute staff who are called in to panel meetings to answer questions related to HST proposals.

  • Members of the Instruments Division (INS) are available to answer technical questions on instrument capabilities and performance;
  • Members of the Scheduling Group are available to answer questions regarding the execution of observing programs;
  • Members of the Science Policy Group are available to answer questions regarding policy issues raised during the proposal discussion.

Panel Support Scientists are provided with contact information and will call in advisors with the appropriate expertise. The advisor will address the issue raised by the panel, if necessary calling on additional expertise. The advisor will not comment in any way on the scientific case made by the proposal.

Advisors may be participants in HST proposals as Principal Investigators or co-Investigators; if so, they will be excluded from visiting the panel(s) that will be discussing those proposals.

Observers

Panel Observers are Institute and external personnel who are charged with monitoring the panel deliberations. In addition to members of the STScI Science Policy Group, observers include

  • Representatives from NASA Headquarters and the HST Project at Goddard Space Flight Center
  • Representatives of the European Space Agency
  • the STScI Director and Deputy Director
  • Members of the ESA Office at STScI
  • Members of the HST Mission Office at STScI

BlueJeans will log the visiting times of observers for each panel. Observers will not participate in the discussion at any of the panel meetings.

Observers may be participants in HST proposals as Principal Investigators or co-Investigators; if so, they will be excluded from visiting the panel(s) that will be discussing those proposals.

Logistical Support

Members of the Event Planning Group (EPG) and the Information Technology Services Division (ITSD) are available to provide support during the panel meeting. The Panel Support Scientist has contact information and will call in representatives as required.