LSST:UK has been running a successful software development programme in preparation for the Legacy Survey of Space and Time for more than five years, through the “DEV” strand of the STFC-funded LSST:UK Science Centre (LUSC) project. LUSC Phase A (July 2015 - March 2019) funding was awarded on the basis of UK science priorities, but greater UK involvement in the Science Collaborations over time led these activities to become more closely aligned with SC priorities and to the realisation of impact within them. Phase B DEV funding (for July 2019-March 2023) was awarded on the basis of competitive proposals developed by UK groups in conjunction with Science Collaborations and assessed by a panel in an LSST:UK Board instigated process. Two of the six members of this panel (Melissa Graham and Phil Marshall) provided input to ensure that the funded effort supported and complemented existing work underway in the US and elsewhere, leading to the high rankings awarded to these contributions in the CEC feedback to our LoI. The Phase B work package selection process hence balanced UK priorities and strengths with requirements and value from the Rubin Project. A similar process will run for the selection of STFC PPRP funded work packages for Phase C.
The LSST:UK proposal to PPRP in April 2022 will contain 7 FTE of staff effort over the Phase C period 2023 - 2027. This effort can be either directable or embedded (and endorsed) non-directable, and these definitions (as defined by Rubin Observatory) are defined in the document. If, as we expect, there is an oversubscription in this call for proposals, then LSST:UK will decide jointly with Rubin and the Science Collaborations which are the highest priority projects to go forward to the PPRP proposal. The LSST:UK Board will define the selection panel, as they did for the Phase B process.
LSST:UK
Explicitly list DAC effort needed to support the DEV
2 page max
0.5 page prea-amble, 0.5 page from recipient group
1 page justification
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