Introduction
UK researchers will obtain access to proprietary LSST data in return for the UK’s in-kind contribution to Rubin operations, which is primarily provided by the STFC-funded LSST:UK Science Centre (LUSC) programme, supplemented by some additiomal effort donated to Rubin commissioning. The content of the UK in-kind package has been approved by the Rubin Management Board, but the UK Data Rights Agreement, which will formalise the arrangements for UK data rights, has not yet been signed by STFC and the US Department of Energy. It is hoped that this will be signed before long, but we must take action now, as many current UK data rights holders have terms that end on 30/09/23.
This 2023H2 selection round will, therefore, implement an interim arrangement, awarding data rights up to 30/09/24 only, rather than for the three-year terms that has been typical in most previous rounds. This will allow UK researchers to continue to engage with LSST Science Collaborations, etc, until the detailed arrangements for future UK data access are finalised, with the signing of the UK Data Rights Agreement. The community will be apprised of the details of those arrangements through the monthly LSST:UK Newsletters and further emails to the lusc-announce mailing list.
Procedures for the 2023H2 selection round
The interim arrangements to be implemented in this selection round will vary between different categories of people, as follows:
Contributors to the UK in-kind programme
Those who
Existing data rights holders
The selection round will operate as follows:
Those who receive financial support as part of the STFC-funded LSST:UK Science Centre (LUSC) programme, and who require data rights
Those whose current data rights terms extends beyond 30/09/24 should NOT apply this round, as UK data righ
Those whose current term extends beyond 30/09/23 should NOT apply in this round. All such persons will be emailed directly to ascertain whether they want their current term to be extended to 30/09/24.
Those who currently hold Affiliate PI or Junior Associate status and whose term ends between now and 30/09/23 will be emailed separately to ascertain whether they want their current term to be extended to 30/09/24.
New applicants for data rights
Those who do not currently hold Affiliate PI or Junior Associate status can use the application form (see link below) to apply for data rights up to 30/09/24: candidate Junior Associates may self-nominate or be nominated (using the same form).
In addition, those who receive financial support as part of the STFC-funded LSST:UK Science Centre (LUSC) programme
Application Process
As part of the application process, you will be required to sign the LSST:UK Code of Conduct, so you should read that before applying, as well as ensuring that you satisfy the eligibility criteria for Affiliate PI or Junior Associate status, as described in the LSST:UK Policy for Selection of Affiliate PIs and Junior Associates.
Application Form: https://edinburgh.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/2023h2-lsst-affiliate-pi-junior-associate-interim-applica
Applications will close on Tuesday 26th September 2023 at 4:00pm.
If you experience technical problems completing either of these forms please contact the LUSC Project Manager, Terry Sloan (t.m.sloan@ed.ac.uk), while any policy questions should be addressed to the LSST:UK Consortium Board Chair, Mike Watson (mgw@leicester.ac.uk).