Successful ESO proposals an overview Bruno Leibundgut ESO

Successful ESO proposals an overview Bruno Leibundgut (ESO) ESO Proposals, Prague 27 February 2009 European Southern Observatory

This is the right time to start … n Call for proposal is open since yesterday (26 February) ESO Proposals, Prague 27 February 2009 European Southern Observatory

Structure of the ESO OPC n Observing Programmes Committee Ø 4 scientific categories • Cosmology (A) • Galaxies and Active Galactic Nuclei (B) • Interstellar Medium, Star Formation and Planetary Systems (C) • Stellar Evolution (D) Ø 12 panels • 2 each for categories A and B • 4 each for categories C and D ESO Proposals, Prague 27 February 2009 European Southern Observatory

Proposal types n 5 proposal types all handled by OPC Ø normal programmes Ø short programmes Ø large programmes Ø Target of Opportunity Ø calibration programmes • all considered by the OPC n Director Discretionary Time • submission any time • decided by ESO Director General ESO Proposals, Prague 27 February 2009 European Southern Observatory

ESO proposals n Pressure factor typically high Ø typical oversubscription for ESO telescopes is >3 • often reaching 5 and in certain periods/RA ranges 8 or higher Ø Large Programmes have an acceptance rate of about 20% or less Ø Pressure on To. O proposals is extremely high • GRBs, supernovae, stellar occultations by TNOs, microlensing, ESO Proposals, Prague 27 February 2009 European Southern Observatory

High pressures n Some right ascensions are already in high demand ESO Proposals, Prague 27 February 2009 European Southern Observatory

Call for Proposals n Important document Ø contains a lot of relevant information Ø especially important for first-time users Ø contains many useful links to instrumentation and other useful information Ø binding document, if proposal is approved ESO Proposals, Prague 27 February 2009 European Southern Observatory

Call for Proposals n Everybody must read ESO Proposals, Prague 27 February 2009 European Southern Observatory

Call for Proposals n Find the appropriate instrument ESO Proposals, Prague 27 February 2009 European Southern Observatory

La Silla: 5 Operational Instruments 3. 6 m HARPS NTT SOFI EFOSC 2 2. 2 m WFI FEROS GROND ESO Proposals, Prague 27 February 2009 European Southern Observatory

Paranal: 13 Operational VLT(I) Instruments ANTU ISAAC KUEYEN FLAMES FORS 2 UVES CRIRES FORS 1 ESO Proposals, Prague 27 February 2009 MELIPAL VISIR VIMOS MIDI YEPUN SINFONI NACO AMBER European Southern Observatory

Chajnantor n Three operational instruments on APEX n Watch out for ALMA Ø early science possibly in 2011 Ø be prepared ESO Proposals, Prague 27 February 2009 European Southern Observatory

Call for Proposals n Important for you to correctly fill the proposal form ESO Proposals, Prague 27 February 2009 European Southern Observatory

Call for Proposals n Helpful to know and some legal stuff ESO Proposals, Prague 27 February 2009 European Southern Observatory

Writing a successful proposal n Make your science understandable Ø make it as simple as possible for the panel to understand your science and proposal • remember there are broad topical panels Ø get to the point immediately Ø be explicit, do not assume that the panel will work out what you meant Ø it is most likely that your proposal will be the 20 th proposal to be read during that day … Ø if the referee does not understand what you say you have lost • there is no possibility to check the literature ESO Proposals, Prague 27 February 2009 European Southern Observatory

Writing an exciting proposal n Make your science understandable (cont. ) Ø avoid jargon • expressions in your field may not be used in others Ø avoid acronyms, which may not be clear to everybody • what was ε Eri Ba again? • H 0 may be understood by most, w’ needs explanation • if you need acronyms or special terms explain them Ø avoid complicated language • use simple English • should be correct English – have (senior) colleagues or collaborators read your proposal ESO Proposals, Prague 27 February 2009 European Southern Observatory

The Abstract is important n Write your abstract first Ø this is the one paragraph that is guaranteed to be read by everybody Ø you have to be able to summarise the excitement in one paragraph Ø revisit your abstract several times during the writing and improve it ESO Proposals, Prague 27 February 2009 European Southern Observatory

The Abstract is important n Write your abstract first Ø this is the one paragraph that is guaranteed to be read by everybody Ø you have to be able to summarise the excitement in one paragraph Ø revisit your abstract several times during the writing and improve it ESO Proposals, Prague 27 February 2009 European Southern Observatory

Consistency n Write a consistent proposal Ø have you selected the best suited instrument for your observations? Ø the exposure times and the target sample have to match your science case Ø there is a good chance one referee will pick up on any inconsistencies Ø exposure times have to make sense, use the ETCs Ø figures (tables) should help the text and be relevant ESO Proposals, Prague 27 February 2009 European Southern Observatory

Consistency n ESO proposal form Ø particularly important boxes • Boxes 3 (run definitions and total times) • 4 (previous observations and future needs) • 5 (special remarks) • 8 C (telescope justification) • 9 (justification for observing time) • 12 (target list) • 14 (instrument setup) ESO Proposals, Prague 27 February 2009 European Southern Observatory

Consistency ESO Proposals, Prague 27 February 2009 European Southern Observatory

Consistency ESO Proposals, Prague 27 February 2009 European Southern Observatory

Overheads are important n From the Call for Proposals ESO Proposals, Prague 27 February 2009 European Southern Observatory

Consistency ESO Proposals, Prague 27 February 2009 European Southern Observatory

Helpful tips n Take the instructions seriously Ø any proposal, which does not provide all requested information, damages itself Ø read the relevant parts of the Call for Proposals ESO Proposals, Prague 27 February 2009 European Southern Observatory

Resubmissions n We all have had proposals rejected Ø and yes, sometimes it really hurts n Address comments from a previous submission Ø be clear what has changed and how the proposal has improved n Why did the panel not understand your proposal? Ø this is not only their fault Ø be more explicit, more direct, crystal clear ESO Proposals, Prague 27 February 2009 European Southern Observatory

Resubmissions n Continuation of programmes Ø address the new goals Ø explain why you need a bigger sample Ø what has changed since the last proposal? ESO Proposals, Prague 27 February 2009 European Southern Observatory

What makes a proposal successful? n Exciting science Ø providing a clear progress in our understanding of some phenomenon n A neat idea Ø unusual method, new idea, new approach, unique observation or experiment n Clear language Ø presentation of an exciting story, which is interesting for many people Ø cover all questions somebody may have Ø information to the point ESO Proposals, Prague 27 February 2009 European Southern Observatory

What makes a proposal successful? n A consistent story Ø the proposal is complete and provides all information Ø quantitative arguments for the amount of time requested n Good Luck! ESO Proposals, Prague 27 February 2009 European Southern Observatory

ESO Archive n The ESO data archive Ø is a rich source of excellent data Ø abstracts of previous proposals available Ø data public one year after they have been delivered to the PI Ø great way to compete with your competitor, if they got observing time Ø easy retrieval and selection of calibration data ESO Proposals, Prague 27 February 2009 European Southern Observatory

Get involved n Participate in OPC n Participate in other ESO activities Ø get to know the organisation better Ø active interactions with ESO people n Have a lively scientific exchange with the (European) astronomical community Ø conferences, workshops Ø regularly publish your results ESO Proposals, Prague 27 February 2009 European Southern Observatory