1. NOIRLab Meetings & Events for the Scientific Community
  2. NOIRLab Conference Websites
  3. Windows on the Universe: Establishing the Infrastructure for a Collaborative Multi-messenger Ecosystem
  4. Windows on the Universe: Establishing the Infrastructure for a Collaborative Multi-messenger Ecosystem

Windows on the Universe: Establishing the Infrastructure for a Collaborative Multi-messenger Ecosystem

**Windows on the Universe 2023 White Paper**

The advent of gravitational-wave and particle detectors, which now routinely observe events through new windows upon our dynamic Universe, has ushered in the era of Multi-messenger Astronomy (MMA). With a diverse and powerful network of ground- and space-based instruments and facilities, we now have advanced resources to both identify the electromagnetic counterparts of Multi-messenger events, and to monitor and characterize their evolution. This activity requires coordination of the full range of available telescopes and their capabilities. While the scientific potential is staggering, future campaigns will be resource-intensive, expensive, and require considerable coordination, collaboration, and communication among the communities in order to deliver effective science.

To foster the infrastructure for a vibrant and collaborative MMA ecosystem, NSF's NOIRLab, in partnership with NSF and NASA, invites the international community to participate in a workshop in Tucson, AZ during October 16–18, 2023. The workshop goals are to identify pathways that increase the coordination of observational MMA campaigns and reduce operational redundancy across the network of ground- and space-based observatories. We invite the community to review the current state of resources for MMA, report on existing collaborations and partnerships, and identify potential obstacles to success. We ask the workshop participants to conceptualize community strategies and methods of tackling data sharing, such as telescope pointings, both planned and executed, observation outcomes, and calibrated data. Furthermore, we ask the workshop participants to identify pathways which will incentivize coordination, collaboration, partnership, and collegiality within the MMA community.

Key Questions to Address:

  • What are the main challenges to perform successful MMA campaigns and to maximize their scientific potential?
  • How should we coordinate MMA follow-up to reduce operational redundancy across the network of ground and space-based observatories?
  • How should we foster collaboration in the MMA community?
  • How can we ensure that the MMA field reaches its full potential over the next decade?

Workshop participants will lead the preparation of a community-driven white paper that will be used to guide NSF, NASA, and NOIRLab planning around fostering the infrastructure for a collaborative MMA ecosystem.

For any questions, please feel free to email the organizing committee here

**Announcement (Sept 28, 2023)**
The workshop will still proceed as planned in the event of a potential government shutdown. However, some presenters and talks may be changed. The workshop will proceed as planned.

**Registration Update (Sept 2, 2023)**
Registration deadlines for in-person participation and contributed talk submission have passed. The registration deadline for virtual participation is Sep 29th, 2023.

**Registration Update (Aug 24, 2023)**
We are approaching the in-person registration capacity for the workshop. While we hope to accommodate all in-person registrations, the in-person registrations from this point on may be placed on a waitlist. The LOC will update to the waitlist with more information on their in-person registration status. We aim to let you know shortly after Sept 1st if you are placed on the waitlist. Registrants who we are unable to accommodate on the waitlist will be automatically registered for virtual participation

Important Dates:

Meeting Poster

WOTU Poster