Dear All,

One of the issues discussed at last week's space weather brainstorming
meeting in Paris was virtual observatories (VO) - and the opportunity
for a VO bid into the open call on e-infrastructures. Chris Harvey
agreed to write up some of the ideas discussed at the meeting and to
invite participation in a bid. I enclose Chris' letter below and attach
his background notes as a PDF.

Please could I encourage you to read these if you are interested in the
future of data management for space weather? There are important issues
here (especially the need to handle time series) where the space weather
community needs to exploit synergies with other parts of solar system
science, e.g. the common interest to study dynamical processes through
time series data. 

If you have any comments, and if you are interested to participate in a
bid, please let Chris know ([log in to unmask]) with a copy to
me. If possible please reply by Friday 2 February.

Cheers,
Mike

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Chris Harvey's letter follows:

Dear Colleagues,

I have put into writing the idea which I presented during the Space
Weather "brainstorming" meeting last Tuesday, January 23.  These notes
are written rather hastily.  

Much more work is needed to see whether it is suitable for the
INFRA-2007 infrastructures opportunity for which the submission deadline
is 2007 May 02.  In particular, 
1.	To which topic should it be related (see
http://www.euresearch.ch/fileadmin/documents/PdfDocuments/Callfiches/Inf
rastructures_Call-Fiche_Cordis_221206.pdf
2.	Undoubtedly question this will become clearer at the briefing in
Brussels on February 6 (see
http://cordis.europa.eu/ist/rn/ri-cnd/fp7info-day.htm).  Attendance is
open but prior registration is recommended; it is even possible to
present one's ideas (5 mn maximum), provided an abstract and two
transparencies are submitted beforehand.  
3.	Unfortunately it is extremely difficult for me to attend this
event - I learnt of it only last Tuesday.  Can anyone else go?
4.	A lot of work will be required to write a proposal in conformity
the EU requirements: list of participants, management plan, deliverable,
work packages, milestone chart, etc..  I just have not had time since
last Tueday to study the voluminous FP7 documentation.
5.	A project coordinator is needed.  I am ineligible, as next
August I reach the age limit for all French civil servants (but not
politicians).  But I can continue to work, barring accidents.
6.	Should some scientific objectives be added?   This is an
infrastructure program, so I have put the emphasis on the differences
between solar system VO and astronomical VO, because past experience
shows this to be a delicate point, and we do not want the EU to tell us
once again to go and ask the astronomers how to do it.

I invite all interested persons to submit their thoughts (is a proposal
worthwhile now?), suggestions, additions, corrections and criticisms.
Then those interested will then have to decide collectively how to
proceed.

I do not know what our chance of success is but I feel that, compared to
some other communities, we need to gain experience in submitting
proposals to the European Union.    By submitting a proposal now we will
certainly both gain experience and bring our case to the attention of
the European Union and its experts.   But, of course, our ambition is to
succeed !

Sincerely,
Christopher Harvey