Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC)
My name is Johan Knapen of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) in Spain, and I introduce myself here as a potential member of the Board of Directors of the LSST-DA. I am a research professor in astronomy at the IAC with interests in the observational study of the structure and evolution of galaxies, the use of machine learning in analysing large data sets, and the construction and operation of telescopes and instrumentation. I was previously a full professor at the University of Hertfordshire in the UK, and have acted as Head of Research of the IAC, Chair of the Board of the Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes in La Palma, council member and treasurer of the European Astronomical Society (EAS), and member representative in AURA for the IAC. I am also the Scientific Secretary of the CCI, the international scientific committee overseeing the operation of the 50+ telescopic installations in the Canary Island Observatories. I would thus bring substantial expertise in developing and managing a variety of activities and programmes, and in optimising the return of telescopes in terms of both science and human resource development.
My involvement with the VRO LSST started over a decade ago, and has led to the IAC being an in-kind contributor with telescope time in the 10.4-m GTC telescope in La Palma. I am an active member of the galaxies science collaboration and its low surface brightness working group. I am very interested in the work of the LSST-DA, and was glad that the IAC Director accepted my recommendation that the IAC join it as an institutional member. I have a long-standing interest in broadening participation in science, and in equality and diversity. I co-led the writing of the EAS ethics statement, and most recently collaborated closely with the LSST-DA CEO, the IAU and the African Astronomical Society in the conception and implementation of the successful IAU GA Travel Fund for African astronomers. The VRO LSST presents a distinctive opportunity to broaden access to top-class astronomical data as well as to cutting-edge ‘big data’ analysis tools, especially as no expensive tools or travels are needed. Broadened access, from underrepresented collectives in the developed world to students and scientists elsewhere, can be stimulated through a combination of training, mentoring, nurturing and development of talent, and rewarding of success and achievement, all of which the LSST-DA can uniquely propose, finance, and help implement. I am keen to assist the LSST-DA, as a member of its Board of Directors, in further developing its already impressive portfolio of activities.