Minutes of the ARTI meeting at the Mathematical Physics Department of 
University College Dublin on May 17, 2004 

Present: 
Tom Brazil (UCD - Electrical Engineering) 
Kevin Berwick (DIT) 
Gerry Doyle (Armagh) 
Peter Duffy (UCD - Mathematical Physics) 
Denise Gabuzda (UCC) 
Aaron Golden (Galway) 
Lorraine Hanlon (UCD - Experimental Physics) 
Lynn Moran (UCD - Experimental Physics) 
Creidhe O'Sullivan (Maynooth) 
Tom Ray (DIAS) 
Neal Trappe (Maynooth) 
Apologies: Brian Espey (TCD), Matt Redman (Galway), Niall Smith (CIT) 
The meeting was chaired by Peter Duffy. The following items were discussed. 
1) Geological survey 
A detailed outline of what is required for a geological survey of the 
proposed telescope site has been prepared by Prof. Paul Ryan and colleagues 
at the Geology Department of NUI-Galway. In the interest of keeping costs 
down, it is currently planned that this work will be carried out as part 
of a Masters' student or summer student project. This survey will determine 
whether boring is needed; if needed, we should get in touch with the 
Geological Survey of Ireland in hopes that they can be convinced to carry 
out this more expensive procedure. 
Tom Ray raised the question of whether a geomatic survey would be needed. 
An action item was put to Denise Gabuzda to get in touch with Hans Kaercher 
from Mann Technologie and ask about this. 
The issue of planning permission was also raised, in connection with the 
more general question of relations between the local people (in both 
Tipperary and Offaly) and the project. Lord Rosse had indicated earlier 
that the actual land on which the telescope would be built should not require 
planning permission, but a more thorough analysis of this question may be 
needed in the interest of keeping the locals informed and positive. For 
example, they may be concerned about the presence of heavy machinery, 
trucks etc. 
3) Protecting the RFI environment near Birr 
Aaron Golden has been in contact with Samuel Ritchey of ComGen about this, 
who is very positive about an initiative to protect the RFI conditions 
near Birr. There is an agreement to implement a radio quiet zone with a 
radius of 5km around the site; this would mean that any new installations 
that could generate substantial amounts of RFI would have to be approved 
before they could be built. Aaron indicated that ComGen seemed willing 
not only to introduce the RQZ, but also to enforce it. An action item was 
put to Aaron Golden to continue to keep in contact with ComGen about this 
issue as the project develops. 
4) Interest from HEANet 
Creidhe O'Sullivan briefly reported on an email she had received from 
Warren Daly at HEANet indicating that they are very enthusiastic about the 
the ARTI project and are willing to be of some practical help in connection 
with writing proposals etc. if they can. An action item was put to Aaron 
Golden to get in touch with Warren Daly to follow this up. 
It was also pointed out that the process of laying new fibres will take time 
and is expensive, and it would be desirable to try to start this process 
as soon as possible. The question also arose of where precisely the nearest 
optic fibre "hub" would be (Roscrea, Athlone?). An action item was put to 
Tom Brazil to find out. The comment was also made that the role of ARTI in 
strengthening the optic fibre/telecommunications infrastructure of the Birr 
area should be made clear to the local people, since this represents a 
direct benefit to them of which they might otherwise not be aware. 
5) Organisation of the ARTI Consortium 
Denise Gabuzda reported on behalf of Salters Sterling, who has been in contact 
with Roger Downer about the initiation of the ARTI Consortium. Salters has 
given Downer a copy of an ARTI "Executive Summary" (prepared by Aaron Golden 
and Denise Gabuzda) to look over. Provided that he feels happy with this 
document, he will present it to an upcoming meeting of the Research Group 
of CHIU as the basis for forming the ARTI Consortium. It is clear that such 
a Consortium must ultimately include not only Irish universities North and 
South, but also other research organisations (in particular, Armagh Observatory 
and DIAS) and the institutes of technology. Gerry Doyle pointed out that SALT 
may provide a possible model, since this organisation includes five universities 
and the Armagh Observatory. There should presumably also be representatives 
from the BSHF and the RIA. 
It was agreed that, at this stage, it is important to establish the ARTI 
Consortium independent of any funding issues. Thus, the universities, 
observatories and institutes will be invited to participate in the management 
of the ARTI project by joining the Consortium, and will not be required to 
pay any significant fees to do so. 
The following list of involved academics who will take responsibility for 
"briefing" the relevant officials at their universities or institutes (VPs 
for research, Deans of Science, Presidents) was composed: 
Armagh Observatory -- Gerry Doyle 
DIAS -- Tom Ray 
Galway -- Aaron Golden, Matt Redman 
Maynooth -- Anthony Murphy 
TCD -- Brian Espey 
UCD -- Tom Brazil, Lorraine Hanlon, Peter Duffy 
UCC -- Denise Gabuzda 
Limerick has a de facto connection in the person of Roger Downer. Two main 
universities that are not covered here are DCU (possible contacts are 
Brian Lawless, Thurlough Downes, Niva Ruddy and Martin Henry) and QUB (possible 
contact is Vince Fusco); action items were put to Denise Gabuzda to get in 
touch with Martin Henry at DCU and to Tom Brazil to get in touch with Vince 
Fusco at QUB to inform them about the ARTI project and try to identify the 
best contact points for the project at those universities. 
6) Preparing for proposals for major funding 
The two main funding agencies to which it is foreseen submitting proposals 
for various aspects of the construction and outfitting of the telescope 
sometime in the reasonably near future are the European Regional Development 
Fund (for construction and infrastructure) and Science Foundation Ireland 
(for the communications technology and other high-technology aspects of the 
project). The aim is to work toward being in a position to submit proposals 
to these two agencies over the Summer and Autumn. 
Aaron Golden and Denise Gabuzda will lead the effort in connection with the 
ERDF. At this time this involves primarily making contact with the local 
government officials with whom we will need to liaise and collaborate on 
the proposal, working out a fairly detailed outline of the steps required 
for submitting a proposal, and writing the science, technology, and educational 
case for the project in a form suitable for inclusion in an ERDF proposal. 
Since Aaron is currently on sabbatical, it might be desirable to involve 
someone else in this effort as well. 
Tom Brazil and Anthony Murphy will lead the effort in connection with SFI. 
At this time, this involves identifying the technical aspects of the project 
that are most likely to be attractive to SFI and possible spin-offs in 
connection with the project technology, followed by formulation of a plan 
for approaching SFI about funding some part of the project. It may be desirable 
to meet with a representative from SFI informally once the most technologically 
attractive aspects of the project and some possible spin-offs have been 
identified; this will be organised by Tom and Anthony. 
7) "Pre-project" funding 
It is clear that we need some small amount of funding (of the order of 
several thousand Euro per year) to support planning and fundraising 
efforts for the project -- printing costs for brochures and stationary, 
travel costs for project participants to attend relevant meetings or 
to meet with various officials, etc. 
There was also agreement that it would be highly desirable to hire a 
project manager/fundraiser for a period of a year or more, since 
the academic staff who are involved in the project are not able to 
devote the necessary time to the associated activities, and also do 
not have the necessary skills or contacts for these activities. The 
salary for this position should be high enough to make it reasonably 
attractive to someone with the appropriate background and experience, 
and the position should have some reasonable expense budget associated 
with it. 
It was suggested that Tony Scott of UCD, who is just retiring, would be 
an excellent candidate for such a position, and it was agreed that Lorraine 
Hanlon and Tom Brazil would approach him about this. [They have done this, 
and although he is extremely interested in the project, his time is fully 
committed to other activities (such as the Young Scientist Exhibition). 
Therefore, he is willing to give what support he can in an advisory 
capacity, but is unable to devote a large fraction of his time to ARTI.] 
Various ideas for how to raise the funds needed for this ongoing support of 
the project as we search for the larger capital and equipment funds 
needed to build and equip the telescope were suggested. One possibility 
might be to organise social fundraising events (ideas ranged from pub 
contests to historical reenactment fairs), or alternatively to organise 
some sort of fundraising activity as part of a larger event (Kevin Berwick 
suggested the "Whirpool Star Party" in Birr in September; an action item was 
put to him to investigate this possibility). 
Action items were put to Denise Gabuzda to get in touch with Lord Rosse 
about possibilities for obtaining "pre-project" funds from private donors; 
Tom Brazil to talk to the Vice President for Innovation about possible 
sources of startup funding; and Tom Ray to investigate the possibility of 
some sort of British--Irish startup funding. 
8) Postgrad involvement; disseminating information about ARTI 
Suggestions of ways in which interested postgraduate students might be 
able to help the ARTI effort included maintaining the web site (as is 
currently being done by Stephen Bourke), preparing powerpoint-style 
presentations for various audiences (e.g. school presentations) and 
helping format various other documents for the project. 
This discussion was broadened into a discussion of various ways in which 
information about the ARTI project could be spread among the postgrad and 
other interested communities. Ideas included organisation of a joint ASGI/URSI 
meeting, a "Radio Science Day" (possibly funded by SFI?), or events in 
collaboration with amateur astronomy groups. An action item was put to 
Peter Duffy to talk to his own students about the possibility of their 
starting preparation of a general-audience PPT presentation about ARTI. 
An action item was put to Kevin Berwick to get in touch with Terry Moseley 
and David Bell about promoting ARTI among amateur groups. Kevin Berwick also 
agreed to write a draft article about ARTI suitable for publication in amateur 
astronomy magazines. 
9) Project Logo 
The meeting was able to agree on an ARTI logo -- see attached. It is one 
of those proposed by Colm Roche, who is the son of Lt. Col. Tom Roche. 
The choice of this logo was based on its successful blending of traditional 
and modern designs and the feeling that it would maintain its impact when 
reduced (e.g. for letterhead). 
10) Date of the next ARTI meeting 
The date of the next ARTI meeting is set for September 10 at University 
College Dublin, which will also be the date and location of the Autumn 
ASGI meeting. It is hoped this will help as many interested people as 
possible attend, particularly those who have to come a long way.