Richard Kron to chair Science Advisory Committee of Giant Magellan Telescope

The Giant Magellan Telescope board of directors has appointed Richard Kron, Professor in Astronomy & Astrophysics, as chair of the GMT Science Advisory Committee, effective immediately.

“Richard has great experience in providing scientific advice and oversight to large projects,” including the Columbus Project (now called the Large Binocular Telescope), the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and the Dark Energy Survey, said Patrick McCarthy, director of the GMT Organization.

Hsiao-Wen Chen will continue to serve as UChicago’s SAC member. Last summer UChicago became a founding partner of the GMT — the effort to build the world’s largest telescope in Chile.

In the next year, SAC will begin the process of selecting the GMT’s first-generation suite of instruments. The committee also will review and update the facility’s science case, update and finalize the top-level scientific and technical requirements, and update the operations procedures and formulate a science support and data plan.