Network on Experiments and Operation (NEO): Call for proposals for a meeting on data handling and open data

Laserlab-Europe invites proposals for a meeting to be organised under the work package Scientific and Technological Exchanges, Task: Network on Experiments and Operation (NEO), primarily intended as meetings for networking among the partners of Laserlab.

Objectives:

A number of concerns are universal to all laser infrastructures: guarantee user safety, optimize technical services to users, harmonise data acquisition procedures to allow for multiple campaigns in different infrastructures, data handling and long-term storage. Such issues will be discussed within a network dedicated to experiment operation and service to users. Meetings will be organised for sharing/development of best practices. External experts can be invited.

Following a decision by the Laserlab Networking Board, the first NEO meeting will address data handling and open data, addressing, e.g. the management of large scale research digital data, the requirement for open access to research results, efficient curation and long-term preservation.

Examples from past thematic network meetings:

- Meeting format: one to two day meeting at a Laserlab facility or as satellite meeting of a conference, mainly attended by Laserlab partners, attendance of representatives of industry, external institutions or networks possible. The number of attendees ranged from 25 to almost 40.
- Budget: Laserlab funding ranged from 1600 to 3000 Euros covering organisational costs and, if applicable, travel costs of a small number of invited speakers. Usually, external participants cover their t&s themselves. In addition to organisational costs, travel costs of Laserlab participants are covered by using Laserlab funds at their home institutions.

Guidelines for proposals:

Proposals may be brief but should contain the following information:

- Meeting title
- Proposed date(s) and place
- Name and contact information of the organiser
- Brief description of the topics and issues to be discussed
- Potential involvement other light source facilities such as ELI, FELs or synchrotrons
- Preliminary format and proposed schedule
- Estimated number of participants
- Cost estimate

* The meeting should ideally be held in 2016, and at the latest in early 2017.
* Deadline for proposals was 24 April 2016

Proposals should be sent by email to Laserlab Networking.