ALS Scientific Advisory Committee*
I. FUNCTION AND REPORTING
The ALS Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) is advisory to the Berkeley Lab Director through the ALS Director. The SAC serves two primary functions:
It acts as a "board of directors" to advise the Laboratory on current ALS operations, allocation of facility resources, strategic planning, budget development, and other major issues; and
It reviews major proposals to establish participating research teams (PRTs) and monitors progress and performance of approved teams.
As a "board of directors," the SAC will have the responsibility to provide recommendations on all technical and policy issues that bear on the full and effective utilization of the ALS as a state-of-the-art national synchrotron-radiation facility and on future developments required to maintain the scientific and technical productivity of the facility at the highest possible level.
The range of inquiry of the SAC will specifically include a consideration of what mix of PRT beamlines, their ancillary laboratories and equipment, and their activities represent an appropriate utilization of the ALS as a national facility. In particular, the SAC will have the responsibility to:
To review proposals for establishment of new PRTs. Criteria to be considered in the review of new PRTs proposals include: uniqueness and quality of the proposed science and/or technology program, benefit to others in the scientific and technological communities, impact on other science and technology at the ALS, fiscal resources and personnel available for development of the proposed beamline, and the ability of the proponents to carry out the proposed program successfully. The SAC will be assisted in this review by the ALS Staff.
To review at six-month intervals progress toward implementation of the selected PRT beamlines. Criteria to be considered in the review of PRTs progress include timely achievement of the milestones and adherence to the principles outlined in the memorandum of understanding that shall be executed between the PRTs and the ALS Director.
To review at two-year intervals the performance of PRTs once beamlines are operating. Criteria to be considered in the review of PRTs performance include the quality of the science and/or technology that has resulted from the research program, benefit to others in the scientific and technological communities in both the public and private sectors, impact on other scientific and technological fields, and the balance of representation among the major scientific and technological disciplines served by the ALS.
SAC advice to the Berkeley Lab Director through
the ALS Director will be in the form of written reports containing recommendations
on matters discussed by the committee. After receipt of the report containing
SAC recommendations, the ALS Director will forward the report through the
appropriate management chain to the Berkeley Lab Director (or designee),
who has final authority for acceptance or rejection of the recommendations,
including specific recommendations concerning PRT proposals.
II. MEMBERSHIP AND OFFICERS
The SAC will have nine (9) members. The members will be appointed by the Berkeley Lab Director. The ALS Director will recommend nominees to the Berkeley Lab Director after broad consultation with Berkeley Lab management and with the synchrotron radiation community through the ALS Users' Executive Committee. Selection criteria for membership include:
(1) The members will be recognized for their scientific or technical accomplishments and for their management of scientific and/or industrial organizations;
(2) The membership will be balanced to cover the major scientific and technological areas served by the ALS.
Membership on the SAC will be for a three-year term, renewable for no more than one term. To ensure continuity, terms will be staggered with, typically, three seats, including renewals, being filled each year, as appropriate.
The chair of the SAC will be appointed by the ALS
Director from among the sitting members. The ALS Scientific Program Head
will be an ex-officio member of the SAC and will serve as its Executive
Secretary.
III. MODE OF OPERATION
A. Meetings
The SAC will meet as often as necessary but no less than twice a year. The deliberations of the SAC will be confidential to the extent legally possible. The ALS Director and/or designated ALS staff members may participate in the SAC deliberations except when the SAC determines a need for a private session. In such private sessions, the Executive Secretary will remain or leave at the discretion of the SAC.
B. Procedures for Evaluation of PRT Proposals and Progress Reviews
All proposals to design, construct and operate a beamline that are submitted to the ALS in accordance with the procedures described in the document "Advanced Light Source Users Handbook" (PUB-3123) will be made available to the SAC. All proposals submitted at least two months before a given SAC meeting will be considered at that meeting.
For progress reviews, the memoranda of understanding of all PRTs to be reviewed will be made available to the SAC, together with such written progress reports for the review period that the SAC may request. Spokespersons for PRTs to be reviewed may be invited to appear before the SAC to describe their achievements and future plans and to answer questions that the SAC members may have.
C. Conflict of Interest during SAC Deliberations
A member of the SAC will not take part in deliberations or votes when:
(l) His/her name appears in a proposal under consideration;
(2) Another proposal is being considered in direct competition with one in which the member is a collaborator; and
(3) His/her participation would create or appear to create a conflict of interest.
*Formerly known as Program Advisory Committee (PAC)
(rev. 1 - February 15, 1995)
Scientific
Advisory Committee