Why Bother.

Keith’s note: NASA PAO just sent this important clarification on science advisory groups to Marcia Smith @SpcPlcyOnline – but not to other media (see below). It would seem that NASA PAO and OCOMMS are simply clueless as to how external media sources are trying to get messages out regarding things that are going on – in a way that NASA cannot. If NASA is too lazy to be smart and proactive about this then why should we bother? Be certain to follow @SpcPlcyOnline to catch the things @NASAWatch is not provided with. Ad Astra y’all. Update: I finally got a response from PAO late Monday night. Apparently you can only get certain information of direct relevance to the entire NASA family if you ask for it. PAO will not proactively release this information to all media.

NASA PAO: For your awareness, this is what I shared with Marcia:

“NASA is working to adhere to new Executive Orders and other guidance from the Trump Administration as quickly as possible. Where appropriate, the agency has instructed certain groups that receive organizational and/or financial support from NASA to temporarily pause activities pending a review to ensure compliance with recent presidential actions. This temporary pause includes several community-led Analysis Groups/Assessment Groups (AGs), Science Interest Groups (SIGs), Science Analysis Groups (SAGs), and Science and Technology Interest Groups (STIGs).”

And when she asked for a list of the groups we reached out to, I let her know that we have examples but not a comprehensive list, and I provided the examples below.

• Earth Science Data System Working Groups (ESDSWG)
• Living With a Star Program Analysis Group (LPAG)
• Heliophysics Technology Program Analysis Group (H-TPAG)
• Exoplanet Program Analysis Group (ExoPAG) 
• Search for Life Science Analysis Group (SFL-SAG)
• Fundamental Physics Program Analysis Group (FunPAG) 
• Astrophysics with Equity: Surmounting Obstacles to Membership (AWESOM) – Science Analysis Group (SAG)
• Cosmic Origins Program Analysis Group (COPAG)
• Physics of the Cosmos Program Analysis Group (PhysPAG) 
• New Great Observatories SAG
• Cross-AG EDIA Working Group