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Register of the UCSD Center for Astrophysics and Space Sciences Records
RSS 2104
RSS 2104
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Title: UCSD Center for Astrophysics and Space Sciences Records
Identifier/Call Number: RSS 2104
Contributing Institution:
Mandeville Special Collections Library
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla, California, 92093-0175
Languages:
English
Physical Description:
4.0 Linear feet
4 records cartons
Date (inclusive): 1979 - 1995
Abstract: Records of the UCSD Center for Astrophysics and Space Sciences (CASS), an organized research unit founded in 1979 to link
space scientists and scientific departments on the UCSD campus and to provide a unified corporate umbrella to manage federally
funded projects. Directed by Margaret Burbidge (1979-1988), Laurence Peterson (1989-1994) and Arthur Wolfe (1994-present),
CASS has given administrative support to such research projects as the Faint Object Spectrometer, the Gamma-ray Observatory,
the Solar Maximum Mission, and the Keck Telescope. Materials in this collection include founding papers, correspondence of
the director (1979-1991), CASS committee meeting minutes and agendas, research proposals, and several miscellaneous project
files. This collection is arranged in five series: 1) GENERAL RECORDS, 2) CORRESPONDENCE, 3) COMMITTEES AND MEETINGS, 4) RESEARCH
PROJECTS AND PROPOSALS, and 5) ORIGINALS OF PRESERVATION PHOTOCOPIES.
Creator:
University of California, San Diego. Center for Astrophysics and Space Sciences
Collection is open for research.
CASS Records. RSS 2104. Mandeville Special Collections Library, UCSD.
The Center for Astrophysics and Space Sciences (CASS) was founded in 1979 to provide scientific direction for the interrelated
departments of Physics, Chemistry and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) at UCSD, and to provide a unified
corporate umbrella to manage federally funded projects. As an Organized Research Unit, CASS provides a forum for the synergy
of the disciplines of astronomy, astrophysics, space physics, cosmochemistry, radio astronomy, and plasma astrophysics. Furnishing
administrative support for program coordination, contract and grant administration, and resource allocation (shared equipment,
moneys and personnel), CASS streamlines and organizes university research groups including the Infra-Red, Optical and High
Energy Astronomy Groups; the Solar Astrophysics and Solar System Physics Groups; and, the Theoretical Astrophysics and Cosmochemistry
Groups. Administrators hoped the new unity would lead to interdisciplinary opportunities in scientific inquiry and in educational
curricula and platforms available to UCSD graduate students. The extra administrative capability that CASS could provide facilitated
the development of large research projects, such as the Faint Object Spectrograph (FOS) on the Hubble Space Telescope and
the Gamma-ray Observatory (GRO).
CASS is managed by a single director, who reports to the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research, and one to three associate
directors. It derives its funding and purpose from contracts and research grants. The research groups share members and are
fluid in their aggregation of personnel and resources, which change according to project priority, funding and staff availability.
Members of CASS constitute and serve on various center committees including the Executive and Policy Committee, the Education
Committee, and the Computing Ad Hoc Committee. CASS's business office manages funds and allocates personnel and resources.
The founding director of CASS was Margaret Burbidge (1979-1988), followed by Laurence Peterson (1989-1994) and Arthur M. Wolfe
(1994-present).
Scope and Content of Collection
The CENTER FOR ASTROPHYSICS AND SPACE SCIENCES (CASS) RECORDS document the founding and growth activities of a large UCSD
Organized Research Unit (ORU). The collection includes the founding materials and bylaws of CASS, correspondence from the
director's office, committee meeting minutes, and research materials.
The records are arranged in five series: 1) GENERAL RECORDS, 2) CORRESPONDENCE, 3) COMMITTEES AND MEETINGS, 4) RESEARCH PROJECTS
AND PROPOSALS, and 5) ORIGINALS OF PRESERVATION PHOTOCOPIES.
SERIES 1: GENERAL RECORDS
The GENERAL RECORDS series, arranged in six subseries, contains annual reports, budgets and funding materials, founding documents
such as the constitution and bylaws, public relations materials, quinquennial reviews, and agreements regarding research facilities.
SERIES 2: CORRESPONDENCE
The CORRESPONDENCE series, arranged chronologically, includes letters and memoranda from the director and assistant director,
as well as internal memoranda and correspondence with granting institutions such as NASA and the Marlar Foundation.
SERIES 3: COMMITTEES AND MEETINGS
The COMMITTEES AND MEETINGS series is arranged in two subseries: A) Committees and B) Meetings.
A) The Committees subseries includes minutes and agendas from center committees such as the Education Committee and the Executive
and Policy Committee, among others. The Education Committee materials include announcements and flyers for various academic
seminars and graduate events.
B) The Meetings subseries contains minutes from CASS faculty meetings and meetings of the Office of Graduate Studies and Research/Organized
Research Unit Directors. Both subseries are arranged alphabetically by official group name.
SERIES 4: RESEARCH PROJECTS AND PROPOSALS
The RESEARCH PROJECTS AND PROPOSALS series is arranged in two subseries: A) Projects and B) Proposals. The Projects subseries
contains administrative and technical materials from several projects including the Faint Object Spectrograph and the Hubble
Space Telescope. The Proposals subseries contains research proposals written by members of CASS and is arranged alphabetically
by title of proposal.
SERIES 5: ORIGINALS OF PRESERVATION PHOTOCOPIES
The ORIGINALS OF PRESERVATION PHOTOCOPIES series contains the originals of brittle or high acid content documents that have
been photocopied.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Compton Observatory
Solar Maximum Mission (Project)
Wolfe, Arthur -- Archives
Astronomical spectroscopy
Astronomy
Astrophysics
Cosmochemistry
Gamma rays
High Energy Astronomy Observatories
Orbiting astronomical observatories
Plasma astrophysics
Radio astronomy