Wide Field Camera 3
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Scientific Oversight Committee (SOC)

A NASA-selected panel of scientific representatives work closely with the WFC3 Project to ensure that the instrument meets the expectations of the general scientific community.

This Scientific Oversight Committee advise the WFC3 Project on all major decisions regarding instrument capabilities and approve the scientific tradeoffs during the instrument development process. A balance must be achieved between capability and feasibility. Below is a charter which lists the duties of the SOC.

WFC3 SOC Charter

  1. define the key scientific goals for WFC3, in particular, define a representative set of scientific programs to be used in the development of a Design Reference Mission
  2. define the main scientific success criteria for WFC3, and help determine the technical tradeoffs and assess performance against these criteria
  3. assist in the prioritization of major operational modes
  4. participate in the major project reviews
  5. recommend the set of filters to be incorporated in WFC3 for the optimal execution of the scientific program (broad community input will be sought as part of the SOC's deliberations on this issue)
  6. participate in the selection of the flight and spare detectors, including the tradeoffs of the performance parameters (QE, read-noise, cosmetics, etc.) and scientific objectives

Well over twenty distinguished scientists in the field of astronomy and astrophysicists comprise the SOC. The members hail from universities, institutes, and observatories across the world.

list of members, 1998

The SOC during its meeting at GSFC in October of 1998.

» Full list of SOC members and contact information.