Executive Board of EISCAT_3D project

Marking the completion of the first two quarter-years of the project, the Executive Board of the EISCAT_3D Preparatory Phase project will have its third meeting in Sigtuna, Sweden, on the 3rd and 4th of May, 2011. Sigtuna is a convenient location very close to the main airport of Stockholm, Arlanda.

According to the document "Description of Work, Part B", which is part of the Consortium Agreement, the "Executive Board acts as the supervisory body for the execution of the EISCAT_3D Preparatory Phase. It consists of two members from the Co-ordinator and up to three members from the other members of the consortium. The Co-ordinator appoints its own members and the General Assembly appoints the other members of the Executive Board, ..."

The Co-ordinator of the project is EISCAT. The members of the Executive Board are:

• Esa Turunen, EISCAT Headquarters
• Henrik Andersson, EISCAT Headquarters
• Ian McCrea, STFC/RAL, U.K.
• Jonny Johansson, University of Luleå, Sweden
• Thomas Ulich, Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory, Finland

The Executive Board is in constant contact. It meets every week in a telephone conference, which is currently held on Fridays at 1100 UTC. In addition to that, the Board meets every three months to conclude the quarterly reporting intervals. Typically the meetings are held about one month after the quarter is concluded. Because the EISCAT_3D project began in October 2010, the project quarters coincide with calendar quarters.

Tasks of the Executive Board

The aforementioned Description of Work details the tasks of the Executive Board: "The Executive Board prepares the meetings, proposes decisions and prepares the agenda of the General Assembly, and it seeks a consensus among the members of the consortium. It is responsible for the proper execution and implementation of the decisions of the General Assembly and it monitors the effective and efficient implementation of EISCAT_3D Preparatory Phase project. In addition, the Executive Board collects information at least every six months on the progress of the Preparatory Phase, examines that information to assess the compliance of EISCAT_3D with the activity plan and, if necessary, proposes modifications of the activity plan to the General Assembly. Furthermore, the Executive Board initiates, coordinates and organises the Sub Project(s) whenever such are needed. It agrees on the members of the Management Support Team upon a proposal from the Coordinator, and supports the Coordinator in preparing meetings with the European Commission and in preparing related data and deliverables. It also prepares the content and timing of press releases and joint publications by the consortium. In the case of abolished tasks as a result of a decision of the General Assembly, the Executive Board shall advise the General Assembly on ways to rearrange the tasks and budgets of the consortium members concerned. Such rearrangement shall take into consideration the legitimate commitments taken prior to the decisions, which cannot be cancelled."