This page provides a top-level description of the Discussion Panel Meetings. 

Discussion Panel Meetings Logistics

Each of the Discussion panels will meet virtually via Webex on the following days:

• Monday–Thursday, February 1–4, 2027, 10am–4pm ET:
  Panel Meetings for Galactic Panels
  (i.e.,  Solar System Astronomy, Exoplanet Atmospheres and Habitability, Exoplanetary Systems and Dynamics, Stars and Stellar Populations, Interstellar Gas and Dust)
•  Tuesday–Friday, February 2–5, 2027, 10am–4pm ET:
  Panel Meetings for Extragalactic Panels
  (i.e., Galaxy Evolution and the Nearby Universe, Galaxy Frontiers and the Distant Universe, Super Massive Black Holes and Active Galaxies)

Before the Panel Meeting, the Chair will circulate a schedule to the panelists, detailing the times each proposal will be discussed. An overview of how the the Panel Meeting proceeds is described below. 

Introduction

This is an opportunity to get to know the Chair, Vice Chair, Panelists, and Panel Support Scientist (PSS). The Chair gives an overview of how the meeting will run. 

Proposal Discussion

Panelists discuss and grade individual proposals in turn following the schedule set by the Chair.

1. The Chair and PSS check for any Conflicts of Interest, moving conflicted panelists to a breakout room.
2. The primary review provides a brief overview of the proposal, and their identified strengths and weaknesses;
3. The secondary reviewer expands on the overview, strengths, and weaknesses;
4. All other (non-conflicted) panelists discuss the proposal.
5. The Scribe takes notes on the strengths and weaknesses covered in the discussion on the "Shared Remarks" section in SPIRIT.
6. After the discussion, panelists submit their final grade for that proposal in SPIRIT.
7. Once all grades are submitted, the PSS locks the grades for that proposal.
8. Conflicted panelists are brought back into the main Webex room, and the panel moves to the next proposal.

Ranking

Once all proposals have been graded, the ranked list is compiled by the PSS for review. Each panel has a resource allocation. See Final Ranking for a detailed explanation. Panels can re-rank proposals to take account of factors such as programmatic balance. An SPD staff member will be present throughout the ranking/re-ranking process that proceeds as follows. 

1. Panelists reflect on the ranked list. 
2. Discussions of the ranked list in general can occur before conflicts are considered.
3. However, as soon as the discussion moves to any specific proposal, conflicts must be checked.
4. Moving in pairwise-comparisons, panelists may re-rank proposals, if appropriate.
5. Only non-conflicted panelists can suggest a pairwise re-ranking.
6. Any panelist conflicted on either proposal must leave the room.
7. Only proposals adjacent to one another in the ranking can be compared to one another.
8. Any re-ranking must be based on the scientific merit of the pairwise-adjacent proposals.
9. (Non-conflicted) panelists vote whether the switch or retain the order of the proposals in question via an anonymous Webex poll moderated by the PSS. A tie means the original order is retained.
10. If the proposals are re-ranked, the PSS updates the order in SPIRIT.

Conflicted panelists are brought back to the room.

Review of Team expertise 

Once the ranked list is finalized and locked, the PSS will give panelists the opportunity to review the Team Expertise submissions, but only for the proposals recommended for implementation. Panelists should raise specific proposals for discussion only if they have significant concerns regarding the team's ability to achieve the science goals. If there is consensus that there are clear, compelling deficiencies in the expertise, the panel should document those for the Director's consideration. Proposals can only be eliminated; removal of a proposal will not then elevate any proposal below the allocation line.

Discussion of EC Proposals by the Discussion Panels

Panelists discuss (though do not grade) a subset of EC proposals in the panel subject area and provide feedback to the Chair and Vice Chair and any At-large member that may be present during the discussion. The Chair will let panelists know what EC proposals will be discussed and panelists should read them before the meeting. See Discussion of EC Proposals by the Discussion Panels for more information. 

Proposal Feedback Comments

Panelists should enter the final version of the proposal feedback comments for each proposal for which they are Primary reviewer by the end of the meeting; this may be done at the end or time set aside during the meeting. The Chair or Vice Chair signs off on these once they are complete. See Proposal Feedback Comments for more detailed information. 

More details about these stages can be found in the pages within this section.

Who attends the Panel Meetings

The meetings will be private, that is only people with a link may join. There will be a number of people beyond the panelists, PSSs, and SPD Managers who will be given the links and will be able to join.

• All Discussion panelists, the Chair, and Vice Chair should attend the entirety of the Panel Meetings. Short absences (i.e., teaching) can usually be accommodated in the Chair's scheduling of the proposal discussion order. Panelists, including the Chair and Vice Chair, must leave the Webex room during the discussion of proposals on which they are conflicted; this will be managed by the PSS.
• The Panel Support Scientist (PSS) attends the entirety of the Panel Meeting for logistical support.
• At Large members are members of the Executive Committees. They will rotate through the Webex rooms to have a broad view of the selection process. They may serve as back-up Chairs for proposals for which the Chair and Vice Chair are conflicted. 
• SPD staff members will rotate through the Webex rooms to monitor discussions and answer policy questions (for panels on which they are unconflicted). If a SPD member is needed, the PSS can ask for someone to join the session. SPD staff usually have "SPD" in their Webex name. They will keep their cameras off unless they are speaking.
• "Observers" from STScI and NASA will rotate through the Webex rooms to observe, but not contribute to, the discussion. Observers usually have "STScI" or "NASA" in their Webex name and will keep their cameras off.

Next: Webex and Slack Guidelines