# About the IDAC Coordination Group

**URL:** <https://www.rubin.community/t/about-the-idac-coordination-group/4390>\
**Category:** Independent Data Access Centers\
**Created:** [September 11, 2020, 10:35pm UTC](https://www.rubin.community/t/about-the-idac-coordination-group/4390 "2020-09-11T22:35:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![knutago](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/www.rubin.community/knutago/32/602_2.png) [@knutago](https://www.rubin.community/u/knutago)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 10:35pm UTC](https://www.rubin.community/t/about-the-idac-coordination-group/4390/1 "2020-09-11T22:35:52Z")

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As described in [this Community topic](http://www.rubin.community/t/proposed-new-categories-in-science-photometric-redshifts-crowded-fields-and-independent-data-access-centers/4357), Independent Data Access Centers (IDACs) provide a great opportunity to extend the ability of Rubin data rights holders to make discoveries with Rubin data. IDACs can take many forms and serve a variety of constituents, making it important to establish coordination between proposers of IDACs as In-Kind contributions, Rubin project staff, the Science Collaborations, and the community of data rights holders.

This **IDACs coordination group** has been formed to respond to this emergent need, as described in an email to all in-kind proposal teams (from Knut Olsen on Sept 3 2020). Going forward, the [Community.lsst.org](http://Community.lsst.org) category “Science - Independent Data Access Centers” will be the primary venue for all of this group’s conversations.

The short-term purpose of the **IDACs coordination group** is to help all teams proposing IDACs as In-Kind contributions to optimize their proposals and to make sure they have the information that they need, especially as new technical questions arise about IDAC contributions that are not [covered by the Handbook](http://www.rubin.community/t/in-kind-program-update-handbook-for-proposal-teams-summer-schedule/4335) and the [IDAC Technical Note](https://rtn-003.lsst.io/RTN-003.pdf). Questions and/or topics for discussion — whether they be posed to Rubin staff, the Science Collaborations, or to other in-kind teams — should be raised as new topics here in the “Science - Independent Data Access Centers” category.

The longer-term purpose of the **IDACs coordination group** is to help international teams and others within the community of Rubin data rights holders towards the delivery, integration, and maintenance of their contributions, as well as to establish a coordinated network of IDACs.

Questions for Rubin staff (e.g., Data Management) that include sensitive or confidential aspects of in-kind proposals related to IDACs are welcome via emails or LSSTC Slack direct messages to Knut Olsen and/or Greg Madejski.

As a side note, [the purpose of this “Science - Independent Data Access Centers” category](http://www.rubin.community/t/about-the-independent-data-access-centers-category/4363/2) extends well beyond supporting the IDACs coordination group. Everyone should please participate in this category by posting topics related to Rubin IDACs, and participating in threaded discussions.