About LAAC

The LAAC was created back in the Initial LIGO era towards the end of S5 as the LSC was beginning to rapidly grow. It initially consisted of appointed members: a few senior members and one postdoc and one grad student representative. As the collaboration grew even further, and the role of this new committee became better defined, it expanded to include two student and two postdoc representatives, with all positions being elected.

We are the elected representatives to serve as the voice for the students and postdocs when it comes to policies and decisions made by the LSC Directorate and Council. Our job is to be advocates on behalf of students and postdocs. To do so, we need to know about your experiences as junior members of the LSC. Please share with us your concerns, desires, and what you like best and worst!

The responsibilities of the LSC Academic Advisory Committee are to:

• Serve as an advocate with the LSC Council and Executive Committee for the educational aspects across all of LSC for undergraduates, graduate students, and postdocs.
• Provide a mechanism to gather and evaluate information concerning LSC’s educational program and recommend improvements to the LSC Council.
• Work with LSC collaborating institutions to help ensure that the postdocs, graduate students, and undergraduates associated with LSC get a broad education, quality mentoring and appropriate recognition for their work.

The LAAC reports twice a year to the LSC Council on items relevant to the Collaboration’s plans and activities for education and training for students and postdocs in the LSC.