HEIG_Apr26 < IVOA

---+ HEIG Meeting (online) - Fri. Apr 10, 2026 @ 13:00 UTC

<br />%TOC%

   * _Attendees_ :
   * _Regrets_ :
---++ Zoom

https://smithsonian.zoom.us/j/97478328416?pwd=ZEpmMnI4RGhrS01pazF5dXBLbEsyZz09
---++ Actions
   * 
---++ Meeting Agenda
   * Meeting notes in *BOLD*
   * A little History
      * IVOA Interest Group (IG) Overview (see below)
      * HEIG - How we got here?? (see below)
   * Where are we now / Interop planning
      * Taking an early step and working with the Semantics WG as we review UCDs and VEPs
      * Planning for a Plenary session where we present (DRAFT agenda, times are draft too):
         * Overview of Efforts / Outline of Session - Janet (2 min)
         * ObsCore Extension Highlights - Ian (10min)
         * CSC Prototype Demo - Ian (5 min)
         * HESS Prototype Demo - Mathieu (5 min)
         * Early WG efforts - Semantics - Bruno (10min)
         * Panel discussion - rest of time (with folks above, we can ask others)
      * Pursue efforts with the WGs to help them understand and explore how HE needs can be supported as outlined in the HE Obscore Note.
   * Moving forward - Continue VEP discussion with Semantics WG reps (Early WG efforts)
   * *Next meeting is xxx. Before Interop*
   * AOB
---++ IVOA Interest Group (IG) Overview

Interest groups in the IVOA
   * Functions as a specialized community forum within the Virtual Observatory framework, focusing on specific sub-disciplines or cross-cutting topics (such as Solar System, Time Domain, High Energy, Radio) to explore the use of VO technologies.
   * Unlike Working Groups (WGs), which are tasked with developing technical standards, Interest Groups focus on requirements gathering, user experience sharing, and providing expert feedback to WGs to ensure standards meet specific scientific needs.

Purpose and Function
   * Identify Needs: They identify scientific or technical requirements within their sub-discipline and communicate them to relevant IVOA WGs, acting as a bridge between the community and technical developers.
   * Evaluate Standards: IGs review existing IVOA standards for their applicability to specific sub-disciplines, proposing improvements or adjustments without first developing new, complex specifications.
   * Provide Feedback: They facilitate feedback on user experiences and interoperability problems, particularly after implementing VO standards.
Structure and Leadership
   * Leadership: IGs are led by a Chair and often a Vice-Chair (or Deputy Chair) who provide continuity in the discussion.
   * Interoperability Meetings: They hold dedicated sessions during the semi-annual IVOA Interoperability Workshops to meet face-to-face (or virtually) and discuss current issues, often producing reports for the Executive Committee.
   * Communication: They utilize dedicated mailing lists (e.g., [[mailto:ops@ivoa.net][ops@ivoa.net]]) and TWiki pages for documenting discussions, notes, and progress.
Operational Workflow
   * Requirement Gathering: Community members report gaps, such as the need for specific high-energy data formats.
   * Discussion and Documentation: The IG discusses these needs in sessions, creating working notes or "Notes" published via the IVOA document repository.
   * Feedback to Working Groups: The IG conveys requirements to relevant WGs (e.g., Data Access Layer or Data Model) to initiate standard development. *Community Promotion: IGs help promote the adoption of standards within their sub-discipline, ensuring they are practical for daily scientific research.
Relationship with Working Groups (WGs)
   * Interest Groups often act as a precursor to Working Groups. If an IG identifies a need that requires the formal development of a standard, it often initiates the process that leads to the creation of a temporary Working Group, or simply feeds requirements into existing WG(s).

---+ HEIG - How we got here??
   * First met informally at the May 2023 Bologna IVOA meeting
   * Proceeded to become the ‘HE club’ and worked to write an IVOA note to outline High Energy data and the goals of the High Energy Interest Group (HEIG). The HEIG IG Note was presented at the Malta meeting in Nov 2024, and the group was accepted as an IVOA IG at that meeting.
   * The group began work on the IVOA Note to specify an Obscore extension so that High Energy Data from current and future missions are fully discoverable. An Obscore extension concept was already being explored by the Radio & Timing IGs. This effort brings the scientific community's requirements to the IVOA.
   * We have completed that HE Obscore Extension Note, and we are planning to present it at the June Strasbourg Interop along with 2 prototypes written to the specifications. We will have a Plenary session planned for the Interop (Draft agenda below)
      * We will request IVOA Executive Committee endorsement of the HEIG Note.
      * We will begin work with the Working groups on the requirements we set forth in the HE Note.
      * WGs that we'll need to work with:
         * DM WG: Obscore
         * DAL WG: TAP
         * Registry WG: Registry
         * Semantics WG: UCDs, VEPs
This topic: IVOA > IvoaSciencePriorities > HEGroup > HEIG_Apr26
Topic revision: r1 - 2026-04-08 - JanetEvans