Recommended ALFALFA Project Guidelines

• Each science project is to be undertaken in the spirit of the ALFALFA collaboration, with maximum openness to all ALFALFA team members who commit significant effort towards the undertaking of the project.

• While science projects may be undertaken by subsets of the ALFALFA team working on their own, contributions to the overall ALFALFA effort are expected of each project team. For example, catalogs developed by one project team should be provided to other ALFALFA teams where separate science projects make use of data collected in the same sky area. Data products produced by individual project teams must meet the general ALFALFA product specifications and be delivered to the overall ALFALFA archive. Software exchange by teams is encouraged, with IDL the preferred environment for ALFALFA analysis.

• The science project leader is responsible for seeing that the project is undertaken in a timely manner with delivery of all tasks including data processing and analysis, construction of data catalogs, production of Level II public data products, science analysis and education and public outreach. To maximize accomplishment with minimal redundant effort, project teams should coordinate closely with members of the technical working groups, and probably, with other ALFALFA science teams.

• Leaders of science project teams making first use of the survey data should assume responsibility for production of the Level I data processing as well as the HI catalog and public data products of those regions of the sky covered by the science project.

• Where possible, large science project teams should contribute to the observing team effort.

• Science project teams planning concurrent follow-up or complementary observations should include members of the HI catalog team so that ALFALFA reduction and detection strategy can include current target lists.

• Science project teams must present a well defined plan (to be posted) for execution including a timeframe for completion of all deliverables. Progress will be reviewed periodically by the Oversight Committee.

• Student involvement is strongly encouraged, and students' interests should be protected.