International Coordination of Multi-Messenger Transient Observations in
  the 2020s and Beyond: Kavli-IAU White Paper
  This White Paper summarizes the discussions from a five-day workshop,
involving 50 people from 18 countries, held in Cape Town, South Africa in
February 2020. Convened by the International Astronomical Union's Executive
Committee Working Group on Global Coordination of Ground and Space Astrophysics
and sponsored by the Kavli Foundation, we discussed existing and potential
bottlenecks for transient and multi-messenger astronomy, identifying eight
broad areas of concern. Some of these are very similar to the challenges faced
by many astronomers engaging in international collaboration, for example, data
access policies, funding, theoretical and computational resources and workforce
equity. Others, including, alerts, telescope coordination and
target-of-opportunity implementation, are strongly linked to the time domain
and are particularly challenging as we respond to transients. To address these
bottlenecks we offer thirty-five specific recommendations, some of which are
simply starting points and require development. These recommendations are not
only aimed at collaborative groups and individuals, but also at the various
organizations who are essential to making transient collaborations efficient
and effective: including the International Astronomical Union, observatories,
projects, scientific journals and funding agencies. We hope those involved in
transient research will find them constructive and use them to develop
collaborations with greater impact and more inclusive teams.
