Over the last few years it has become clear that wide-angle optical telescopes, associated with high-power real-time data analysis may contribute significantly to the science of Gamma-Ray Bursts and other rapidly variable astrophysical sources. With the aim of analyzing the scientific demand, as well as the instrumental possibilities, a workshop was called:

"Detection of optical Transients from the Ground"

The two days workshop was conducted on April 27/28, with the participation of domestic and foreign colleagues. Further to the formal programme, informal discussions took place on a number of issues related to high- time resolution, wide-angular coverage astronomy. Central to this was questions like optimum separation for stereoscopic view, location of suitable observatories, software rejection of spurious events, optical design, most rewarding wavelength range, scaling law for scientific performance versus costs, refractive versus reflective solutions, robotic versus manned operation, expected international competition, interest from other branches of astronomy.

The workshop agreed to explore the possibility of installing a second phase of the "Pi of the sky" instrument at the Canarian observatories. At this location, there would be important synergies with other telescopes, in particular the Nordic Optical Telescope, and the MAGIC Cherenkov air shower telescope.

Holger Pedersen, Per Kjaergaard Rasmussen, and Michael I. Andersen, 25/5-05