Issues in & Astronomy at the BPA Board on Physics and Astronomy • The National Academies • Washington, D.C. • 202-334-3520 • national-academies.org/bpa • Summer 2006 Particles, Physics, and Paths Ahead David B. Lang, NRC Staff University will be converted to other uses. of recommendations to construct a 15- And with new facilities soon opening at year plan), it would need to credibly oday, the U.S. particle physics the European Center for Nuclear Re- analyze, and even challenge, the field of program is at a crossroads. Re- search (CERN) in Europe and the High particle physics on a tenet it had taken for Tsearchers have worked for decades Energy Accelerator Research Organiza- granted: that particle physics is especially to uncover the intricacies of the sub- tion (KEK) and the Japanese Proton exciting and an important priority for the atomic world to better understand how Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC) nation. the universe fits together. These tremen- in Japan, the intellectual center of gravity To undertake this difficult task, the dous efforts have yielded a working has already begun to move overseas. In National Research Council (NRC) formed model of interactions between elementary addition, the U.S. efforts in this field lack a a committee that was only half-comprised particles and three of the four forces coherent, strategic direction, slated to of particle (including one each (known as the ) that have continue on an incremental “business-as- from Europe and Japan). Chaired by guided investigations. But as researchers usual” path. Harold T. Shapiro, president emeritus and approach the Terascale—a level of energy It is at these initial conditions that the professor of economics and public affairs out of reach of the current world-leading National Research Council’s Elementary at Princeton University, the committee accelerator at Fermilab—the Standard Particle Physics in the 21st Century Com- also included experts from within con- Model becomes incomplete. It is with the mittee found the U.S. program. Indeed, densed-matter physics, medicine, science exploration of these energies that particle for a committee to offer a new vantage policy, engineering, and astrophysics. physicists expect to discover exciting new point for observing the scientific potential Rather than finding new ways to repeat science, new particles, and perhaps rec- for the field (and from that to recommend the same analyses of the state of the th oncile the twin pillars of 20 -century an actionable and logically organized set See “EPP 2010” on page 4 physics—the theory of quantum mechan- ics and the theory of general relativity. While innumerable scientific opportu- Survey of Condensed-Matter and Materials Physics nities sit just out of arm’s reach, the Phillip D. Long, NRC Staff ponent of the continuum of physics, and United States has positioned itself for concepts that have emerged from theory disinvestment in research at the forefront ondensed-matter and materials and experiment in CMMP have had of humanity’s understanding of the cos- physics (CMMP) is one of the core profound influence on the entire spec- mos. The Tevatron at Fermilab is sched- branches of physics covered in the trum of physics. In collaboration with the uled for shutdown by the end of the C Board on Physics and Astronomy’s Physics applied physics and materials communi- decade, and facilities at Stanford Linear 2010 series. A new BPA study committee, ties, discoveries in CMMP have led to new Accelerator Center (SLAC) and Cornell CMMP 2010: An Assessment of an Outlook devices that have changed the world. The for Condensed-Matter and Materials Phys- global landscape for research in CMMP ics, will evaluate the remarkable advances and its applications has changed dramati- in the CMMP field since the previous cally in the past few years, providing In this issue: decadal survey published in 1999 and additional motivation for a study of identify new opportunities for the upcom- CMMP at this time. The great industrial • EPP 2010. Page 1 ing years. The breadth and richness of the laboratories are no longer major players CMMP field requires that the committee in CMMP. This change has influenced the • CMMP 2010. Page 1 cast its net far and wide to incorporate CMMP community in numerous ways, many key sub-disciplines. This analysis not the least of which is the reduction of • Highlights of the Spring will investigate exciting areas of research, the overall size of the U.S. effort. The BPA Meeting. Page 2 connections to other fields, and contribu- movement of high-tech manufacturing tions to societal needs. overseas is having a significant impact on • Biomolecular Materials. Framing the study are some of the Page 5 the employment prospects for new physi- following issues. CMMP is a fundamental cists, especially those specializing in • Astronomy & Astrophysics. science that has strong intellectual con- CMMP. At the same time, it is likely that Page 7 nections with other fields, both within and national priorities, such as defense and outside of physics. It is an essential com- See “CMMP 2010” on page 6 2 BPA News • Summer 2006

Board on Highlights of the Spring Meeting of the Board on Physics and Astronomy Physics and Astronomy , Chair Stanford University he Board on Physics and As- four times and a final report is forthcom- tronomy met for its annual spring ing soon. The Committee on Astronomy Anneila I. Sargent, Vice Chair California Institute of Technology Tmeeting in Washington, D.C., on and Astrophysics will be consulted as the Elihu Abrahams April 21-22, 2006. Vice Chair Anneila division acts on recommendations. The Rutgers University Sargent called the meeting to order with a results of the report will inform FY2008 Jonathan Bagger warm welcome to everyone. A common budget development. The Johns Hopkins University topic throughout the day’s discussions was Tom Gergely from the NSF Office of Ronald C. Davidson the President’s American Competitiveness Spectrum Management remarked on Princeton University Initiative (ACI). Proposed by President NSF’s response to the Presidential Initia- Raymond J. Fonck Bush in his January 2006 State of the tive on Spectrum Management released in University of Wisconsin at Madison Union Address and supported in his mid-2004. The report emphasized stan- Andrea M. Ghez FY2007 budget request, the ACI seeks to dardizing methods of evaluating spectrum University of California at Los Angeles double the combined budgets of NSF, efficiency and effectiveness, and recom- Peter Green NIST, and DOE Office of Science over a mends that government bodies work in a University of Michigan period of 10 years. However, at this early more coordinated manner to ensure the Laura H. Greene stage, it is not clear how individual agen- nation’s priorities, including scientific University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign cies or programs will be affected. In research, are taken into full consideration. Wick Haxton addition to education and business incen- Dr. Gergely pointed out that efficiency is University of Washington tives, the ACI supports funding for inno- “in the eye of the beholder,” noting that Frances Hellman vation-enabling research in high-leverage radio astronomy receivers operate near University of California at Berkeley fields of physical science and engineering. the quantum limit in some spectral bands. Erich P. Ippen Massachusetts Institute of Technology The Board started the day with presen- He also remarked on the difficulty of Marc A. Kastner tations on the state of the astronomy and ambiguities inherent to pricing the spec- Massachusetts Institute of Technology astrophysics budget from representatives trum. In response to the presidential Christopher F. McKee of the federal agencies. Wayne Van Citters initiative, NSF developed itsLong Range University of California at Berkeley spoke about the status of the NSF Division Spectrum Plan that covers radio as- Jose Onuchic of Astronomical Sciences (AST). The site tronomy, atmospheric research, and the University of California at San Diego for the National Solar Observatory Ad- polar programs’ use of spectrum. In Julia M. Phillips vanced Technology Solar Telescope particular, the report anticipates the need Sandia National Laboratories (ATST) has been selected; it will be con- for allocations for radio astronomy above William Phillips structed atop Mt. Haleakala in Maui, 275 GHZ to be able to perform research. National Institute of Standards and Technology Hawaii, and an environmental impact Despite the need, spectrum management Thomas N. Theis study is now underway. The astronomy faces dire straits due to human resource IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center division continues to provide funding for issues, and all spectrum science faces C. Megan Urry the project with the earliest likely entry to deterioration if this problem is not solved. Yale University the NSF Major Research Equipment and Garth Illingworth then made remarks BPA Staff Facilities Construction account in FY2009. about discussions and activities of the Donald C. Shapero, Director NSF continues to feel the impact of joint NSF, NASA, DOE, and OSTP As- Van An, Financial Associate changes at NASA with strong increases in tronomy and Astrophysics Advisory Brian D. Dewhurst, Senior Program Associate David B. Lang, Research Associate proposal pressure. Research grants pro- Committee (AAAC), which he chairs. Pamela Lewis, Program Associate posals were up 20 percent in FY2006, The AAAC has convened several sub- Phillip D. Long, Senior Program Assistant following a 15 percent increase in FY2005. committees to investigate the status of Natalia J. Melcer, Program Officer Timothy I. Meyer, Senior Program Officer To address this issue, NSF continues to certain fields of astrophysics, these are: Robert L. Riemer, Senior Program Officer interact with NASA colleagues with coor- the Cosmic Microwave Background Task § dinated reviews and funding recommen- Force, the ExoPlanet Task Force, Dark The Board on Physics and Astronomy is a continuing dations. The astronomy senior review is Matter Science Assessment Group, and interdisciplinary body with expertise spanning the also nearing completion. The senior the Dark Energy Task Force (DETF). The various subfields of physics, astronomy, and astrophysics. It serves as a focal point in the National review calls for a cross disciplinary, com- DETF recently released its report in draft Research Council for issues connected with these fields. petitive review of existing NSF astronomy form, citing that the science case for dark The activities of the Board are supported by funds from the National Science Foundation, the Department of facilities, including setting priorities and energy research is extremely compelling, Energy, the National Aeronautics and Space considering possible closure or and that no one technique to investigate Administration, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and private and other sources. privatization. The committee has now met dark energy will be successful without BPA News • Summer 2006 3 complementary approaches. The remain- materials, Lance Haworth described the ing subcommittees’ reports are not due status and plans of NSF’s Division of Committees of the for some time. Dr. Illingworth then Materials Research (DMR). He discussed Board on Physics and turned to recent discussions within the the balance in funding in the division Astronomy AAAC about issues facing the field of between principal investigator grants, astronomy and astrophysics, and how the centers, and facilities, noting that the Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics 2010 (AMO 2010)* committee responded to those in its largest increase in funding over the past 10 Phillip Bucksbaum, Stanford University, recent annual report. The AAAC is par- years has been for facilities and instru- and Robert Eisenstein, ticularly concerned about the somewhat mentation followed by principal investiga- Co-chairs dismal budget out-year forecast for NASA tor grants and, lastly, centers. DMR science; this budget line is expected to supports two university based synchro- Committee on Astronomy and Astrophysics decrease by about $3 billion over the next tron facilities whose awards will expire in C. Megan Urry, Yale University, and 5 years. Because of the current portfolio 2008/2009 and 6 instruments at the NIST Roger D. Blandford, Kavli Institute for of activities at NASA, this plan risks upset- Neutron Scattering Facility. DMR is Particle Astrohysics and Cosmology, ting the balance of programs the field considering an internal review of their Co-chairs currently enjoys. AAAC is encouraged, facilities and instrumentation portfolio. Committee on Biomolecular Materials though, by DOE’s Office of High Energy They are interested in evaluating their and Processes Physics (HEP) growing involvement in support for university-based synchrotron Arup Chakraborty, Massachusetts Institute astrophysics. facilities, support for “Mid-Scale Instru- of Technology, Chair Paul Hertz presented an overview of mentation” including beamlines at na- Committee on Radio Frequencies programs at NASA’s Science Mission tional facilities, the role of the Center for Karen St. Germain, Naval Research Directorate (SMD). With the scheduled High Resolution Neutron Scattering at Laboratory, Chair disinvestment of $3.1 billion in SMD over NIST in context of the Spallation Neutron the next five years, Dr. Hertz noted that Source, and NSF support for a future Condensed-Matter and Materials Physics 2010 (CMMP 2010)* reductions in previous science planning energy-recovery linac. Dr. Haworth also Mildred S. Dresselhaus, Massachusetts are necessary, and that an executable highlighted a new program on Institute of Technology, and William J. program based on strategic NRC priorities biomaterials scheduled for full implemen- Spencer, SEMATECH, Co-chairs is needed to maintain a balanced program. tation in FY07. The program will focus on The $3.1 billion difference will go to fund the study of biologically-related materials MRSEC Impact Assessment Committee Matthew V. Tirrell, University of California operations to complete the shuttle and and phenomena, including biological at Santa Barbara, Chair International Space Station programs. pathways to new materials. This downslide puts pressure on existing Joe Dehmer presented remarks on the NASA Astrophysics Program programs, especially as the Hubble Space NSF Division of Physics. The strategic Assessment Committee Kenneth H. Keller, University of Telescope’s scheduled servicing mission goals for the division focus on the intellec- Minnesota, Chair, and Martha P. Haynes, slips to late 2007, and the James Webb tual frontiers, broader impacts, education, Cornell University, Vice Chair Space Telescope project has met with and stewardship. Several frontiers were unforeseen cost increases on the order of identified, inclduing elementary particle Plasma Science 2010* $1 billion. The Gamma-ray Large Area physics, physics of the universe, funda- Steven Cowley, University of California at Los Angeles, and John Peoples, Fermi Space Telescope faced a cost re-baselining mental mathematical and statistical sci- National Accelerator Laboratory, Co-chairs due to technical problems while the ence, physical sciences at the nanoscale, Kepler Mission established its baseline. cyberinfrastructure and the cyberscience Plasma Science Committee The Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer is it enables, the molecular basis of life Cary B. Forest, University of Wisconsin at Madison, Chair scheduled to enter development this year, processes, and sustainability. Specific and the Space Interferometry Mission’s examples of physics frontiers were given Rare Isotope Science Assessment launch readiness date was pushed into that fall in these areas. Division priorities Committee 2015-16. A review of the cancelled Strato- for FY06 include strong and flexible core John F. Ahearne, Sigma Xi and Duke spheric Observatory for Infrared As- programs, elementary particle physics and University, and Stuart J. Freedman, University of California at Berkeley, tronomy is being conducted to determine physics of the universe, increased diver- Co-chairs the best course of action, and the Beyond sity, strengthened theory, stewardship of Einstein program will engage in a replan- facilities, and addressing future opportu- Solid State Sciences Committee ning exercise to establish which of LISA, nities such as the International Linear Marc A. Kastner, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Chair, and Peter F. Green, Con-X, and JDEM will be selected to Collider. University of Michigan, Vice Chair proceed first. Meanwhile, the Research & Pat Dehmer shared her thoughts on § Analysis budget line has been proposed the DOE’s Office of Basic Energy Sciences for a 15 percent reduction in FY07. (BES). With the ACI driving increased *Elements of the new survey Physics 2010 Turning the discussion to physics and See “BPA Meeting” on page 8 4 BPA News • Summer 2006

EPP2010 tor-based component to exploit the the ILC was key to the continued distinc- Terascale can sustain the distinction of the tion of the U.S. program. (continued from page 1) U.S. program.” It is not just the tools that require science and options for the future, the To achieve this overall goal, the international partnership, but the science committee “outsiders” forced the particle repoprt states, the DOE and NSF need to that comes out as well. One nation alone physicists to rethink their field’s priorities work together to achieve the following would be incapable of handling and and to take a hard look at the field’s objectives in priority order: interpreting such vast amounts of data science portfolio, not only at home but 1. Fully exploit the opportunities that the machines collect. Teams of also abroad. afforded by the construction of the Large visiting and off-site scientists offer invalu- After one and a half years of study, six Hadron Collider at CERN. able intellectual resources. full committee meetings, international 2. Plan and initiate a comprehensive At these physical and intellectual trips to Japan, Germany, and Switzerland, program to become the world-leading scales, no one nation can dominate the and countless hours of deliberations, the center for research and development on particle physics enterprise. It is essential Elementary Particle Physics in the 21st the science and technology of a linear to continue the trend towards planning Century Committee released the product collider, and do what is necessary to be big science in an international arena if the of its toils in the form of the report Reveal- able to mount a compelling bid to build United State is going to promote coopera- ing the Hidden Nature of Space and Time: the proposed International Linear Collider tive global leadership. The committee felt Charting the Course for Elementary Particle on U.S. soil. strongly that because of the increasing Physics in late April 2006. 3. Expand the program in particle cost and complexity of particle-physics The report frames the current position astrophysics and pursue an internationally experiments, and the need to deploy of the U.S. effort in particle physics (one coordinated, staged program in public funds in the most effective and that has steadily decreased over the past physics. responsible manner, it is more important decade) as part of a larger global effort, The report stresses the notion of than ever for all the major programs in assesses its potential, and recommends a shared leadership, not dominance. The particle physics to leverage their resources 15-year strategy to reinvigorate and soon-to-open Large Hadron Collider by working together internationally. sustain the U.S. program as a leader (LHC) at CERN will cost in the ballpark of A critical element of the committee’s complementary to worldwide efforts. $6 billion (not including the pre-existing strategy is maintaining a diverse portfolio Historically, the United States has been a underground tunnel), and required the of activities in particle physics. Accelera- leader in particle physics research, with collective scientific and financial participa- tors, space-based experiments, under- important discoveries coming out of tion of countries from every populated ground laboratories, and precision mea- particle accelerators like the Stanford continent on the planet, in addition to surements of various kinds offer a variety Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC), the effective and efficient cooperation. Simi- of ways to explore the pressing questions Cornell Electron-positron Storage Ring lar, though somewhat less sizeable efforts, of particle physics. Even during periods of (CESR), Brookhaven National Laboratory are being undertaken at facilities in Japan, budgetary stringency, a healthy program and the world's most powerful particle and have required the expertise and will maintain a diverse and comprehensive accelerator, the Tevatron at Fermilab in contributions of multiple nations. Even as portfolio of research activities that en- Illinois. But experiments for particle the Europeans have been finishing the compasses university-based students and physics at SLAC's accelerator, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), particle faculty, national laboratories, and activi- Tevatron and CESR are all slated to end physicists worldwide have been designing ties conducted in other countries, the over the next decade, leaving researchers the next generation of particle accelerator. report states. Reflecting the committee’s with drastically reduced opportunities for Known as the International Linear rejection of a “dominance” paradigm, the research in the United States and poten- Collider (ILC), this new tool would consist report argues that the highest scientific tially leading to a brain drain as promising of two accelerators that fire electrons and priorities should not consume all possible young physicists move abroad. anti-electrons at each other head-on, re- resources; rather, a mixed strategy that Based on a prevailing set of firm creating conditions that existed just a prioritizes the most important science but strategic principles and scientific priori- fraction of a second after the universe’s allows room for some other activities is ties, and the many benefits that shared birth. The ILC would be of such a scale best. leadership in the field will bring, the and complexity, similar to the LHC, that In fact, the committee describes the committee came to a single overriding only a global, cooperative effort could path they laid out for U.S. particle physics recommendation: “The United States make it possible. It was the committee’s as the best risk-adjusted strategy available should remain globally competitive in judgment (echoing many others) that the within any budget scenario. Continuing elementary particle physics by playing a ILC was a necessary tool to fully exploit on as planned could more deeply en- leading role in the worldwide effort to the scientific opportunities of the trench the community in scientific isola- aggressively study the Terascale. Indeed Terascale. The committee believed that tion and in a competitive run-off with the committee believes that only a strat- the potential role of the United States in Japan, while more and more U.S. scien- egy that includes an important accelera- building, supporting, and perhaps hosting See “EPP2010” on page 9 BPA News • Summer 2006 5 Biomolecular Materials and Processes Phillip D. Long, NRC Staff and materials research—the biomolecular CA. The aforementioned working groups he twenty-first century promises a domain; (2) Suggest strategies to best meet have been at work since the March revolution in scientific advance- the identified opportunities; and (3) Con- meeting to prepare for this next con- Tment as the barriers between sider connections to national priorities ference and much progress is antici- disciplines erode and wonderful new including healthcare, security, workforce, pated by the time they adjourn on June integrative approaches begin to surface. economic and other societal needs. 19, 2006. ■ Although not a new phenomenon, the In carrying out this study the com- present pace of such interdisciplinary mittee may consider what opportunities endeavors has accelerated tremendously biology presents to materials research Committee on Biomolecular in recent years. Among the most exciting and what opportunities materials re- Materials and Processes areas is at the molecular level of biology. search presents for biology. In its delib- The complexity and elegance of this realm erations, the committee may consider Arup K. Chakraborty, Chair holds bountiful opportunity for those who previous reports in this field (such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology can decipher the molecular-scale pro- Biomolecular Self-Assembling Materials: cesses and understand the constitution Scientific and Technological Frontiers, Joanna Aizenberg Bell Labs / Lucent Technologies and applications of both natural National Academies Press, BPA 1996), biomolecular materials and biologically- current programs and strategies imple- Annelise E. Barron inspired synthetic versions. This vibrant mented by the federal research support Northwestern University field is experiencing an infusion of energy agencies, and a review of international Kenneth A. Dill and scientific talent from traditionally activity. University of California at San Francisco distinct disciplines such as physics, biol- The BMAP committee met for the first ogy, chemistry, and engineering which all time at the Keck Center in Washington, Jean M. J. Frechet University of California at Berkeley stand to contribute to, and benefit from, DC on March 16-17, 2006. After being the convergence of expertise. familiarized with National Academies Sharon C. Glotzer At the behest of federal agencies that study process, the committee heard testi- University of Michigan sponsor research in this area, the National mony from the chair of the 1996 NRC’s Yale E. Goldman Research Council (NRC) has agreed to Biomolecular Self-Assembling Materials University of Pennsylvania undertake a survey of the field. Acknowl- committee and received further explana- edging the inherent interdisciplinary tion of the committee’s charge from the Elias Greenbaum Oak Ridge National Laboratory nature of such an investigation, the Board former chair of the Solid State Sciences on Physics and Astronomy and the Board Committee (SSSC). Additionally, the co- W. John Kao on Life Sciences have joined forces to chair of the 2004 NSF Workshop entitled University of Wisconsin at Madison collectively undertake this study. With the “The Role of Theory in Biological Physics David Needham support of NSF and DOE, the Committee and Materials” offered his analysis of the Duke University on Biomolecular Materials and Processes field and how the committee could most (BMAP) has been appointed to assess effectively explore and respond to its V. Adrian Parsegian National Institute of Child Health and current work and future promise at the charge. The following day offered an Human Development interfaces between biology and materials opportunity for DOE and NSF representa- research, and to recommend actions to tives to elucidate the questions they hope Alan Rudolph realize the identified opportunities. In- the committee will address. Armed with a Adlyfe, Inc. cluding experts from many disciplines, the thorough grasp of their endeavor, the Cyrus Safinya committee’s broad expertise spans such committee divided into working groups to University of California at Santa Barbara areas as bio-inspired materials, biological probe different areas of the discipline. The Charles F. Stevens processes, theory and computational committee also analyzed its composition Salk Institute for Biological Studies modeling, single molecule biophysics, and determined that additional areas of biomolecular functional systems, inter- expertise were needed. Two members with David A. Weitz faces, soft biomaterials, and biological expertise in synthetic organic chemistry Harvard University self-assembly. The BMAP committee will and single molecule biophysics were added Staff compose a final report addressing the to the committee. Donald C. Shapero, BPA Director following tasks:: (1) Identify the most The second BMAP committee meeting Fran Sharples, BLS Director compelling questions and the emerging will take place on June 18-19, 2006, at Natalia J. Melcer, Program Officer Adam Fagen, Program Officer scientific opportunities at the interface Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s Phillip D. Long, Senior Program Assistant between biology and condensed matter Molecular Foundry Building in Berkeley, 6 BPA News • Summer 2006

CMMP 2010 this information, make comparisons (continued from page 1) internationally, and draw relevant conclu- Committee on Condensed-Matter sions. and Materials Physics 2010 homeland security, will require people The broad purview of this charge educated in CMMP. Similarly, nanoscale demands that the committee work vigor- Mildred S. Dresselhaus, Co-chair science and technology have become ously and collect input from numerous Massachusetts Institute of Technology national priority areas for investment. and diverse stakeholders. The committee, With support from DOE and NSF, the therefore, has met twice since February in William J. Spencer, Co-chair National Research Council (NRC) formed formal meetings and communicated often SEMATECH (retired) a committee with broad expertise in in the intervening periods. The February Gabriel Aeppli CMMP and closely related disciplines, 12-13, 2006, meeting was held at the University College London including members from academia, Beckman Center of the National Acad- industry, and national labs, to undertake a emies in Irvine, CA. At this first meeting, Samuel Bader Argonne National Laboratory broad assessment of the field and to the committee was introduced to the NRC frame an outlook for the future. Experts study process and it discussed the sub- William Bialek in chemistry; atomic, molecular, and stance of the CMMP 2010 charge. The Princeton University optical science; and science communica- committee also heard perspectives from David Bishop tion also sit on the committee. The the Solid State Sciences Committee Bell Labs / Lucent Technologies CMMP 2010 committee has been explic- (SSSC) and thoughts from the study chair itly tasked to address the following points: of the previous CMMP decadal survey. Anthony Cheetham 1. Review the field of CMMP, empha- Other testimony described the current University of California at Santa Barbara size recent accomplishments, and identify context of CMMP and methods of data James P. Eisenstein new opportunities and compelling scien- gathering. On the second day, the com- California Institute of Technology tific questions, connecting to other recent mittee heard testimony from each of the studies where appropriate. key federal agencies supporting CMMP Hidetoshi Fukuyama Tokyo University of Science 2. Identify the potential future impact research endeavors and received input of CMMP on other scientific fields and from representatives of the Office of Laura Garwin current and emerging technologies. Management and Budget and the Office Harvard University 3. Consider how CMMP has contrib- of Science and Technology Policy about Peter Green uted and will likely contribute to meeting how to prepare a useful and compelling University of Michigan national societal needs such as in educa- report. tion, workforce, and healthcare. The committee convened again on Frances Hellman 4. Identify, discuss, and suggest May 25-26, 2006, at the Keck Center of University of California at Berkeley priorities for construction, purchase, and the National Academies in Washington, Randall Hulet operation of tools and facilities ranging DC, for its second meeting. Invited speak- Rice University from instrumentation for the individual ers addressed DOE user facilities, the role Heinrich Jaeger investigator to the national user facilities. national labs presently play in innovative University of Chicago 5. Make recommendations on how research and how that effort might be the US research enterprise might realize enhanced in the future, and key lessons Steven Kivelson the full potential of condensed matter and learned from the AMO 2010 report. While Stanford University materials physics research. synthesizing this information in closed- Andrea Liu 6. Examine the structure and level of session, the working subgroups of the University of Pennsylvania the current research effort in condensed- committee presented their respective matter and materials physics. Obtain progress to the rest of the members and Paul McEuen Cornell University objective information on current status solicited feedback. The committee and trends in the following areas: (1) the emerged from this discussion with a Karin Rabe performing institutions: government, refined structure for the final report, State University of New Jersey, Rutgers universities, and industry; (2) different concrete plans for communicating their Thomas Theis levels of aggregation of researchers rang- message to the various audiences, and IBM T.J. Watson Research Center ing from principal investigators through action items for moving forward. Most small groups and large teams at centers; importantly, the committee worked on its (3) the role of the research community draft interim report, reaching consensus BPA Staff and performing institutions in initiating on the content. The interim report is Donald C. Shapero, Director research; (4) the relationship between scheduled for release in August 2006 and Natalia J. Melcer, Program Officer research opportunities and the current will present some of the committee’s Phillip D. Long, Senior Program Assistant structure of the research effort. Analyze initial findings. ■ BPA News • Summer 2006 7 Outlook for Astronomy and Astrophysics

Brian D. Dewhurst, NRC Staff members, plus the chairs of the National funding for future missions. However, the Academies’ Space Studies Board and subcommittee did not identify where the he Committee on Astronomy and Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board additional funding might come from. Astrophysics (CAA) held its spring who serve as ex officio members. In James Webb Space Telescope Tmeeting on May 19-20, 2006, at the addition to meeting as a full council, the After the James Webb Space Tele- National Academies’ Keck Center in NAC is broken down into several com- scope presentation at the November 2005 Washington, D.C. The spring meeting is mittees, such as the Science Committee or CAA meeting, the committee still had a traditionally the time each year when the the Aeronautics Committee. Only mem- number of questions about the JWST committee converses with agency officials bers of the NAC serve on these commit- program and how it might impact future and policymakers in Washington. This tees. In addition to the NAC and its plans for the Astrophysics Division. The year the committee spent much of its time committees, the Science Mission Direc- committee invited the project team back considering the state of the NASA astro- torate (SMD) has established a set of to address these questions at its spring physics program and how the changes at discipline-focused subcommittees. These meeting. NASA are having an impact in the as- subcommittees report to the Science In advance of the meeting, the com- tronomy and astrophysics community. In Committee of the NAC. mittee summarized many of the addition, the CAA continued its discus- sion about various options for conducting the next astronomy and astrophysics decadal survey. On first day, the committee received presentations on the current status of the astronomy program at the NSF, on the new NASA Advisory Council (NAC) structure, the new National Academies’ report on elementary particle physics, the activities of the Astronomy and Astro- physics Advisory Committee (AAAC), and the current context for science fund- ing as seen by the Office of Management The CAA heard presentations from community’s concerns into the following and Budget (OMB). The bulk of the day two members of this new structure, Neil two questions: on the 20th was spent on the James Webb DeGrasse Tyson, who is a member of the 1) Is it reasonable for the JWST Space Telescope (JWST) program, fol- NAC and its Science Committee, and spending profile to follow the current plan lowed by committee discussions about the , who is the chair of the allowing a wedge to open up in 2009 or next decadal survey. The public presenta- Astrophysics Subcommittee. will it be much longer before other tions (including those not discussed Dr. Tyson’s presentation focused on projects can start? further in this article) can be found on the how NASA influences and is influenced by 2) Is the JWST project now in a situa- CAA page of the BPA web site (see URL current political and societal trends. tion when there is no feasible large http://www.nas.edu/bpa/caa.html). Summarizing current public attitudes descope and further cost increases, if they NASA Advisory Council about NASA, Dr. Tyson encouraged the happened, would lead to a stark choice The NASA Advisory Council is char- astronomy and astrophysics community for NASA: find the money or cancel? tered to provide advice to the NASA to support NASA’s exploration initiatives, However, it was recognized that a set Administrator through the Federal Advi- and to work with the agency to make of more specific questions would be more sory Committee Act (FACA) process. In those initiatives scientifically useful in likely to address the concerns at the roots the past the NAC had a variety of sub- addition to continuing to support a strong of these more general concerns. This committees that were also FACA-char- science program in the Science Mission additional set of questions (for example: tered and that reported directly to corre- Directorate. what are the three greatest technical and sponding NASA officials (such as the Dr. Spergel presented the current three greatest programmatic concerns?) Associate Administrator for Space Sci- membership of the Astrophysics Subcom- was also provided to the project team and ence, who received advice from the Space mittee and summarized the results of that formed the basis of the conversation. Science Advisory Committee). However, committee’s first meeting held earlier in The JWST project was represented by Administrator Griffin abolished the old the month. The subcommittee concluded Eric Smith from NASA headquarters, and structure and has created a new structure that NASA should reverse the proposed John Mather, Phil Sabelhaus, and Mark which operates in a different way. cuts to the R&A lines, restore the Explorer Clampin from the Goddard Space Flight The current NAC is made up of 25 line of missions, and provide technology See “Astronomy” on page 10 8 BPA News • Summer 2006 the President’s FY07 budget is passed by science community and business world BPA Meeting Congress. The Nuclear Science Advisory sends a stronger message to Congress and (continued from page 3) committee is now developing a new long- the public than any group working indi- range plan for the NP program. vidually, he said. In deciding how to funding for the physical sciences, the Erol Oktay shared observations on approach the report, the committee Office of Science was proposed for an DOE’s Office of Fusion Energy Sciences focused on job creation since that speaks increase of 14 percent in the President’s (OFES). With U.S. participation in the to Congress and the public most directly. FY07 budget request to congress. If Con- multinational ITER program, the U.S. While only four percent of the workforce gressional appropriations match the fusion energy sciences program is in are scientists or engineers, they create a President’s budget, BES would see a transition to a new era. The text of the disproportionately large numbers of jobs funding increase of 25 percent for their international ITER agreement has been for the remaining 96 percent of the programs. BES continues to roadmap completed and has been initialed by the workforce, he explained. Further, Mr. their science programs with the “Basic contributing parties. The agreement is Augustine described the change in the Research Needs” workshops. This year expected to be signed in the fall of 2006. global economy as the “death of distance” there will be four workshops on super- The U.S. Burning Plasma Organization where planes now move people and things conductivity, solid-state lighting, advanced (USBPO) has been formed to coordinate around the world and the information nuclear energy systems, and combustion U.S. research for ITER support and burn- technology revolution moves information of alternate fuels. An additional workshop ing plasmas. The USBPO is developing a around the world much more quickly on energy storage is planned for 2007. plan for the U.S. participation in ITER that than in the past. To show how the United Robin Staffin discussed DOE’s Office will address the research agenda, methods States could lose its science and engineer- of High Energy Physics (HEP) with the for evaluating progress, and benefits to ing leadership in the coming years, the Board. The U.S. high-energy physics domestic fusion program. committee compiled a list of worrisome program is at a crossroads. With the In a related program, Chris Keane indicators that indicated a growing science Large Hadron Collider being built in discussed the high energy density physics and engineering community abroad and a Europe, the nation requires both a strate- program in DOE’s National Nuclear waning community in the United States. gic plan and sufficient matching invest- Security Administration. Dr. Keane re- Mr. Augustine followed by describing ments to remain a leader in particle ported on the National Ignition Facility some of the current legislation in the physics. Dr. Staffin also described how the (NIF) program which has completed 400 House and Senate based on the recom- International Linear Collider (ILC) and experiments to date with eight beams ran mendations from the report. They have the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) will at full power. The project is now 85 per- received bipartisan support. work in tandem. For many potential cent complete. They do not plan for any Robert Dimeo, Assistant Director for discoveries with the LHC, the ILC will more experiments until the facility is Physical Sciences and Engineering at the bring further understanding to those complete in 2010. White House Office of Science and Tech- discoveries. Following from this, the Following the agency talks, the Board nology Policy, presented views from the community is looking ahead to the ILC, heard from Michael Turner, former Administration. He described the context whether it will be built, and whether the Assistant Director for Mathematical and for the ACI with the national debt at eight United States will host it. Dr. Staffin also Physical Sciences at NSF. Dr. Turner trillion dollars and a goal to reduce that by thanked the BPA for its role in originating recounted the highlights and accomplish- half by 2009. In order to do so, discretion- the EPP2010 study whose report has been ments during his term as assistant direc- ary funds are under stress. He described warmly received. tor. He noted that the President’s ACI has the ACI as a prioritization of the research Dennis Kovar presented an update opened the doors for the physical sciences investment by the country to maintain its from the DOE’s Office of Nuclear Physics and now it is the community’s turn to competitive edge. David Trinkle, Amy (NP). Over 90 percent of federal support shape the ACI and convince Congress and Kaminski, and Joel Parriott attended from for nuclear physics research is funded the public that this investment is in the the White House Office of Management through NP. They support eight centers nation’s best interest. He wrapped up with and Budget and made several key com- and four user facilities with nearly half of some examples of the stunning scientific ments. They noted that the House is the facilities users coming from the inter- opportunities ahead. taking fiscal responsibility more seriously national community. The major scientific Norman Augustine joined the Board in this constrained budget year. They thrusts and opportunities identified by the meeting to discuss the impact of the reinforced the message that in this first community are in the quark structure of Academies Rising Above the Gathering year of the ACI, all three targeted agencies matter, phases of nuclear matter, nuclear Storm report, which he chaired. The are roughly on the doubling path but that structure and dynamics, nuclear astro- committee that authored the report was there is no overall plan for physical sci- physics, and fundamental symmetries. composed of a mixture of company ences funding at the various agencies in The research program has been struc- presidents, scientists, former presidential the ACI. tured to address these thrusts. NP would appointees, and leaders from the public On the second day of the meeting, the also see increased funding of 24 percent if school system. This combination of the See “BPA Meeting” on page 10 BPA News • Summer 2006 9

EPP2010 contract to manage Fermilab beginning composition of the committee. Many of (continued from page 4) in January 2007. URA currently man- these sources later ran editorials that ages and operates Fermilab.) resonated strongly with the report’s tists move overseas to work at foreign The report was released to the public analysis and emphasized the need for labs. during a briefing at the Keck Center of action; Nature noted that the committee’s For such an ambitious strategy to be The National Academies on the after- “endorsement of the [linear collider] executed, and for the field to find itself noon of April 26, 2006, and featured a project reflects a consensus within the in safer waters, the political planets small subset of the committee to ad- wider scientific community that particle must align properly. This is no small dress questions from the audience. The physics, although expensive and esoteric, task. Accurately communicating the panel consisted of Dr. Shapiro, vice is of fundamental importance and worthy report’s findings and recommendations chair Dr. Sally Dawson, Brookhaven of support.” On the New York Times to parties in the executive branch National Laboratory, Dr. Jonathan opinion page, noted author Verlyn (OMB, OSTP, DOE, and NSF), Con- Bagger, Johns Hopkins University, and Klinkenborg observed in support of gress, and the larger science community Dr. Takaaki Kajita, . particle physics and the report, “The is of the utmost importance. As com- After a brief introduction, Dr. Shapiro overwhelming risk, the panel concluded, mittee chair Harold Shapiro pointed out is that without this [linear collider] recently while speaking on behalf of the project, the thrust of high-energy physics committee, the U.S. program in particle in this country will simply die away.” physics will require support from all of Although the committee’s strategy re- the physical sciences in order to move flected a broader view than just one large forward on the most compelling scien- project, the attention on the issues has tific opportunities. The committee has been welcome. assumed this role vigorously. Public presentations of the report to As part of the report-release activi- the science and policy communities, both ties, Dr. Shapiro and several members nationally and internationally, have been of the committee briefed individuals in equally important. In a sign of true com- many of these offices, including the mitment to the report, many members, Secretary of Energy and the Associate including committee chair Harold Director for Natural Resources at OMB. Shapiro, have accepted engagements The team also met with Dr. John around the world to discuss the report. Marburger, Director of the Office of Presentations to standing-room-only Science and Technology and Policy. Dr. crowds have been made at SLAC, Shapiro, Dr. Dawson, and several other Fermilab, Cornell, and Washington, D.C. committee members briefed Dr. Pier Other committee members have pre- Oddone, Director of Fermilab, Dr. sented the report in Japan and the United Jonathan Dorfan, Director of SLAC, and Kingdom, and plans have been confirmed Dr. Robert Rosner, Director of Argonne to brief CERN and DESY in Europe within National Laboratory. On the Hill, the presented prepared remarks then ad- the next few months. Additional efforts briefing team met with House of Repre- dressed several questions from the are underway to share the report with sentatives members Bart Gordon (D- audience. Nearly 200 people attended neighboring scientific communities at TN), Mike Honda (D-CA), Vern Ehlers the release between guests in the room regularly scheduled professional confer- (R-MI), Judy Biggert (R-IL), and Rush and on the webcast. Committee mem- ences over the next year. Perhaps a tribute Holt (D-NJ). They also met with senior ber and 2005 winner in to the roots of the web, the electronic staff of the offices of Jeff Bingaman (D- physics also presented the version of the committee’s report was NM), Alan Mollohan (D-WV), David report at the annual meeting of the downloaded more than 30,000 timeswithin Hobson (R-OH), Dennis Hastert (R-IL) National Academy of Sciences. the first week of its release; as many and the House Committee on Science. The report has received considerable know, the key protocols underpinning the In response to the visit, the Honorable national media attention with articles in world-wide-web were developed by Bart Gordon wrote a strong letter of the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, particle physicists. support to the committee. The briefing Chicago Sun-Times, Christian Science As Dr. Shapiro noted when describing team met with the Universities Research Monitor, several Chinese science and the report recently, only time will tell if Association (URA) Board of Trustees. technology news services, and even The this report will have a lasting impact—and (URA and University of Chicago re- Economist. Magazines such as Nature, whether the National Academies will cently announced the formation of a Science, and Physics Today all ran stories repeat this experiment with such an partnership to jointly bid for the DOE describing the report and the unusual unusual committee. ■ 10 BPA News • Summer 2006

Astronomy options paper that it intends to present BPA Meeting at a Town Meeting at the January 2007 (continued from page 7) American Astronomical Society meeting (continued from page 8) Center. Over the course of nearly five in Seattle, Washington. When the paper Board heard an update on several new hours, this group led the CAA through is ready, it will be placed on the BPA and emerging projects. EPP2010 commit- the JWST project (their presentations website, and feedback will be solicited tee chair Harold Shapiro also briefed the can be found on the CAA web page). from the broad research community. ■ Board on the findings and recommenda- The majority of this discussion was led tions of the report which he chaired (see by Mr. Sabelhaus, the project manager. related article in this newsletter). Carl Mr. Sabelhaus explained the results of Wieman addressed the BPA on the re- the recent project rebaselining, the cently formed Board on Science Educa- findings of the Special Review Team that Committee on Astronomy and tion (BOSE) of the National Academies, had recently completed its work, and Astrophysics which he chairs. BOSE was formed to the current status of the project. At the address science education at all levels, in end of the session, many of the CAA Roger D. Blandford, Co-chair all settings, and on all issues. Dr. Wieman members expressed their appreciation Stanford University provided background on science educa- for the work that has already been done C. Megan Urry, Co-chair tion as a research field, noting that it and their clearer understanding of the Yale University requires knowledge of science and educa- project. A number of the committee tion research and that it is growing in level Mitchell Begelman members commented that some of the University of Colorado and quality of activity for all sciences. In confusion in the community stems from the last 10 to 20 years, the research com- the fact that JWST is currently classified Charles Bennett munity has gained a much better under- by NASA as in Phase B (preliminary The Johns Hopkins University standing of how people learn, how people design studies), while judging from the Thomas Bogdan learn science, what characteristics are traditional flow of NASA projects and National Center for Atmospheric Research needed to “think like scientist,” and how the amount of hardware already built, to better teach and measure outcomes. Adam Burrows the project should be considered to be University of Arizona Dr. Wieman presented interesting data in Phase C/D (construction). Under- on the effectiveness of traditional ap- standing the project status and develop- Alexei Filippenko proaches to science teaching such as ment path in this light resolves many University of California at Berkeley lectures, homework problems, and questions, although committee mem- Timothy M. Heckman exams. Most students learn less than bers were still worried that there could The Johns Hopkins University thirty percent of new concepts pre- be still unforeseen difficulties as the sented in a traditional lecture course. Lynne Hillenbrand project moves forward which would California Institute of Technology The lecture quality, class size, and insti- severely impact the rest of the astro- tution did not affect the outcome. Mul- physics program. Stephan Meyer tiple surveys attributed the loss of physi- Looking Ahead to the Decadal Survey University of Chicago cal science majors to students “learning” Over the past two years the CAA has Eve Ostriker that the subjects are inherently uninter- devoted a portion of each meeting to University of Maryland esting and to the style or quality of teaching. Dr. Wieman continued by considering options for enhancing the Mark J. Reid process for the next decadal survey. Harvard-Smithsonian Center for describing several principles for effec- The impetus for these discussions was Astrophysics tive teaching and learning. For example, the perception that the science, the most people retain only about seven Scott Tremaine items in short term memory and can community, and the policy context have Princeton University all evolved significantly over the past ten process only four ideas at once yet a years, and that the decadal survey Jean L. Turner typical class presents much more than process should evolve to match. To this University of California at Los Angeles this “cognitive load.” A general principle end, the CAA has asked agency officials is that people can memorize what they and policy makers, as well as some are told, but actual learning of science community members, for their perspec- NRC Staff (thinking like scientist) is a construction tive on the decadal process. The goal of Donald C. Shapero, BPA Director process, built on the foundation of the spring 2006 meeting was to begin to Marcia Smith, SSB Director previous thinking. Brian D. Dewhurst, Sr, Program Associate place down on paper the options that David B. Lang, Research Associate With a round of thanks and apprecia- the committee has heard for consider- Celeste Naylor, Program Assistant tion to the members for participating, ation by the broader community. To chair Burton Richter adjourned the spring this end, the CAA has begun to draft an meeting of the Board. ■ BPA News • Summer 2006 11 BPA Mission BPA Update: Emerging Projects The Board on Physics and Astronomy (BPA) • Assessment of the NASA Astronomy and Astrophysics Portfolio (NAPA). In collabo- was created in 1983 as the successor to the Na- ration with the Space Studies Board, a committee has been formed to study the align- tional Academy of Sciences Office of Physical ment of NASA’s Astrophysics Division with previous NRC advice - primarily the re- Sciences. Several standing committees were ports Astronomy and Astrophysics in the New Millennium and Connecting Quarks with assigned at that time to the BPA, including the the Cosmos. More specifically, the committee shall address the following: 1) How well Committee on Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Sciences, the Solid State Sciences Committee, and NASA’s current program addresses the strategies, goals, and priorities outlined in the Committee on Radio Frequencies. Later, the reports from the National Academies; 2) Progress toward realizing these strategies, Committee on Astronomy and Astrophysics and goals and priorities; and 3) Any actions that could be taken to optimize the science the Plasma Science Committee were created in value of the program in the context of current and forecasted resources available to it. response to requests from the scientific commu- The study will not revisit or alter the scientific priorities or mission recommendations nity. Since its inception, the BPA has published provided in the cited reports, but may provide guidance about implementing the rec- more than 40 reports, workshops, and collabora- ommended mission portfolio leading toward the next decadal survey. tive activities, including two surveys of physics and two surveys of astronomy. The important questions in physics and astronomy change as we learn more about nature, and that rate of change has been increasing. The BPA seeks to inform the government and the public regarding important scientific opportuni- ties and issues as well as the changing nature of science. It builds bridges between the evolving subdisciplines of physics and astronomy and with other areas of science. The BPA is successful if it helps the science community and society under- stand what is needed to advance physics and astronomy and why doing so is important. Every activity of the BPA is aimed at accom- plishing one or more of the following goals: Recent BPA staff photograph. (left-to-right) D. Shapero, D. Lang, N. Melcer, T.I. • Monitor the health of physics and astronomy. Meyer, P. Lewis, B. Dewhurst, V. An, and P. Long. • Identify trends in research and new develop- ments at the scientific forefronts. New Title for BPA Newsletter. Some of our more avid fans may have noticed the • Foster interactions with other fields and new title for this edition of the BPA newsletter. The new title, “Issues in Physics & cooperation among academic disciplines. Astronomy at the BPA” was selected as a more accurate description of the content and • Strengthen connections to technology. purpose of the newsletter, especially to those less familiar with the BPA. • Facilitate effective service to the nation. • Improve public understanding of science. • Encourage cooperation among federal BPA Update: Meetings in 2006 agencies, government laboratories, and universities involved in research in physics May 2006 and astronomy. 05/25-26 CMMP 2010 meeting, Washington, D.C. Approaches for achieving these objectives include June 2006 the following: 6/12-13 MRSEC meeting, Washington, D.C. • Periodic assessments of major fields. By 6/18-19 BMAP meeting, Berkeley, California setting priorities, these surveys provide programmatic guidance to agencies. 6/19-21 NAPA meeting, Washington, D.C. • Response to particular needs and requests July 2006 from federal agencies, both those that have 7/14-15 RISAC meeting, Vancouver, British Columbia programs of research and those that play an August 2006 administrative role. 8/14-16 NAPA meeting, Boulder, Colorado (tentative) • Continuing surveillance of scientific progress September 2006 and identification of issues and problems in 9/30-10/1 PLSC meeting, Irvine, California various fields. Several standing committees October 2006 are focused on this task. 10/16-17 CORF meeting, Socorro, New Mexico • Cross-disciplinary studies of special areas that lie at the intersection of several disciplines. 10/19-20 SSSC meeting, Irvine, California • Many scientific assessments address the 10/20-22 NAPA meeting, Washington, D.C. benefits that accrue to society through November 2006 technology development that follows from 11/4-5 BPA meeting, Irvine, California the pursuit of science. 11/28-29 CAA meeting, Irvine, California

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