Future Research Infrastructures: Challenges & Opportunities Varenna, Italy July 11, 2015 Dr. Amy K. Flatten Director of International Affairs American Physical Society
U.S. Physicists Appreciate – Physics is “International” International partnerships: direction of “Big Science” Future large-scale collaborations will benefit from international partners Many Different Models of Collaboration CERN: regarded as successful, recent White House signing ceremony ITER: History of challenges LBNF/DUNE: First U.S. project scoped initially as international collaboration No “One Size Fits All” Model Must learn from successes & failures of many models Create models for international collaborations that benefit all partners
Asking Ourselves: How could/should U.S. physics community best plan for future large-scale international collaborations (and accompanying facilities)? What role should APS play in helping the U.S. physics community? 50,000+ APS members worldwide: include most stakeholders Research scientists International colleagues Policy-makers Serve as: Vehicle to collect, consolidate, and incorporate “lessons-learned”? Facilitate discussions among stakeholders? Or…Just another layer of bureaucracy, administrators, etc.? How should APS address members’ and partners’ multiple interests?
APS: At the intersection of policy-making, science, & international affairs Physics Policy Committee (PPC): U.S. Government policies affecting physics research, collaboration & funding Committee on International Scientific Affairs (CISA): International engagement, partnerships & programs PPC-CISA Roundtable Series – An “Experiment” “U.S. Participation in Large-Scale International Collaborations” Small and manageable vehicle for candid conversations with representatives from science and (eventually) government Can ultimately inform future actions for the APS
Initial roundtable ~ October 2015 Initial “experience gathering exercise” physicists with first-hand knowledge of large-scale, international collaborations: Astrophysics, Nuclear physics Particle physics Atomic, molecular & optical physics (AMO) Plasma physics Condensed matter physics Objectives of October roundtable: Initial assessment/landscape Identify & prioritize key issues affecting successes or challenges Focus for follow-on roundtable discussions (with policy-makers?)
Want “forward looking” discussion (i.e., not a “gripe session”) Summer 2015: Collect & analyze “lessons learned” from participants Discuss & rate severity and frequency of challenges or successes from: Nature of collaborative agreement (e.g., bi-lateral? multi-lateral? between governments? labs?, did or didn’t include international partners from the onset, other?) Administrative Structure (e.g., international participation? one country dominates? other?) Strategic Planning & Shaping Scientific Program (Did partners have a say, or does host country dominate or decide?) Access Policies (e.g., do partner countries offer reciprocity? Is reciprocity a concern?) Financing (e.g., U.S. contributions to construction? operation? other? )
APS Roundtable Series: Initially “U.S. Centric” Will focus on U.S. participation in large-scale collaboration Include international perspective from SIF/EPS leadership Topical focus will evolve – “learn by doing” European Science Open Forum 2016 (ESOF2016) Joint proposal from American Physical Society & European Physical Society Proposed similar roundtable session Short discussion session—not long term planning Also Asking Ourselves: What could/should be the best mechanisms for “long-term planning” at international level? What country will host which major facility? National physical societies – international physics forum? Role for IUPAP? OECD? Other…TBD!