“Nuclear Science in DOE: Assessment and Promise” -- Concluding Remarks

Last week the DOE/NSF Nuclear Science Advisory Committee (NSAC) released a report entitled “Nuclear Science in DOE: Assessment and Promise.” After the conclusions and recommendations summarized in FYI #92, the report closes with the following:

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V. CONCLUDING REMARKS

The NSAC assessment and recommendations presented in this report are based on five key elements:

SCIENTIFIC RETURN ON THE NATION’S INVESTMENT:

The quality of the science is very high, a judgement based ultimately on peer review. The American nuclear physics program is clearly in the leadership position.

The scientific opportunities to be realized in the next years are entirely consistent with established Long Range Plan priorities.

Effective utilization of facilities and detectors for the highest quality science is a central issue in realizing a satisfactory scientific return on the nation’s investment. Thus, for the DOE nuclear physics user facilities, our recommendations incorporate the following:

- LAMPF operation in FY 1995 and phaseout as a nuclear physics user facility in FY 1996; this follows NSAC recommendations, is consistent with FY 1994 appropriations language, and preserves options for other DOE programs that might use the LAMPF high intensity accelerator.

- CEBAF should start research in FY 1995 and move into full operating mode in FY 1996.

- The smaller user programs should exploit their novel capabilities for forefront research: ANL/ATLAS: FMA and APEX BNL/AGS: Relativistic heavy ion collisions with Au beams LBL/88" Cyclotron: Gammasphere MIT/Bates: South Hall Ring, spin capabilities and SAMPLE ORNL/HRIBF: Radioactive ion beams

TIMELY AND COST-EFFECTIVE REALIZATION OF MAJOR NEW SCIENTIFIC OPPORTUNITIES UNDER DEVELOPMENT:

The RHIC project needs to be advanced for both scientific reasons and cost-effectiveness. In particular, the detector complement should be kept on track to be as robust as possible when the colliding beams are available.

APPROPRIATE SCIENTIFIC MANPOWER AND STUDENT TRAINING:

An appropriate scientific manpower level is obviously needed to do the science effectively. Beyond this, the training of young scientists is one of the major returns on the basic research investment. The scientists and technologists trained in the nuclear physics program serve the nation in many ways (science, health, security, environment, economy) and sustain DOE core competencies.

CONTRIBUTION TO DOE MISSION:

The elements listed above indicate that the nuclear physics program is well aligned with and strongly contributes to the five goals expressed by DOE for its Science and Technology vision.

LONG-RANGE PLANNING

The value of the Long Range Plan process to nuclear physics, to the agencies, and to the nation has been demonstrated repeatedly over the last fifteen years. It provides the framework for consensus on new initiatives and difficult priority choices and for the commitment of financial resources and of scientific careers. The framework for NSAC priority discussion is absent when the boundary conditions implicit in Long Range Plan recommendations are drastically altered. The long range planning partnership needs renewal.