Hi-Phi October 2008 - Issue 177

In this issue...

1. 23^rd EPPOG (European Particle Physics Outreach Group) meeting at CERN on 3-4 October 2008
2. Departure of UK Large Hadron Collider (LHC) Communications Manager
3. Future for public engagement with the LHC
4. For your CERN diary
5. Meeting to discuss the European Spallation Source

presentations (link opens in a new window) made at the meeting are available.

From many participants there was great praise for the hard work and effectiveness of the CERN media team in organising and managing the launch event on the 10^th September. Warm thanks were expressed to James Gillies for his management of the team and the event. The launch had had unforeseen impact, with 'front page' coverage in the media of many CERN partners.

This was the last EPPOG meeting with Erik Johansson as chair. Erik is retiring from the post after 6 years. The meeting agreed to appoint two 'co-chairs' in view of the increased workload that has resulted from EPPOG becoming more active. Originally, a forum for outreach and education activities, EPPOG has become an important platform for outreach and education initiatives and an important actor in international education projects. The need to coordinate EPPOG with bodies like ECFA, HEPP and PED divisions of EPS, EPPCN (the Communication Network) requires additional effort. It was felt that EPPOG should/could become even more active to take advantage of the current interest in the LHC.

Once Erik has found a replacement he will also retire as Sweden's representative on EPPOG.

There was overwhelming support, from the meeting, in appointing Dave Barney and Michael Kobel as co-chairs for the next three year period. EPPOG's decision has to be ratified by ECFA.

The meeting heard reports on outreach activities in member countries. International and National Masterclasses were a significant element in many reports, but there are increasing numbers of genuinely 'public' events at science fairs and festivals etc. Thomas Zobel (DESY) reported on plans to make a significant investment in promoting the LHC to the German public over the next 3 years.

There were reports on the status of the LHC and on outreach activities by the experiments. Several of the experiments have recently updated public web pages and made more information and resources available.

The meeting decided to propose an LHC session at the next Ecsite conference (Milan 4-6 June 2009) to promote the LHC and particle physics as a subject of interest to the public and schools. This would follow-up the successful LHC session at the Ecsite conference in Lisbon 2007. (Ecsite is a Europe-wide umbrella organisation for science centres, museums etc).

Dr Ray Mathias, UK LHC Communications Manager

2. Departure of UK LHC Communications Manager

I have decided not to seek renewal of my contract with STFC at the end of October, as the work will change in character. I would like to thank all of the physics community who have helped and supported me over the last 2.5 years in managing the UK LHC communications strategy. It has been a great privilege to be involved in promoting such a fantastic project. You have all been very patient with a biologist on a (very) steep learning curve.

Dr Ray Mathias, UK LHC Communications Manager

3. Future for public engagement with the LHC

STFC is exploring how best to support the particle physics community in the future, following the highly successful pulse of promotional activity leading up to the LHC launch in September and seeking a legacy for this. We have consulted the LHC Promotion Advisory Group (LPAG) and its chair Prof Mike Green (who has also written to STFC on behalf of the IoP HEPP Group), and we will announce a proposal for a way forward shortly. People are welcome to write to me.

Robin Clegg, Science in Society programme

apply (link opens in a new window) - you will also find details of each of the programmes.

5. Meeting to discuss the European Spallation Source

A STFC-PALS UK Community Meeting will be held in London on Monday 17 November, to discuss the UK position on the European Spallation Source (ESS), in relation to current and future neutron provision for UK users.

The meeting will run from 10:00am (for 10:30am) - 1:00pm, at the Novotel Paddington. A further announcement will include more details on the STFC web site including registration details, agenda etc. Links to relevant background material will also be added shortly.