Group will provide guidance and advice on proposed International Linear Collider accelerator
Batavia, Ill.–Officials at the Department of Energy’s Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory have announced plans to form a task force of local citizens to work with the laboratory on planning for a bid to host the International Linear Collider. The worldwide community of particle physicists has proposed the ILC as the world’s next large particle accelerator. If a global decision is reached to build the ILC, the U.S. Department of Energy has expressed its interest in the possibility of hosting a linear collider at Fermilab, subject to cost and scientific validation.
“Strong community involvement will be essential to Fermilab’s success in bringing the ILC to Illinois,” said Fermilab Director Pier Oddone. “We are seeking to engage a wide spectrum of community leaders in a Citizens’ Task Force that will provide input into key aspects of planning and decision-making for the proposed accelerator.”
Currently, scientists and engineers from Europe, Asia and the Americas are at work on determining the design and cost of the proposed ILC, which would require participation from many nations. Their report is expected in February 2007. The construction and operations of the ILC would play a key role in Fermilab’s future and the future of U.S. research in particle physics. The ILC would occupy a 20-mile-long tunnel some 500 feet below ground.
The ILC Task Force will provide recommendations and guidance to Fermilab to ensure that community concerns and ideas are included in all public aspects of ILC design, including community issues relating to an underground tunnel, the siting and character of surface structures, mitigating the effects of construction activities, and maximizing economic benefits to the region, among others.
Fermilab seeks some 20 community members for the task force, chosen to ensure broad-based representation from local communities that would be affected by the ILC. The nomination process is open to all area residents and members of the community. Nomination forms are available from the Fermilab Office of Public Affairs at 630-840-3351 or online at http://www.fermilabcommunity.org/ilc/. Nominations will be accepted from November 13 through December 6, 2006.
Fermilab, a world leader in particle physics research, is a Department of Energy/Office of Science national laboratory, operated by Universities Research Association, Inc.