NUCL-ACS

NSAC met in Rockville, MD on Monday, November 17 to discuss to hear reports from the Nuclear Science Funding Agencies and operating facilities. Also, the committee discussed the Long Range Plan (LRP) and the activities of the Writing Group. As always, updated information is available on the NSAC homepage.

The NUCL division has been contacted by Larry Cardman, Chair of the Nuclear Science Advisory Subcommittee on Isotopes to determine the research needs of our community for stable and radioactive isotopes. The committee is specifically seeking input for the Long Range Plan (LRP) for the DOE Isotopes Program. The charge to the committee is available at the website: science.energy.gov/np/nsac/reports/

A preliminary report was submitted to the NSACI Subcommittee on November 14, 2014. The copy of the report can be obtained by emailing Paul Mantica (mantica AT msu.edu). Input on the questions below is still welcomed from NUCL members. Paul Mantica will represent NUCL at the NSACI meeting January 20-21, 2015 in the Washington, DC area.

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Please comment on the following:

Your uses of isotopes that are supplied by the DOE Isotope Program.

Your assessment of the availability of these isotopes. Are they already, or may they become in short supply?

How does the DOE Isotopes Program support your needs?

How could the DOE Isotopes program better support your needs?

The degree to which your direct interactions with the DOE Isotope Program provide you with adequate input to and transparent information about plans and priorities relevant to the programs of your members.

Do you have any comment on the process used by the DOE Isotope Program in the consideration of transition of isotopes from DOE production to commercial production?

Identify any important goals you would like to see included in the Long Range Plan for the DOE Isotopes Program.

Identify any isotope-related research projects you would like to see included in our evolving list of compelling opportunities for the next decade.

Explain the basis for your interest in these R&D isotope projects.

Any further comments you have relevant to the charge.

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NSAC received a charge on April 23, 2014 to develop the next Long Range Plan (LRP) outlining the Research Opportunities and Priorities over the next decade for the field of Nuclear Science. The LRP is due in October 2015, and will be developed with significant input from the community. Four town meetings are scheduled to facilitate the contribution process:
 

• Education and Innovation [Graham Peaslee, Michael Thoennessen], August 6-8, 2014 at Michigan State University
http://meetings.nscl.msu.edu/Education-Innovation-2014
Nuclear Structure [Charlotte Elster, Mark Riley] and Nuclear Astrophysics [Hendrik Schatz, Michael Wiescher], Aug. 21-23, 2014 at Texas A&M University
http://www.lecmeeting.org/
QCD: Heavy Ions [Paul Sorenson, Ulrich Heinz] and Hadrons [Haiyan Gao, Craig Roberts], September 13-15, 2014 at Temple University
https://phys.cst.temple.edu/qcd
Fundamental Symmetries, Neutrons, Neutrinos, and Astrophysics [Michael Ramsey-Musolf, Hamish Robertson], September 28-29, 2015, Crowne Plaza near Chicago O’Hare Airport
http://fsnutown.phy.ornl.gov/fsnuweb/

 
The outcomes of these meetings will likely be a series of white papers that will be submitted to NSAC and the LRP Writing Committee in early 2015.
 
We encourage ACS NUCL members to participate in this important community activity.

NSAC met in Rockville, MD on Monday, June 30 to review the subcommittee report on "Assessment of Workforce Development Needs". The committee also heard a summary of the Particle Physics Project Prioritization Panel (P5) Report and an update on the Office of Nuclear Physics Isotope Program. Paul Mantica is representing the NUCL division on NSAC in 2014 and attended the meeting. Dave Robertson, who is serving as National Director for the Nuclear and Radiochemistry Summer Schools, also attended the meeting. The subcommittee report on Workforce Development spoke well of the division-sponsored Summer Schools, and the draft language encourages DOE Office of Science offices to increase support for training efforts in areas with critical workforce development needs. The final report should be available on the NSAC homepage by the end of June 2014.

NSAC met in Bethesda, MD April 24-25, 2014 to review subcommittee reports on "NNSA Development of Mo-99 Domestic Supply" and "Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay". The committee also received three new charges: "Assessment of Workforce Development Needs" "Isotope Research and Production Opportunities and Priorities", and "Nuclear Physics Research Opporunities and Priorities Long Range Plan". Paul Mantica is representing the NUCL division on NSAC in 2014 and attended the meeting.