[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 86 (Tuesday, May 4, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24598-24599]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-10127]


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OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY


National Science and Technology Council; Committee on Science; 
Interagency Working Group on the Physics of the Universe

ACTION: Notice of open meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces a workshop sponsored by the National 
Science and Technology Council/Committee on Science/Interagency Working 
Group on the Physics of the Universe to discuss the emerging field of 
High Energy Density Physics.

DATES and ADDRESSES: The Interagency Working Group will hold one three-
day workshop on Monday, May 24, 2004, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (EDT); 
Tuesday, May 25, 2004, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Wednesday, May 26, 2004, 
8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. All sessions of the workshop will be held at the 
Marriott Gaithersburg Washingtonian Center, 9751 Washingtonian 
Boulevard, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878, USA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information regarding this Notice, 
please contact Michael Holland, Office of Science and Technology 
Policy. Telephone: (202) 456-6069. Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The workshop is being held to solicit input 
to the Interagency Working Group (IWG) on the Physics of the Universe 
about scientific opportunities in the emerging area of High Energy 
Density Physics (HEDP). This topic was featured in a recent National 
Science and Technology Council (NSTC) report, A 21st Century Frontier 
for Discovery: Physics of the Universe (available at http://www.ostp.gov), and in three other recent reports:
     Connecting Quarks with the Cosmos: Eleven 
Science Questions for the New Century, National Research Council, 2003;
     Frontiers in High Energy Density Physics: The X-
Games of Contemporary Science, National Research Council, 2003 (both 
are available through http://www7.nationalacademies.org/bpa/BPA_Reports.html); and
     The Science and Applications of Ultrafast, 
Ultraintense Lasers: Opportunities in Science and Technology Using the 
Brightest Light

[[Page 24599]]

Known to Man, Report on the SAUUL Workshop, June 17-19, 2002 (available 
at http://www.sc.doe.gov/production/bes/chm/Publications/SAUUL_report_final.pdf).
    Purpose of the Workshop: The purpose of the workshop is to explore 
scientific opportunities and challenges within the emerging field of 
HEDP. A group of discussants, led by the workshop chairman Professor 
Ronald Davidson of Princeton University, will collect input and 
individual opinions on scientific opportunities within the field, their 
importance, technical barriers, and associated milestones. The group of 
discussants will be divided into four areas of scientific expertise, 
each with a rapporteur, to record technical discussions, collate 
presentations, and write a workshop summary. The four areas of 
scientific expertise are: A--HEDP in Astrophysical Systems, B--Beam-
Induced HEDP (RHIC, heavy ion fusion, high-intensity accelerators, 
etc.), S--HEDP in Stockpile Stewardship Facilities (Omega, Z, National 
Ignition Facility, etc.), and U--Ultrafast, Ultraintense Laser Science.
    The IWG will then use the workshop summary to develop proposed 
near-term scientific goals and milestones for the field along with 
proposed recommendations for a set of phased priorities. The IWG will 
then announce its list of scientific goals, milestones and phased 
priorities for public comment in a subsequent Federal Register notice. 
The goals, milestones, and priorities posted for comment will not 
recommend any specific funding targets nor present any specific 
recommendations regarding funding initiatives.
    Federal scientists and agency representatives are encouraged to 
participate in workshop discussions. Both federal and non-federal 
employees may make presentations at the workshop. Members of the 
discussants group may serve as discussion mediators and facilitators in 
general and breakout sessions. Professor Davidson, the workshop's 
chairman, will conduct the meeting to facilitate the orderly conduct of 
business. Public comment will follow the 10-minute rule.
    Tentative Agenda: Agenda will include discussions of the following:
Monday, May 24, 2004
     Introductory statements and presentation of 
workshop charge by Federal Program representatives.
     Presentations framing opportunities for 
discovery in the following scientific areas:
    [ctrcir] A--HEDP in Astrophysical Systems.
    [ctrcir] B--Beam-Induced HEDP (RHIC, heavy ion fusion, high-
intensity accelerators, etc.).
    [ctrcir] S--HEDP in Stockpile Stewardship Facilities (Omega, Z, 
National Ignition Facility, etc.).
    [ctrcir] U--Ultrafast, Ultraintense Laser Science.
     Public Comments (10-minute rule).
Tuesday, May 25, 2004
     Break-out sessions: Discussions of issues and 
scientific opportunities in each of the four areas (A, B, S, and U).
     Public comments (10-minute rule).
Wednesday, May 26, 2004
     Reports from the Break-Out Sessions: Summary and 
discussion by the rapporteur of the comments and issues identified in 
each breakout area (A, B, S, and U).
    Public Participation: All sessions of the workshop are free and 
open to the public. Although there is no registration fee, we would 
appreciate it if you would pre-register by sending your name, title, 
organization, postal address, telephone number, and e-mail address to 
Dr. Ronald H. McKnight, the meeting contractor, at 
[email protected] (e-mail).
    Please submit your requests to make oral statements regarding any 
of the items on the agenda to Dr. McKnight at [email protected]. 
We would prefer that you make your request for an oral statement at 
least 5 business days before the meeting, but you may submit your 
request at the beginning of each meeting day. Reasonable provision will 
be made to include the scheduled oral statements on the agenda.
    If you would like to file a written statement detailing your views 
on scientific opportunities within the emerging field of HEDP, you may 
do so anytime before the workshop. To be considered by the IWG, all 
written comments submitted after the workshop must be received by 5 
p.m., Friday, June 11, 2004. You may submit comments electronically or 
by mail to Dr. McKnight at the following address: Dr. Ronald H. 
McKnight, HEDP Workshop, 8 Michele Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20878. 
Telephone: (301) 869-7212. Email: [email protected]. Please be 
certain to include your name, title, organization, postal address, 
telephone number, and E-mail address in any written statement.

Authority

    The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) was established 
under Executive Order 12881 on November 23, 1993. The Committee on 
Science is chartered under the NSTC. The purpose of the Committee on 
Science is to advise and assist the NSTC, with emphasis on those 
federally supported efforts that develop new knowledge in the sciences, 
mathematics, and engineering.

Ann F. Mazur,
Assistant Director for Budget and Administration.
[FR Doc. 04-10127 Filed 5-3-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3170-01-P