"The State of Particle Physics: Personal Insight and Report from the 2017 ICFA Seminar" Dr. Grahame Blair

Abstract

Particle physics is entering a new era, where the next generation of high energy accelerators are currently being planned and the interface with cosmology is becoming ever stronger.  After a brief general introduction to some of the main current issues, a few of the key messages emerging from the recent 2017 ICFA Seminar are presented together with some personal insights of the challenges and opportunities facing the field.  This will set the context of some personal earlier contributions to the theory, beam diagnostics, and beam-line simulation for the proposed International Linear electron-positron Collider.

The Speaker

Prof. Grahame Blair is the Executive Director, Programmes at the UK Science and Technology Facility Council (STFC), where he is responsible the research programmes in particle physics, astronomy, nuclear physics and accelerator physics, as well as STFC's programmes in education, training, public outreach and external engagement.  He obtained his doctoral degree from Oxford University in 1986 in the field of theoretical particle physics and has since broadened his interest to include experimental particle physics, accelerator beam diagnostics and, more recently, the funding and governance of international facilities and programmes.  Grahame is currently Chair of the Associates of the ILL (Institut Laue Langevin) neutron source and also UK Head of Delegation to the ESRF (European Synchrotron Radiation Facility). He is also Chair of FALC (international forum of Funding Agencies for Large Colliders) and is a member of the LHC Resource Review Board at CERN.