Debating future of particle physics
The Open Symposium on the European Strategy for Particle Physics was held in the beautiful town of Krakow on 10-12 September this year. This event – organised under the aegis of the European Strategy Preparatory Group – attracted around 500 particle physicists from across the world, with the aim of discussing the next research instruments and other future prospects for high energy physics.
The wide-ranging programme focused on the recent discovery of the Higgs-like particle at CERN and related open problems. The need for precision experiments in flavour physics; synergies between particle, neutrino and heavy ion physics; and challenges in novel detector development, computing and data management were also discussed.
The key issues presented in Krakow will be analysed by the strategy group which has been nominated by the CERN council. The final task of this team – which is composed of renowned researchers representing the major laboratories in Europe – will be to formulate recommendations and propose a concrete plan of action for upgrading existing, and building new, powerful facilities so that funding agencies can target their support.
The first draft report on the European particle physics roadmap will be submitted to the CERN Council in March 2013. The final version will be endorsed by the Council during a dedicated meeting in Brussels in the following May.
For more information – and to download the slides of the talks from the event – please visit the symposium website.
