ASEPS 3: a successful international meeting of physics experts and laboratory leaders
The 3rd Asia-Europe Physics Summit [ASEPS 3] took place in Chiba, Japan, from 16 to 19 July 2013. The meeting was part of the APPC12, the 12th conference of the Association of Asian Pacific Physical Societies [AAPPS].
Jointly organised by the AAPPS and the EPS, ASEPS 3 was meant to continue the work to reinforce cooperation in physics research between Asia and Europe started in the two previous editions: ASEPS 1, Tsukuba, Japan (2010) and ASEPS 2, Wroclaw, Poland (2011).
ASEPS 3 plenary sessions presented latest research in fields such as high-energy physics, photonics & nanotechnology, fibre laser acceleration and climate engineering.
Four Round Tables were also organised, allowing for intense exchange of ideas on topics of definite interest for worldwide international cooperation:
1) International Strategic Planning for Large Research Facilities – Science and Technology Issues;
2) International Strategic Planning for Large Research Facilities – Policy and Cooperation;3) The International Year of Light and International Collaborative Activities in Optics;
4) Education and Outreach – Lessons and Challenges in Large Research Facilities.
Concerning ASEPS Round Tables 1 & 2, in particular, these were organised with the aim to provide a comprehensive view of the status and plan for large accelerator based infrastructures in the world. It was also hoped that they would serve as one of the steps to achieve worldwide consensus on the future facilities. Scientific and technological aspects to justify the needs and methods, and political and organisational frameworks needed for realisation were dealt separately in the two separate sessions. In both sessions, a series of 20 minute presentations were given by the leading members of national and international laboratories and organisations with large facilities based on accelerators, followed by extensive and lively discussions by the panel members and the audience. High-energy physics programmes received a particular focus in the discussion, where the Asia, Europe and America regions have their own roadmaps and strategies. The round table discussion clearly provided a unique opportunity for exchanging their views.
Round Table 3 focused on relevant issues in optics and provided a special presentation of the International Year of Light initiative.
Finally Round Table 4 nicely ended the series, with lively presentations on the ever-relevant topics of education, dissemination and outreach.
Slides of all the presentations will be shortly made available in the ASEPS 3 website, together with the summaries of the Round Tables provided by the conveners.
As a conclusion of the 2013 ASEPS 3 meeting, a “Chiba Statement” was signed by AAPPS President Shoji Nagamiya and EPS President John Dudley, expressing the determination of the two societies to continue organising such fruitful ASEPS meetings in the future.
