Karsten Heeger, a physicist at Yale University, stated that the U.S. will need to give up leadership in certain areas in particle physics. He emphasized the impact this would have on the field and beyond. The draft report advises the federal government to continue with committed projects, such as increasing the collision rates of the Large Hadron Collider, constructing the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, and a limited version of DUNE. The committee stressed the importance of supporting early-career scientists who will take over these projects in the future. Dr. Murayama highlighted the significance of grabbing the attention of staff members who communicate with Congress about the department’s budget. He acknowledged that basic research is a tough sell but emphasized the long-term benefits in fields such as medical applications, materials science, and technology. Dr. Murayama also noted that particle physics goes beyond its impact on society, stating that it is at the heart of understanding our origins and future.
