First Hadron Physics Meeting a Success

October 29, 2004

Sometimes having extra company is a pleasant surprise.

Although he was planning for about 50 people, Physics Professor Ted Barnes was delighted when 120 showed up for the first meeting of the American Physical Society Topical Group on Hadron Physics. UT and Oak Ridge National Laboratory played a major part in the meeting’s success. Dr. Barnes, a UT-ORNL joint faculty member, served as conference chairman. UT physics faculty members Tom Handler and Stefan Spanier signed on as session organizers. Dr. Glenn Young, Director of the ORNL Physics Division, was an invited plenary speaker. (Dr. Young is not only a UT physics alumus--bachelor’s degree in 1973--he’s also a member of the department’s board of visitors.) First year graduate students Tony Wald and Xiaoguang Li were among the meeting’s attendees.

The American Physical Society comprises 14 divisions dedicated to major areas in physics. Within each division, there are several topical groups dedicated to specific principles. The Topical Group on Hadron Physics is part of the nuclear physics division.

Held at Fermilab (near Chicago) October 24-26, the Hadron group’s first meeting was such a success that the organizers are planning on making it an annual event. For more information, check out the conference Web site:

http://fafnir.phyast.pitt.edu/GHPM/