Four weeks ago, on November 7, 2011, KEK hosted the third KEK-TRIUMF Scientific Symposium with the theme, "From Collaboration to Partnership: Accelerator-Based Science at KEK and TRIUMF." This symposium was attended by about 70 researchers from Canada and Japan including both laboratory directors.
This symposium was the third in the series. The inaugural symposium was held to commemorate the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Canada in 2009 and was held at the Embassy of Canada in Tokyo.
The third symposium opened with addresses from Prof. Suzuki, Director-General of KEK, and G. Mark Scullion, Counsellor (Innovation, Science & Technology), Embassy of Canada, which stressed the importance of developing partnerships between KEK and TRIUMF. Following the opening addresses, the KEK and TRIUMF directors each reviewed current activities at the laboratories. Both talked about the growing importance of international partnerships to pool resources and talent in order to best move the science forward.
Subsequent presentations focused on collaborative projects: the Ultraslow Muon Beam, Muon g-2, J-PARC Accelerator and Neutrino Experiment, Ultra Cold Neutron, and Accelerator R&D. Participants discussed how to carry out constructive collaborations between KEK and TRIUMF and how to develop more active partnerships.
At the invited-discussion phase of the meeting, directors from KEK and TRIUMF, session conveners, and project leaders summarized each session and discussed additional details and their visions of possible areas of future collaboration. Participants actively exchanged opinions and the symposium was concluded successfully with a commitment to a short written report that would provide a framework for expanding partnerships. It was clear that for certain research projects, KEK and TRIUMF have much to offer one another as well. Moreover, on some topics such as in materials science, it seemed that a research program jointly formulated to take mutual advantage of facilities in both countries would be extremely competitive on the global stage.
On the following day, some of the symposium participants took part in KEK and J-PARC facility tours. Participants enjoyed a full-day tour of the KEKB/ Belle experiment facility, Energy Recovery Linac (ERL), and Accelerator Test Facility (ATF) at the KEK Tsukuba campus, as well as the Materials and Life Science Facility, the Nuclear and Particle Physics Facilities, and the T2K Experimental Facility in J-PARC.
At TRIUMF, we graciously thank our Japanese hosts and their colleagues. We look forward to expanding the international partnerships and reporting on successful outcomes at the next symposium in 2013 in Vancouver.
-- Edited by T.I. Meyer from a KEK news story (photo courtesy KEK)