From June 3-7, CAMD hosted its third annual summer school. This highly successful program focused this year on the synchrotron radiation applications to environmental research. Speakers from all over the world came to give keynote addresses. This program is partially funded through the NSF. Next year's topic will be on the medical applications of synchrotron radiation.
Concurrently, CAMD hosted its second research education for undergraduates (REU) program for researchers who will spend the summer at CAMD conducting independent research projects with the assistance of CAMD mentors. Projects run the gamut from synchrotron-based analytical techniques to microfabrication and mask-making.
In a tight-budget year, CAMD remains the only state-supported synchrotron radiation facility. As a line item on the state budget, we are vulnerable each year to budget cuts. Louisiana legislators visited the facility on June 5, and CAMD also hosted an open house for the public on May 11. There were various demonstrations from mag lev to, of course, radiation safety and radiation measurements. Fiestaware stikes again!
I was glad to see many accelerator people at the annual meeting. As a member of the continuing education committee, I'd like to challenge each of you to consider giving a professional enrichment program (PEP) on accelerator safety and related topics. James Liu has already given me some preliminary information. We should develop these courses as a prelude to perhaps one day hosting an accelerator-based summer school program. We have to work to develop an interest in accelerator physics.
I'm also involved with the venues committee on perhaps hosting a midyear topical meeting in New Orleans. Perhaps the accelerator group would like to suggest a topical meeting and develop the technical program.