More than 500 students applied to the International Accelerator School for Linear Colliders, which will be held in Sokendai, Hayama, Japan in May.

As the projected timeline currently stands for the International Linear Collider, the machine will start running in about a decade or so. While some physicists view retirement as a novel concept, ILC scientists and engineers must face the fact that the next-generation particle accelerator needs a next-generation of experts behind it. After the overwhelming response of applicants to the International Accelerator School for Linear Colliders, physicists can rest a little easier, knowing that a future generation of scientists is ready and eager to take the helm.

More than 500 applicants from 44 countries applied to the International Accelerator School for Linear Colliders, which will be held in Sokendai, Hayama, Japan from 19-27 May 2006. After a very difficult decision process, the Curriculum Committee accepted 80 students, the maximum number that the school can accommodate. "The response was overwhelming," said Weiren Chou, Chair of the ICFA Beam Dynamics Panel. "It made the student selection a very tough job for the Curriculum Committee."

After two weeks of deliberation and careful consideration of all the applicants, the committee admitted 20 students from America, 20 from Europe and 36 from Asia. The Local Committee will also appoint four scientific secretaries to attend the classes, bringing the total attendance to 80 students. "The great majority of the applicants were very qualified for the school and most presented strong credentials as well," Chou said. "The committee was faced with the necessity of choosing a class from a great many more talented and highly qualified students than we had room to admit."

Most of the students are from countries that are strong in high-energy physics, but several students from such countries as Mongolia and Vietnam will also be attending. The majority of attendees are either graduate students or Postdocs. "They will be ‘new blood’ in our community," Chou said.

A list of students is available online (pdf). All lectures will also be posted on the school web site, and the school committee is considering the option of streaming video. "We are confident that these students will eventually make significant contributions to linear colliders," said Chou. "We very much appreciate the interest of all the applicants and hope that those who cannot attend will continue to be interested in linear colliders."

-- Elizabeth Clements