Fermilab's ILC Director Bob Kephart (right) also serves as an envoy and provided feedback on establishing an ILC Citizens Task Force. |
Judy Jackson and Fermilab envoy Rich Karuhn at last week's Community Envoy Program meeting. |
Earlier this fall, Fermilab instituted a Community Envoy Program to create and maintain meaningful relationships with people in the surrounding communities. After a training session on September 5, Fermilab matched 28 employees and users with key stakeholders, such as state representatives and homeowners associations, to provide information about the lab's projects, scientific goals and promising future. Last week, Fermilab's envoys reconvened to share progress reports on their first meetings with their stakeholders and to discuss future plans for launching an International Linear Collider Citizens Task Force.
The Fermilab envoys reported that their contacts responded very positively to the idea of such a programme and welcomed the opportunity to learn more about the lab. A number of envoys received questions, and some concerns, regarding the future of Fermilab. "I had to explain that this is not about informing the community that we are going to shut down," explained one envoy.
Even though the envoys will keep the community informed about all of the lab's projects, the program also paves a path for starting a dialogue about the ILC – a public participation initiative that applies to all regions involved in the proposed international project. Fermilab's envoys found that the stakeholders had some knowledge about the ILC, resulting in a lot of questions about cost, location, tunnel depth and possible economic impacts. One envoy reported questions about the Superconducting Super Collider, specifically inquiring about whether the ILC would be funded in the same way.
With initial meetings complete, Fermilab's Office of Public Affairs will use the feedback collected from the envoys to select members for an ILC Citizens Task Force, which will convene before the end of this year. From the environmentalist to the local elected official to the student, this task force will bring together a wide spectrum of community leaders to provide input into key aspects of ILC planning and decision-making. Starting in December, the group will meet on a monthly basis for approximately one year. "We are looking for thoughtful, open-minded people, who are interested in the future of the region and willing to provide input," said Judy Jackson, Fermilab's Director of Public Affairs. Fermilab will seek nominations for the ILC Citizens Task Force from area residents and employees later this month. For more information about the ILC Citizens Takes Force, call the Office of Public Affairs at +1-630-840-3351.
-- Elizabeth Clements
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