January 22, 2003
Wednesday - 4:00 pm in Swain West 119
Speaker: Professor John Wilkerson, University of Washington
Title: Going Deep - Discovery Opportunities at a National Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory

Abstract:
Physics is in the midst of two major intellectual revolutions: uncovering the nature of physics beyond the Standard Model and revealing the secrets of the cosmos through a variety of nuclear physics, particle physics, and precision astrophysical measurements. Recent exciting discoveries in neutrino astrophysics from underground detectors have provided the first clear evidence for "new" physics beyond the Standard Model. A deep underground science laboratory will play a leading role in both of these revolutions, housing next generation experiments that will answer significant questions, in nuclear physics, particle physics, astrophysics, and cosmology. In addition to the pure physical sciences, a vast range of both fundamental and practical subjects, such as biology, geology, and national security will also benefit from the establishment of such a laboratory. This talk will review the potential science to be done underground and report on the progress that has been made in the past two years in the effort to establish a National Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (NUSEL) within the United States.