Professor Satoru Yamashita (professor at ICEPP, University of Tokyo) a central player both domestically and abroad in the push to invite the ILC, came to Oshu City to give a talk about how important 2017 and 2018 are for the ILC. He was kind enough to answer questions after his talk.

Anna: How do you expect the Tohoku ILC Preparation Office to relate to MEXT’s ILC panel of experts working groups?

Professor Yamashita: Because the Japanese government has not yet officially decided on the ILC site, results from the Tohoku ILC preparation office will be treated as a case study, but like the MEXT ILC panel of experts, it will be a valuable reference for the Japanese government: what sorts of systems look feasible, what sort of problems or issues are there, what cost or policies will it require, and what preparations will increase its likelihood of becoming a reality.

A: We heard in your talk that the Japanese government will decide about the ILC in 2018. Please tell us the general process for what happens after MEXT’s ILC panel of experts working group makes its preliminary conclusions in July this year. After that, what leads to the Japanese government announcing it will invite the ILC?

Y: Before the Japanese government decides “yes” or “no,” there are various conditions to be met. The most important is reducing costs. The next important are the validity of cost vs. anticipated benefits, plans for organization structure and management, risk management for earthquakes and natural and man-made disasters, establishing who will shoulder what costs domestically, how to obtain a budget while making sure other fields aren’t disadvantaged and prospects on shouldering costs internationally. Especially important among these conditions is whether sharing costs internationally looks promising, as the Science Council of Japan and the MEXT panel of experts advised. This international process on costs needs to be advanced at the same time as the MEXT ILC panel of experts continues its activities.

The international planning team, KEK, universities, the Tohoku ILC Preparation Office and AAA are already working on the preparations and solutions needed to meet these conditions that are within the realm of industry, academics and local government. The domestic budget and prospects for sharing costs with other countries are up to the Japanese government: the most important thing is collaboration between the Japanese national government and the Federation of Diet Members for the ILC. On top of that, we need to plug in what local areas and what the private sector can provide. This is why we’re sharing information and preparing with those involved.

If the conditions listed above are met, the MEXT panel of experts will say “yes” to the ILC, and while the conditions still aren’t right, the panel of experts can be expected to continue its role of thoroughly pointing out issues. Meeting these conditions directly links to the Japanese government making its decision. The Japanese government’s process for a decision is: first, the MEXT panel of experts. It’s possible that the government could hear opinions from the Science Council of Japan while the MEXT panel of experts is working. What usually happens next for large scientific projects is there’s a discussion at the Council of Science Technology and Innovation (CSTI) which is held by the Minister of State of Science and Technology Policy and headed by the Prime Minister, and finally the cabinet makes a decision.

A: I heard that the Federation of Diet Members for the ILC will visit the US in the spring. This is the first visit since President Trump was elected. Do you think it’ll be difficult to convince the Trump administration of the importance of the ILC, or of basic science? How do you expect the change in administration to affect the ILC?

Y: For the US budget, the White House makes a proposed budget and congress does the actual assessments and revisions based on that. The Trump administration laid out its general direction recently, proposing to strengthen defense funding and markedly reduce various departments including the State Department. The ILC is under the authority of the Department of Energy: reduced funding for the Department of Energy in some areas was also proposed. Some are worried because of a certain degree of proposed cuts to basic science which covers a wide range of fields, but the key is congress is the one that actually assesses and revises the budget. That’s why I hope the Federation of Diet Members for the ILC will stress the importance of Japan-US relations and science and technology to both the US government and to congress, and pour effort to putting us on a positive course. Also, unlike in the past, both congress and the US president are Republican majority so I think it’s a good thing (for the ILC as well) that things can be decided and then followed through with.

A: This year and next year are important—the “final corner” for the ILC. What advice or hopes do you have for local governments and for ILC researchers who read the Kitakami Times?

Y: First, it’s important to get as many people from as wide an area and wide a range of fields as possible, inside and outside Japan, informed about the ILC project, how it’s progressing, and especially about reducing costs and the importance of the ILC. It’s important to get support from all of Japan. I hope that everyone will pour as much effort into this as possible. I also hope that everyone will be careful not to communicate one-sided stories like “We are doing our best in such and such a way” ”This is the plan we’ve made,” but to tell as many people as possible, throughout the world and from within Japan, “we want to plan this together, so tell us your ideas and share your wisdom with us.”

A: Eleven high school students from Mizusawa High School went to visit SLAC in February. Seven of those eleven students were girls. What kind of efforts do you think are needed so female researchers can have a comfortable working environment?

Y: I think that if instead of focusing on whether someone is male or female, everyone is given responsibilities based on their abilities and enthusiasm society will naturally become a place where female researchers can thrive. In doing so I think it’s important to reduce or curb the way of thinking that privileges seniority, while maintaining respect for older people. I think younger researchers don’t really distinguish between or discriminate based on sex. If the current privilege for older people continues as is, that will tend to perpetuate the previous way of thinking distinguishing between men and women. On the other hand, I think it’s best not to treat women differently because they are women.

Mizusawa HS students presenting on their trip to the United States

These factors are a given in places like CERN. Europe has countries with more female researchers than male, with Italy being the most striking example. I think researchers at the ILC, like at CERN, will be able to work hard together naturally without being conscious of sex. I hope that the ILC model will then spread throughout the country.

We talked about even more in person about things like staging and about Science Kitty. Thank you so much to Dr. Yamashita for taking the time to answer my questions!