On February 12th (February 13th Japan time) a meeting on the ILC was held at the US think-tank the Hudson Institute in Washington, DC. The members of the Federation of Diet Members for the ILC, researchers from the US and Japan others discussed the significance of the ILC and explored ways to work towards its realization.
Approximately 50 people from Japan and the US participated, with about 10 people presenting. The Director-General of the Linear Collider Collaboration Lyn Evans and professor emeritus Paul Grannis of New York University spoke of the ILC technology’s potential application in not just particle physics research, but for a wide range of fields such as cutting edge medical treatment.
From the Kitakami mountains (Kitakami highlands) candidate site, joint representative of the Tohoku Conference for the Promotion of the ILC Hiroaki Takahashi noted that “Tohoku has many businesses that contribute to cutting edge science.” Chairman Kunihisa Yamura of Iwate Prefecture ILC Promotion Council conveyed his enthusiasm, saying “We want to give back to the world for its support during the 2011 disaster through scientific contributions.”
House of Representative member Shunichi Suzuki, vice chair of the Federation of Diet Members for the ILC and chair at the meeting said, “We would really like you to tell Congress and the people of your government how wonderful this project is, and tell the public about the merits and possibilities of the ILC.”
After the meeting, Professor Andy White of the University of Texas at Arlington gave his impression, saying “This meeting was good progress for making the ILC a reality. I have been to Iwate before, and could see the enthusiasm for the ILC. It is a wonderful area, and I have absolutely no hesitation in working there.”