The inaugural six day conference of the “Bahamas Advanced Study Institute and College” (BASIC) concluded recently at the Stella Maris Resort, Long Island, Bahamas, with two evening talks by the principal conference organizers and founders of BASIC, Prof. Eduardo Guendelman of BGU and Prof. Thomas Curtright of the University of Miami.
Throughout the week, participants from nine different countries, including Russia, Norway, France, Denmark, UK, USA, Germany and Israel, attended a series of in-depth talks on elementary particle theory, astrophysics, gravity and cosmology given by some of the most eminent physicists from around the world. Whilst the speakers concentrated on the latest scientific developments in their fields, the open format of the meetings encouraged a wide-ranging breadth of discussion, including real-world practical applications in medical diagnosis and treatment using particle physics technology, as well as high-precision gravitation measurements of interest for monitoring sea levels and for petroleum and gas deposit exploration.
“We identified Stella Maris as being ideal for BASIC due to its location, splendid amenities at the Resort Club and the over-riding tranquillity of Long Island, providing us with the perfect environment for deep thought and provoking discussion” said Prof. Thomas Curtright. “We have been working closely with Stella Maris Village Limited, the British owned, Bahamas registered development Company there, with the intention of building a new permanent home for BASIC, offering appropriate study facilities for post-doctoral physics and related fields, but also advanced student facilities for local Bahamian and international students too.”
“We are proposing to create a center for theoretical research and training of advanced students and postdoctoral scientists. Funding for the center will come from international foundations and other private sources. Stage one of the proposal calls for initial facilities to provide office space for six permanent faculty and up to 14 visiting faculty and postdoctoral associates. Stage two plans are to add study space for an equal number of students. Both stages should be completed, and the center fully operational, within three years. Further expansion of the facilities are planned for later development, with the plan to double the size of the center by the end of ten years,” according to Guendelman.
“The goal of the Bahamas Advanced Study Institute & College (BASIC) is to create a stimulating center in a tropical environment where scientists and their students can gather, think in depth, and exchange ideas about important scientific problems, especially in physics and related fields. For students BASIC would provide an enhanced learning experience where they would complete their studies and begin to engage in active research programs. For researchers, the seclusion of the center would provide ideal working conditions for theoretical investigations of fundamental problems as well as studies of important real-world issues expected to impact society in the future,” he added.
Above from left to right, Prof. Thomas Curtright, University of Miami, USA, Prof. Horst Stoeker, Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies, Germany, Dr. Cedric Deffayet, Institute of Astrophysics, Paris, France, Prof. Eduardo Guendelman, BGU, Dr. Astri Kleppe, SACT, Oslo, Norway, Prof. Sergei Kopeikin, University of Missouri, USA, Prof. David Owen, BGU.
Delegates attending but not shown in the photograph: Prof. Burt Ovrut, University of Pennsylvania, USA, Dr Alan Spector, consulting geo-physicist, with contributions from: Professor Holger Nielsen, Niels Bohr Institute, Denmark.
