Statement of Outgoing Founding Director Smoot


BCCP Founding Panel

The first five years of the Berkeley Center for Cosmological Physics (BCCP) has been very exciting and fulfilling. We look to the next five years as one of great opportunities and successes in this cutting edge work.

BCCP successes are many and the benefit of surfing the crest of cosmology wave of progress and discoveries. That BCCP has Nobel Laureates as its first two directors is an indicator of the leading role being played here. In practice very much outstanding work is going on through BCCP by extrordinary researchers.

My five year term passed by more quickly than I ever imagined as setting a nominal term of five years at the founding seemed like a long time to sign up. I think that is true for a situation where every day is a joy because of the great people and the progress being made. If it had been torture instead of so much joy, it might have seemed a much longer time. However, it is time to change leadership and efforts and see what new directions that takes BCCP.

I will remain involved in BCCP very strongly, while pushing my research at this critical time for it, and lead, stay active in the BCCP's Global Teachers' Academy and the "Essential Cosmology for the Next Generation" school.

This is a good moment to review and specifically thank the very many people who have and are involved in BCCP and made it so successful. We anticipate that due to Saul's busy schedule as the new Nobel Laureate that BCCP will be co lead by Saul Perlmutter, professor of physics, and Uros Seljak, professor of physics and astronomy. They will be responsible for developing the scientific vision and setting the strategies and priorities of the center. Prof. Perlmutter will primarily be responsible for representing the center to outside entities and for fund-raising activities, incuding establishing relationships with donors. Prof. Seljak will primarily be responsible for the day to day running of the center, including appointing (in consulation with the Search Committee) and maintaining relations with BCCP postdoctoral fellows.

I will take up the position of Founding Director, which will allow me to focus on BCCP’s research, fund-raising activities, global teacher’s academy and cosmology school.