Dear UFA colleagues,

        This e-mail is not so much a newsletter as an update, and a 
recommendation for you to volunteer yourself or someone else to 
participate in developing the input to the Research Needs Workshop 
(ReNeW) for Magnetic Fusion Energy Sciences, to take place in June of 
2009.  I have sent you a newsletter with this information before, and 
I am updating it with a follow-up letter from Gene Nardella, Acting 
Associate Director of OFES.

        As I'd mentioned previously, the workshop will further assess 
the research gaps and opportunities in five themes of MFES.  The 
workshop is intended to identify the research needs and cross-cutting 
investigations that would enable progress in the key areas in which 
we need to advance our scientific and technical  knowledge for the 
development of fusion energy. General approaches to meeting these 
needs will be under consideration.  Details and explicit statements 
of the goals of the ReNEW can be found in the letter labeled 
"Attachment 1".

        This workshop and subsequent ones dealing with HEDP and low 
temperature plasma sciences can be expected to strongly re-shape the 
research priorities and activities of our research field. 
Furthermore, the strategic plans that will be developed using the 
outcomes of the ReNeW processes will presumably be used by various 
government bodies to evaluate our program for support in the broader 
context of the need for R&D in alternative energy, and progress in 
science & technology.  Not only must our MFE program grow now to 
support our participation in ITER, but our entire program should 
ultimately expand further if we are to take full advantage of the 
burning plasma physics research to be initiated in ITER and NIF.  So 
the ReNeW is an important and significant step, and you should pay 
serious attention to it.

        Accordingly, I'm taking this opportunity to urge you, or 
someone you suggest, to participate in the ReNeW activities that are 
just gearing up.  I am attaching two Powerpoint slides that 
illustrate the structure of the ReNeW with the 5 themes and the 
sub-themes underneath each one, and the names of the individuals who 
are charged with organizing the entire workshop (Hazeltine & Hill) 
and each thematic element.  Also listed are the individuals at OFES 
who will serve as the liaisons between each theme and the Office.

        The theme leaders are looking for volunteers and/or 
suggestions of people to participate as leaders, co-leaders, and 
members of their respective sub-themes.  I've listed their e-mail 
addresses in the CC: line in the header of this e-mail.  Please 
contact any of them very soon if you have questions about the nature 
of the workshop activities, and suggestions of specific people 
(including yourself) who would be suited for a particular issue.

        Prof. Richard Hazeltine, chair of the ReNeW, will be giving 
his perspective on the ReNeW process at the UFA General Meeting on 
Nov. 17 at APS.  the meeting starts at 6 PM.  Also speaking at the 
meeting are Dr. David Hill on the Toroidal Alternates Panel findings, 
Prof. Riccardo Betti on the status of the HEDLP Panel activities, and 
a representative of OFES management on current OFES planning and 
perspectives.  I hope you'll be able to attend if you come to  the 
Dallas meeting.

Cordially,
Stephen Knowlton, UFA President