Project X and the Endless Frontier

Bob Tschirhart

Fermilab

Vannevar Bush was a highly respected engineer and gifted U.S. science policy administrator who in 1945 promoted the continued investment of precious federal government resources into science and technology in a report entitled: “Science: The Endless Frontier” (http://www.nsf.gov/od/lpa/nsf50/vbush1945.htm). This landmark report and Bush’s tireless efforts contributed greatly to the formation of the U.S. National Science Foundation and U.S. National Laboratories dedicated to basic research such a the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. The “Project X” (http://projectx.fnal.gov/) accelerator initiative at Fermilab continues this legacy of investment in science and technology. In this colloquium, the visionary contributions of Vannevar Bush in computing, engineering and science will be recognized, and the many achievements of the 2012 recipient of the Vannevar Bush Award, Fermilab director emeritus Leon Lederman (http://www.fnal.gov/pub/today/archive_2012/today12-04-03.html) will also be recognized. This will be followed by a discussion of the science of technology frontiers that can be opened and explored at Fermilab with Project X for decades to come.