Superbomb: Physicists and the Decision to Build the Hydrogen Bomb

美国物理研究所要求在两年内提供113,411美元的部分资金，用于剧本开发和制作一部关于制造氢弹的一小时电视纪录片。该计划以20世纪40年代和50年代关于是否制造热核弹的政治、道德和科学政策辩论为特色。它的目标是在1990年，即决定制造氢弹40周年之际，在全国范围内播出。除了PBS播出外，还计划发行这部电影，供高中和大学课堂使用。该项目由著名的科学技术历史学家和一位获奖的电影制作人组成的伙伴关系实施，并得到经验丰富和有声望的顾问的支持。它已经从AIP和几个基金会获得了启动资金，并完成了对“辩论”参与者的一些采访。最近解密的历史文件和电影片段现在可以收录在这部纪录片中。由于可以获得更多的历史材料，所涉及的校长年龄较大，而且是周年纪念，因此这个项目的时机特别合适。这个项目的内容令人信服：它既具有重大的历史意义，又具有现实意义。科学家作为联邦政府的军事、技术和政治顾问的角色是一个根本上重要的历史问题，值得公众理解。此外，这是那些相对罕见的概念上具有实质性的话题之一，有可能吸引电视。项目费用分摊将超过335,000美元。

The American Institute of Physics requests $113,411 over two years for partial funding for script development and production of a one-hour television documentary about the decision to build the hydrogen bomb. The program features the political, moral, and scientific policy debate of the 1940s and 1950s over whether to build thermonuclear bombs. It is targeted for national broadcast in 1990, the 40th anniversary of the decision to build the H-bomb. In addition to PBS broadcast, there are plans to distribute the film for use in high-school and university classes. The project is being carried out by a partnership of noted historians of science and technology and an award-winning filmmaker, supported by experienced and prestigious advisors. It has received start-up funding from the AIP and several foundations, and has completed some interviews with participants in the "debate". Historical documents and film footage recently declassified are now available for inclusion in this documentary. Because of this availability of additional historical materials, the advanced age of the principals involved, and the anniversary tie-in, the timing of this project is particularly appropriate. The content of this project is compelling: it is of both great historical significance and current relevance. The role of scientists as military, technical, and political advisors to the federal government is a fundamentally important historical issue that deserves public understanding. In addition, it is one of those relatively rare conceptually substantial topics that has the potential for gripping television. Project cost sharing will exceed $ 335,000.