2004 High Pressure, Research at Gordon Conference

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The High Pressure Gordon Conference has been held biannually for 49 years: itcontinues to be vital to new science developments in fields as diverse as physics, chemistry,earth/planetary science, materials and biology. It is one of the few that crosscuts a broadspectrum of topics with a unifying theme of condensing matter with pressure. Spectacularadvances are now being made in high-pressure methods for creating new materials, and forstudying physical, chemical and biological processes under high-pressure conditions: recentbreakthroughs include diffraction of light elements using neutron scattering at extremeconditions, direct measurement of thermal conductivity, acoustic velocities, and even the fulldensity of states at extreme conditions, polymerisation of molecules into new solids, creationof super-hard materials, increasing superconducting Tc to record values, formation ofunexpected incommensurate structures in metals; and advances in fundamental theoreticaldescriptions of simple molecular systems. Emerging areas include high-pressurecrystallography of hydrogen containing materials, new techniques for synchrotron/neutronstudies and ongoing development of inelastic x-ray scattering on small volumes, andunderstanding mineral physics of outer planets and stars. The 2004 GRC will feature invitedtalks in exciting new areas at the forefront of science, including shock wave techniques ofdouble shock, laser shock, and shock-spectroscopy experiments; high pressure melting andliquid structure;, super high pressure acoustic velocity measurement on metals and minerals;sampling the deep Earth with single crystal x-ray studies at record pressures; new synchrotronand neutron experiments; high-pressure superconductivity, and new metallic behaviour athigh pressure. For a vibrant and successful conference, it is essential to represent all sectorsof the field, including graduate students, post-docs and junior faculty, as well as newcomersto the high-pressure field. Diversity is also stressed, including representatives from manycountries as well as more female scientists than in past conferences. Financing participationin such a conference is an impediment to attendance by many attendees, that can not becovered by the existing GRC fund. Here we request supplementary funds to subsidize traveland conference fees, to enable participation by students and junior scientists, as well as"newcomers" to the high-pressure field, with great benefits for US and international science.Funds are being requested from two different NSF programs in approximately equal amountssince these two areas are heavily represented in the program.Broader Impacts:This conference has traditionally had few women and minorities, often less than 3%.This conference there are 3 women speakers, greater than 10% as well as a woman discussionleader and woman chair (this conference's first). There are two Hispanic speakers, but notAmerican Hispanic. It is expected that this conference will have a larger than averagenumber of women scientists, a very underrepresented group in physics, and physical sciences.Traditionally Gordon Conferences are platforms where one may bring in speculativeideas to generate discussion, hence no photographs or publishable results. However, it is herewhere inspiration to new directions and collaborations lead to new publications. The GordonConference on Research at High Pressure is only one of two conferences where thesescientists meet, the other being the biannual AIRAPT, held only in odd numbered years.This conference is extremely important for students and postdocs to attend (6 of thespeakers are students or postdoctoral scholars, an even larger number are invited posters) as itis an integral part of their education to meet the key people in the field of high pressure,discuss their work and putting their own ideas under the scrutiny of experts, and to beinspired in new directions. This is what will help generate effective new scientists.