Programs on Critical Problems in Physics, Astrophysics and Biophysics at the Aspen Center for Physics

该奖项为阿斯彭物理中心(ACP)的科学活动提供资金。ACP是世界上最重要的理论物理研究机构之一，主要通过其暑期计划履行其促进物理研究的使命。从5月中旬到9月中旬，该中心每年将500多名世界领先的物理学家带到阿斯彭，在为期几周的广泛研讨会框架内，他们在各自学科的前沿分享想法的同时，相互交流、讨论、合作和挑战。ACP是独一无二的，它结合了高科学质量的项目和非常肥沃的合作研究环境。ACP还组织了五到七次为期一周的冬季会议，每周聚集多达100名研究人员，对当前物理学和跨学科研究感兴趣的领域的突破性发展做出快速反应。在夏季和冬季参加的物理学家还为丰富和明显的公共宣传计划做出了贡献。这包括在较大的礼堂外举行的公开讲座，以及夏季在ACP与物理学家举行的更多非正式“对话”(所有讲座和对话的录音可通过互联网获得)，以及在冬季公开讲座之前在阿斯彭市中心举行的物理咖啡馆讨论。此外，还有更多“对儿童友好”的活动，如访问当地学校，并与阿斯彭科学中心合作，为儿童举办每周一次的夏季野餐(在ACP校园)，参加的物理学家进行演讲和与物理有关的活动。所有公共活动都是免费的，而且有很多人参加。

This award funds the scientific activities at the Aspen Center for Physics (ACP). The ACP is one of the premier theoretical physics research institutions in the world and fulfills its mission of fostering physics research primarily through its summer program. From mid-May to mid-September the Center brings over 500 of the world's leading physicists each year to Aspen where, within the broad framework of workshops lasting several weeks, they interact, discuss, collaborate, and challenge each other while sharing ideas at the forefront of their disciplines. The ACP is unique in the combination of programs of high scientific quality coupled with an extraordinarily fertile collaborative research environment. The ACP also organizes between five and seven one-week Winter Conferences, bringing together as many as 100 researchers each week to respond rapidly to breaking developments in areas of current interest in physics and interdisciplinary research. The physicists participating during the summer and winter also contribute to a rich and visible public outreach program. This includes public lectures, held off-site in larger auditoria, together with more informal `dialogues' with physicists held at the ACP in the summer (with recordings for all lectures and dialogues available over the internet) and Physics Cafe discussions held in downtown Aspen prior to the Winter public lectures. These are complemented by more `kid-friendly' events such as visits to local schools and, in collaboration with the Aspen Science Center, Physics is for Kids weekly summer picnics (on the ACP campus) with talks by participating physicists and physics-related activities. All public events are free and well-attended.