MCTP GENERAL MEETING, DECEMBER 2006 Annual report Comment on Bylaws history

1. MCTP GENERAL MEETING, DECEMBER 2006 • Annual report • Comment on Bylaws history • Charlie Doering, preview of “Large Deviations…” • Vote on revised bylaws

2. MICHIGAN CENTER FOR THEORETICAL PHYSICS ANNUAL REPORT 2005–2006 Gordon Kane, Director K. Freese, J. Liu, and L. Sander, Associate Directors Each spring, the Director of The Michigan Center for Theoretical Physics shall present an annual report and submit the MCTP budget for the next fiscal year. This is the sixth.

3. Executive Committee of the MCTP, elected D. Burns (Interdisciplinary) F.Adams(Astrophysics/Relativity) F. Larsen (Particle Theory/Cosmology) L. Duan (Condensed Matter/AMO/Biophysics)

4. MCTP -- Goal is to promote research in theoretical physics and related mathematical sciences -- through workshops, visitors, conferences, seminars, individual research, interdisciplinary research, training, outreach ~70 Full Members from the faculty of the University [physics, mathematics, biology, chemistry, astronomy, biophysics, complex systems, materials science and engineering, aerospace engineering, chemical engineering] ~75 Associate Members Mainly responds to proposals (from a Full Member plus anyone)

5. “John von Neumann Celebration” “Relativistic Jets: The Common Physics of AGN, Microquasers and Gamma-Ray Bursts” “Great Lakes Strings” “LHC Inverse Problem” “Inflation After WMAP” “Large Deviations: Theory and Applications” “AAS Meeting of the Division on Dynamical Astronomy” “Galaxy Cluster Cosmology with Optical and Sunyaey-Zeldovich Surveys” Exotic atomic physics at RIA “Strings and Gauge Theories” “Physics and Mathematics of G2 compactifications” “From Microscopic to Macroscopic”

6. 06-07 BUDGET • Workshops and conferences 151K • Visitors 77 • Computing 26 • Postdocs and students 130 • Cost sharing 31 • Secretarial, supplies, phone, development, outreach 85 Total: 450 + 50

7. Visitor program for young high energy theorists • Visitor program in condensed matter and quantum computing • Visitor program in computational physics and biology • Sabbatical supplements

8. Proposals due in early March, 2007 for next year -- best to consider most proposals at same time, since already last year requested funds exceeded avaible funds -- will aim to retain some flexibility for rapid response -- some preference given to proposals that can leverage other funds -- some preference given to interdisciplinary proposals -- some preference given to “visible” activities (e.g. workshops vs postdocs)

9. External Funding? In August, 6 members of the Visiting Committee met with the LSA Dean, the Vice President for Research, and the Physics Department Chair to discuss funding opportunities. Positive feedback from both sides. Visiting Committee members had dinner with and a short talk from Saul Perlmutter last spring, and will repeat with Kip Thorne in March – suggestions for others?

10. BYLAWS • Today we vote on new proposed bylaws • When MCTP was extended indefinitely after its five year review in 2005, both the College and the Department encouraged a review and revision of the Bylaws based on the experience and wisdom gained in the first five years. • A committee was appointed to gather input and propose revised bylaws (Akhoury (Chair), Campbell, Doering). • Their draft was discussed extensively by the Executive Committee, Associate Directors, Director with further input from the Committee. The proposed Bylaws were distributed to the membership two months ago, and posted.