An "independent assessment of the scientific quality of the (DOE Office of Fusion Energy Sciences) research programs" by the National Research Council (NRC), first requested by DOE Director of Energy Research Martha Krebs two years ago, is finally sceduled to begin in May. The NRC is an arm of the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering.

In her request letter Krebs said, "Among the things you may wish to consider in your assessment are the quality of fusion research itself as evidenced by progress in the understanding of fundamental plasma physics issues in fusion energy; the impact that fusion energy research has had in other scientific areas such as astrophysics, geophysics, computational science, and technological areas such as plasma processing; and the role of fusion research in the academic community including graduate student training." Krebs commented, "I anticipate that those who carry out the assessment will have the broad scientific expertise necessary to provide the critical judgment required in such a task and that they will represent a broad segment of the scientific community."

Charles Kennel, Director, Scripps Institute of Oceanography, San Diego, and a former Deputy Director of NASA and well-respected plasma scientist, will chair the panel. Kennell has decided to establish three subpanels, each with its own chair. The three subpanels will look at Program Architecture, Experiment and Theory.

A recent law (Federal Advisory Committee Act Amendments of 1997, Public Law 105-153) requires the NRC "provide public notice of the names and brief biographies of individuals that the Academy appoints or intends to appoint to serve on the (review) committee," and to "provide a reasonable opportunity for the public to comment on such appointments before they are made or, if the Academy determines that prior comment is not practicable, in the period immediately following the appointments." An NRC spokesperson said the NRC expects to post a list of proposed panel members on its web site (www.nas.edu) in the near future and then allow 20 days for public comment.

The law further specifies that the "Academy shall make its best efforts to ensure that (a) no individual appointed to serve on the committee has a conflict of interest that is relevant to the functions to be performed, unless such conflict is promptly and publicly disclosed and the Academy determines that the conflict is unavoidable, (b) the committee membership is fairly balanced as determined by the Academy to be appropriate for the functions to be performed, and (c) the final report of the Academy will be the result of the Academy's independent judgment." The law now requires the Academy to "provide public notice of committee meetings that will be open to the public," and to "ensure that meetings of the committee to gather data from individuals who are not officials, agents or employees of the Academy are open to the publlic." The law further requires that the Academy make available to the public "written materials presented to the (review) committee (by such individuals)."

With respect to "any meeting that is not a data gathering meeting," and is closed to the public, the law now requires the Academy to make a brief summary "available to the public as soon as practicable." The summary must "identify the committee members present, the topics discussed, materials made available to the committee, and such other matters that the Academy determines should be included." Finally, the law specifies that "after publication of the final report, the Academy shall make publicly available the names of the principal reviewers who reviewed the report in draft form and who are not officials, agents, or employees of the Academy."

The DOE Office of Fusion Energy Sciences will pay the NRC $366,000 to carry out the review.