You're currently reading the news digest published from 27 March to 3 April Featured 6. Of interest 1. A conclave of industry Like cardinals assembled for a conclave they sat on narrow velvet-padded stalls facing each other, five rows on one side and five rows on the other. The vast chamber was heavy with history: seven centuries ago, at the time of the Avignon papacy , it had hosted emperors and kings and accommodated several assemblies of cardinals.
Nor were they assembled to elect a new pontiff. Who did what? The participants were business and industry leaders from all over the world who had come to Avignon to meet with the ITER's main actors and hear updates on the project's progress, needs and forthcoming tenders.
Close to companies, laboratories and institutions from 25 countries were represented; 15 percent came from outside of Europe. During the first one, from to , seven successive Popes, all "legitimate," decided for political reasons not to reside in Rome. In the second period, from to , "rival Popes," one in Avignon, one in Rome, claimed authority over the Church Strong support from the industry is vital to the success of ITER," said Jacques Vayron, the director of Agence Iter-France, as he greeted participants on the morning of 29 March in the Conclave chamber.
When the usual explanations were provided an artificial Sun, a uniquely complex machine, an unprecedented international collaboration Time well spent in D. Fortuitously, a second briefing could be added to the calendar: the newly confirmed US Secretary of Energy, Rick Perry, graciously offered to make time for a minute meeting with the Director-General to learn more about the ITER Project and the value of US participation. On the Congressional side, Chairman Mike Simpson and Ranking Member Marcy Kaptur led the questioning, with 9 of the 13 Subcommittee members present during the discussion.
From the outset, a distinct difference was apparent from Bigot's most recent interactions with Members of the US Congress less than year ago: namely, that there was broad consensus that the ITER Project was back on track, with strong congratulations to the Director-General for his central role in the project turnaround.
