Aspen Center for Physics

“General members-- the general members shall determine the general policies of the center, including its scientific program and admissions policy. They shall nominate and elect the trustees. General members must approve financial commitments greater than 250,000, the sale of buildings or property, changes in the mode of operations of the corporation that affect its program, and changes in its overall policies or purpose. Financial commitments include: (a) sale or purchase of property or buildings; (b) encumbrances on property or buildings; (c) construction contracts, loans for new construction; (d) long-term leases; (e) commitments which would materially change the program or operations. Financial transactions which are excluded from this provision include short-term leases for participants' housing made by the administrative staff with the approval of the president and treasurer and routine, revocable transfers of funds between accounts. Trustees and officers-- the affairs of the corporation shall be managed by its board of trustees who need not be residents of the state of colorado. The management of the affairs of the corporation shall be within the general guidelines set by the general members and shall be consistent with the bylaws and articles of incorporation. Conveyances of encumbrances of the property of the corporation shall be authorized by the board of trustees and executed by those persons designated by the board subject to the approval of the general members when so required by the bylaws.”

“Approximately a week prior to filing the form 990, a draft in pdf format is emailed to officers and trustees. Comments and corrections are strongly encouraged. In addition, the administrative vice president and finance manager discuss the entire draft form with the preparer in detail in advance of filing.”

“The board of trustees reviews and approves the administrative vice president's annual salary and benefits, with no participation by the administrative vice president or other interested persons. The salary and benefits are established using comparable data for similarly qualified persons in functionally comparable positions at similar nonprofits, consideration of roles and responsibilities of the administrative vice president, and cost of living data. Comparable market data are obtained from salary surveys and form 990s filed by comparable not -for-profit organizations. The center has a travel policy that caps reimbursement levels and requires low-budget travel.”

“A line item budget is approved by the general members annually. They approve the overall salaries and benefits expenses. Discussions and decisions regarding the budget are documented in board meeting minutes. The board of trustees review and approve the salaries and benefits of the administrative vice president and the financial manager, with no participation by the interested persons, in accordance with the annual budget. Salaries and benefits are established using comparable data for similarly qualified persons in functionally comparable positions at similar nonprofits, consideration of roles and responsibilities of the officer or key employee, and cost of living data. Comparable market data are obtained from salary surveys and form 990s filed by comparable not-for-profit organizations.”

“We consider requests on a case-by-case basis.”

“Aspen center for physics is a scientific organization which promotes organized research in physics, astrophysics, and related fields through programs of individual and collaborative research, workshops, and conferences, as well as promotes the education of the general public through public lectures and other activities.”

“75 volunteer board members perform all of the scientific management and administration of the center. They also make decisions on the non- scientific management of the center. Other volunteers: -- 11 lecturers, dialogue speakers, and summer and winter kids speakers offered free-of-charge public lectures to local and visiting aspen audiences. -- 12 colloquium speakers delivered talks about their fields for all physicists in residence, particularly for those who work in fields other than the speaker's. -- 5 winter organizers propose workshop or conference topics and then manage the event.”

“Summer and winter programs: since its inception in 1962, aspen center for physics has provided a unique physical and scientific environment ideally suited for stimulating interactions, collaborations, and innovation in physics research. For 16 weeks each summer, more than 500 leading international researchers, freed from the usual constraints and distractions of their home institutions, come to aspen to engage in research at the forefront of their fields. Research is conducted: (a) in the context of workshops in areas at the forefront of physics research; (b) in small groups focused on specific projects; or, (c) by individual investigators carrying out their own research. The scientific programs emphasize open problems at the cutting edge and are designed to maximize informal interactions within each area and cross-fertilization between different areas. While continuing to provide leadership in the central areas of physics (particle physics, astrophysics, and condensed matter physics), aspen center for physics has been open to new directions in physics as well as to science at the interface between physics and other disciplines (biology, chemistry, engineering, material science, and mathematics). In addition, 8 to 9 one- week winter conferences bring together 60 to 100 researchers per week in areas of current interest in physics and inter-disciplinary physics research. The center provides office space, office supplies, meeting space, library facilities, and network access to its participants. Support is provided to all individuals during the summer session for whom lodging is arranged by the center. Physicists' summer bills are reduced by the amount of support; overpayments are refunded by check. Winter support is usually awarded to junior scientists and those with a demonstrated need in order to attend. As of early 2020, the center planned to host a full program of 12 workshops, plus working groups and individual researcher visits, for the summer of 2020. Due the covid-19 pandemic, the center took the decision to cancel the 2020 summer program and the in-person 2021 winter conferences. One winter conference continued forward with a unique online program and was well attended with 187 participants in march 2021.”

“Outreach program: aspen center for physics outreach program includes many options and avenues for the public to become informed about cutting-edge physics research, and to engage children and youth in opportunities for further education in the sciences. (1) public lectures. A core outreach activity for the center. Renowned physicists deliver winter and summer lectures in aspen venues delineating their current research or current scientific topics of general interest. In recognition of the pandemic, summer lectures were held online, with 996 people attending a combined 10 lectures. Only one winter lecture was held in march 2021, with 67 attending. (2) summer children's picnics. In conjunction with the aspen science center, the aspen center for physics hosts children's weekly summer picnics that include a presentation by a participating physicist. This affords children the chance to meet working physicists, to learn about the profession, and to learn some science in fun and entertaining ways. All picnics were cancelled in 2020. (3) high school mentor program. Acp hires rising senior physics students from 3-5 valley high schools to work for a summer week at the center to see what theoretical physicists do and to chat with 2 or 3 physicists about college, careers, and/or science. In conjunction with the absence of physicists in summer 2020, no students participated. (4) high school monthly radio show--radio physics. Valley high school physics students from 3-5 schools interview physicists on a monthly radio show. This introduces the students to science, public speaking, and informs the listening public about current physics topics. Due to the pandemic, no interviews were conducted. (5) physics cafes. Co-hosted with aspen science center, before each public lecture 2 or 3 physicists meet with students and the public to discuss physics or careers in science, or whatever topics the public might bring up. With the absence of in-person conferences for winter 2021, no cafes were held. (6) all public lectures are recorded and all videos are available for viewing on the aspen center for physics youtube channel and with links from the acp website. There are over 300 acp scientific lectures and interviews available at no charge online. (7) aspen center for physics website. In an on-going project to share the science done at the center, acp has a section of its website titled, "the science," which lists publications generated at the center and includes slides from scientific colloquia attended by summer participants, as well as other scientific information. Total number of public listening to radio broadcasts or viewing videos on television or online is unknown.”