The ITER project is now a reality, with the ITER Organization a going concern with physics and engineering staff on site at Caderache. Many of us in the TTF have been pointing out the importance of validated transport models and codes as part of the US participation in ITER. A key question is how our work as individual researchers and TTF members contributes to the overall progress on ITER. In other words, what are the important issues that we should be addressing and how does information about our work flow to the ITER Organization? On Wednesday evening, we will have a town meeting to discuss these issues.

Wayne Houlberg, now part of the ITER Organization, and Chuck Greenfield, deputy head of the US Burning Plasma Organization, will give short presentations to start the town meeting. From his perspective as part of the ITER Organization, Wayne will give us his view of the important topics. Chuck will give us the BPO view of how information from US research flows to ITER. At present, it appears that the International Tokamak Physics Activity will continue under ITER auspices; this will certainly be one way that information will flow to ITER and ITER requests will flow to the community. An important question is how to optimize this process and what role, if any, TTF should play in it. The town meeting is structured so that there is ample time for TTF members to discuss their views of the best way to carry out this overall process.