*** 9724780 Shapero The National Research Council (NRC) will carry out a new survey of physics entitled "Physics in a New Era". The survey is being carried out in phases. The first phase (now complete) has produced assessments of (1) atomic, molecular, and optical physics and (2) plasma physics as well as a number of short reports on selected topics, including cosmology and cosmic ray physics. These assessments have involved the corresponding divisions of the American Physical Society and have had a significant impact on their fields. The second phase (now in progress) will produce assessments of (1) elementary-particle physics, (2) condensed-matter and materials physics, and (3) nuclear physics. In the third phase, special reports on areas such as biological physics, computational physics, and education in physics are being developed; in addition, and Overview is planned. The Overview will discuss the unity of physics, its relationships with other fields, and its contributions to meeting national needs. This volume will take a fresh look at the ways in which society reaps benefits from its investment in physics. The Overview will also explore such issues as demographics, career paths, and education. The contents will include an executive summary written for the non physicist, a summary of the studies of the various branches of physics carried out in Phases I and II, a discussion of the overall U.S. physics program, an essay on "Physics in a New Era", and a number of other topics. The objective of the Overview, in the broadest terms, is to facilitate a recalibration of the goals of the field as a whole. The motivation for this undertaking is the rapidly changing societal context for science. Our society is in the process of reexamining its goals as it enters a new environment of reduced expectations for growth on the one hand and enhanced opportunities for increases in productivity and functionality on the other. The physics survey in general and the overview in particular provide means for the physics community to participate in this process. This Overview volume will be supported partially by this grant. ***
