On seeing the crowd at the entrance of the High Energy Institute, Zhao Yi almost retreated back into his car.
What on earth...?
What’s going on here?
A middle-aged man at the entrance approached, his face beaming with enthusiasm. He grabbed Zhao Yi’s hand and introduced himself, "Welco, welco. I’m Ni Hongyu." Pointing to the people next to him, he continued, "These are Li Sheng, Zhou Yongpeng, Cao Junxia, and Lin Li whom you already know..."
Ni Hongyu introduced several people one after another.
Zhao Yi shook hands with each of them in turn and introduced his assistant, Qian Hong. He took a bouquet of flowers from a lady and quickly passed it to Qian Hong to put in the car. He breathed a sigh of relief, thankful for having brought her along as ’back-up’. Without her, he might not have managed.
Ni Hongyu enthusiastically escorted Zhao Yi inside, explaining his role along the way. He was the director of the Positron-Electron Collider Laboratory, essentially the person in charge.
The Institute of High Energy Physics, part of the Science Academy, was a large organization that had direct ties with the University of Science and Technology. It had nurous large laboratories scattered across the country. Their primary research in the capital focused on particle colliders, particularly at the Positron-Electron Collider Laboratory and the Particle Accelerator Physics & Technology Laboratory.
Distinction lies in the fact that, unlike the Biodical Research Institute and the Intelligent & Automated Laboratory, the Institute of High Energy Physics was linked to national defense, thus being considerably higher in terms of priority.
As the director of the Positron-Electron Collider Laboratory, Ni Hongyu held a fairly high position.
This made Zhao Yi uncomfortable, but he quickly ntioned his purpose for visit.
Ni Hongyu agreed promptly, "If our experintal data can aid Professor Zhao, that would be wonderful. We can make copies of non-confidential material for you to take back."
"Lin Li!"
Turning to Lin Li, Ni Hongyu instructed, "You handle this. Help out with whatever Professor Zhao needs. If anything cos up, let him know imdiately."
"Sure!"
Lin Li nodded in agreent.
Zhao Yi was led to the archives. He had just begun to relax a bit and was discussing his requirents when Ni Hongyu whisked him away again.
Ni Hongyu enthusiastically escorted Zhao Yi, showing him around and introducing him to the laboratory’s equipnt and projects.
Zhao Yi was quite interested.
Most of the experintal equipnt and projects here related to high-energy physics. They had devices for manufacturing protons, particle cyclotrons, even an overhead view of the Positron-Electron Collider provided an awe-inspiring sight.
"Can we take photos?" Qian Hong, standing nearby, could not resist asking.
"Yes, this is not confidential. Many photos have been taken outside, but no photography is allowed in the laboratory," replied Ni Hongyu, nodding.
Qian Hong imdiately snapped so selfies and even took one with Zhao Yi. She also didn’t forget to include Ni Hongyu, persuading him to pose alongside Zhao Yi, although it was unclear what the pictures would be used for.
Zhao Yi couldn’t resist a quip, "Your mobile’s resolution is so low, the photos won’t co out clear..."
"I should have brought my cara."
Regret filled Qian Hong’s voice.
During a pause in a eting in the spacious area on the top floor, Ni Hongyu finally broached the main subject. He turned to Zhao Yi and asked, "Professor Zhao, you’re familiar with collider projects, right? When you attended the quantum physics discussion at Jiangzhou University, I heard you ntion that a collider will inevitably be built."
Zhao Yi took a deep breath, feeling sowhat relieved that Ni Hongyu had finally touched upon the subject. His enthusiastic behavior had puzzled Zhao Yi. He nodded and said, "During that ti, Director Zhang Hongzhi from the Science Academy’s Departnt of Physics and Professor Yang Zhenning got into a disagreent about this issue, and I rely expressed my viewpoint. I would say it was an unbiased perspective."
"Personally, I think the investnt is too large. The cost and benefits are disproportionate."
Ni Hongyu expressed his concern anxiously, "But it’s vital to build a large collider. Our current Positron-Electron Collider has beco outdated, and our research at the laboratory cannot keep up internationally..." He started to elaborate on the challenges faced by the Positron-Electron Collider Laboratory.
Zhao Yi listened with a slight frown. It puzzled him why Ni Hongyu was venting to him, a scholar, about his frustrations. His worries about Ni Hongyu were unraveling faster now.
Of course.
Ni Hongyu wanted him to change his mind because his opinion had a significant influence on the upper echelons’ decision-making.
Despite this, Zhao Yi ultimately shook his head, "I would rather not get involved in this issue. I still hold onto my previous opinion. Director Ni, to be candid with you, I believe a new collider will inevitably be built. It’s only a matter of how much we invest and when."
"Many people demand the construction of the largest collider to achieve global excellence, attract more international scholars, and elevate the country to have first-rate particle physics research capabilities. But constructing the largest collider requires substantial investnt, much like the multi-nation funding for the European Organization for Nuclear Research."
"Therefore, even if I agreed, the top decision-makers would still need to consider it carefully, and wouldn’t simply approve it."
"The ti is not yet right!"
Zhao Yi tried his best to explain.
Ni Hongyu listened and nodded in agreent. He knew Zhao Yi was right. The primary obstacle was the considerable investnt required. Even if the scholars were supportive, a decision about such a large investnt needed thorough evaluation and could not be made hastily.
The construction of the largest collider had been discussed as early as two years ago, but no definitive conclusion had been reached, nor had any formal discussion been initiated by the higher authorities.
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