The Richtmyer Memorial Lecture—Particles, Accelerators, and Society

Although there is a tendency for physicists to think of themselves as isolated from society, physicists are much involved in and are part of society. Physics contributes to society not only in a technical but also in an esthetic, social, and philosophical sense. Large physics projects, such as the 200-BeV accelerator, have recently had a direct influence on diverse social problems such as open housing and international cooperation.