The Daya Bay Experiment I: Introduction and Overview

The Daya Bay Reactor Neutrino Experiment aims to precisely measure $\theta_{13}$, the least well known mixing angle in the PMNS matrix. Our design sensitivity is 0.01 in $\sin^2(2\theta_{13})$, based on comparing the relative flux of antineutrinos from the reactor cores with ``identical'' antineutrino detectors at near and far distances. The detectors are immersed in water pools that provide active and passive shielding against backgrounds. This talk will introduce the importance of measuring $\theta_{13}$, give an overview of our experimental arrangement, and outline our strategies for near and long term data taking. Details are given in subsequent presentations in this session.