Jefferson Lab hosts ‘Science is Cool’ Open House on Saturday, April 21
Two young visitors at JLab's 2005 Open House learn about cryogenics – using liquid Nitrogen – to determine the effects of extreme cold on a variety of materials, such as this balloon.
Bring the family, bring a friend and plan on spending the day with us! Take in the latest physics research and technology developments underway at the Department of Energy's Jefferson Lab, located in Newport News, Va.
The Open House is set for Saturday, April 21, 2007, from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. rain or shine, is open to the public and is free. The Lab's last Open House was about two years ago.
Parts of every major area of the facility will be open. In addition to a section of the electron beam accelerator (located in a tunnel 25 feet underground), visitors will also be able to enter one of the Lab's experimental halls (35 feet underground), the accelerator control center, and Free-Electron Laser Facility. A variety of displays will be set up in the accelerator assembly building (Test Lab), where R&D and assembly of components for Jefferson Lab's accelerator and its planned energy upgrade to 12 Billion Electron Volts (GeV) take place. This is also where many of the accelerator components for the Department of Energy's newest research facility, the Spallation Neutron Source in Oak Ridge, Tenn., were built and tested. The Lab's computing and data acquisition activities and technology transfer endeavors in medical imaging will also be on display.
In addition to highlighting the latest physics research and technology developments at Jefferson Lab, the event will include a variety of hands-on, science-education oriented activities for the young and young-at-heart, provided by Jefferson Lab, local universities that conduct research at Jefferson Lab, regional museums and government agencies. Lab staff will be on hand to discuss their work, answer questions, and give the ever-popular Liquid Nitrogen Demonstration throughout the day.
General Information
Visiting all exhibits, activities and open facilities could take 2-4 hours, depending on your interest levels and walking speed. Wear sturdy, comfortable, flat-soled shoes, as there is plenty of walking. Wearing sunscreen or appropriate clothing is also advised. Accessing the experimental hall requires walking down and back up an inclined truck ramp. To tour the accelerator tunnel you must walk down and back up five flights of stairs. The accelerator tunnel is not handicap accessible - all other areas are accessible via elevators. Jefferson Lab staff will be available to assist individuals requiring handicap access to various areas. Shuttle buses will be used to carry visitors between several of the buildings, but marked areas may be traveled on foot. Vendors will be selling light refreshments.
What to bring:
Photo ID if you are 16 or older
Your camera
A hat or sunscreen
Long-sleeved shirt
Wear comfortable, flat-soled shoes
Local vendors will be at JLab selling:
Hot dogs, hamburgers, sausages
Dipped ice cream and ice cream novelties
Funnel cakes
Light breakfast items
A variety of non-alcoholic beverages
Media
Media representatives are invited to Jefferson Lab prior to the April 21 Open House; they are also welcome to come the day of event. For more information, see the Media Advisory.
Public Parking
All public parking for the event will be at the Canon Virginia parking lot. A free, special-event bus service will carry visitors to Jefferson Lab and back to the Canon parking lot. Public parking is not available at Jefferson Lab.
Transportation Security Administration representatives will be at the Canon parking lot. All items are subject to inspection by TSA before you board the bus.
The Canon Virginia parking lot is located at 12000 Canon Boulevard, Newport News, Va. Enter the parking lot from the Old Oyster Point Road entrance. Free special-event buses will shuttle visitors continuously from the Canon parking lot to Jefferson Lab (about a 3-minute bus ride) from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. The last bus will depart the Canon parking for the Jefferson Lab Open House at 2:00 p.m. After 2:00 p.m. buses will only return visitors to the Canon parking lot. The last buses departing Jefferson Lab will return to the Canon parking lot at 4 p.m.
Handicap/Bus Parking
Handicap and charter bus parking will be available onsite at Jefferson Lab; contact Sarah Ingels, ph. 757-269-7444, to make these parking arrangements.
Do You Know the Answers to the following questions?
Join us at the Jefferson Lab Open House to answer these and many more.
What is the speed of light?
What do we use to steer the electron beam?
What is it called when electricity can travel through a conductor without resistance?
How large is Jefferson Lab's accelerator tunnel?
From what element are Jefferson Lab's accelerating cavities made?
What part of the atom does Jefferson Lab study?
What makes up the nucleus of an atom?
How many quarks are in a proton? A neutron?
What particles orbit the atom's nucleus?
How many atoms would it take to make the thickness of a human hair?
What is the temperature of liquid nitrogen? Liquid helium?
Why is cryogenic cooling vital for the proper operation of Jefferson Lab's accelerator?
What does the acronym CEBAF stand for?
For further information please contact Sarah Ingels, ph. 757-269-7444; Linda Ware, ph. 757-269-7689; or Debbie Magaldi, ph. 757-269-5102.
Jefferson Lab is managed and operated under contract, for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science by Jefferson Research Associates, LLC, a joint venture between the Southeastern Universities Research Association (SURA), a consortium of 61 universities spread across the southeast, and Computer Sciences Corporation Applied Technologies, LLC.
Recent JLab newsletter story
News Release
Media Advisory
Directions to Canon Virginia parking lot
Previous JLab Open House Photos
What Can I See? (Tour Stop Map)