The Department of Energy's Jefferson Lab, located in Newport News, Va., will hold a public Open House on Saturday, April 21, 2007.
"Jefferson Lab's last Open House was about two years ago," says Linda Ware, Jefferson Lab Public Affairs manager. "We look forward to this event because it gives Lab staff and visiting scientists the opportunity to share their work and the Lab's accomplishments with the public. It is our chance to explain why we think Science is Cool." The event will be free of charge, open to the public and held rain or shine. Visitors will be able to arrive between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Parts of every major area of the facility will be open. In addition to a section of the electron beam accelerator, visitors will also be able to enter one of the Lab's experimental halls, the accelerator control center, and Free-Electron Laser Facility. A variety of displays will be set up in the accelerator assembly building 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. 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.
Free, public parking for the Open House will be at the Canon Virginia parking lot located at 12000 Canon Boulevard, in the Oyster Point area of Newport News, Va. Free special-event buses will shuttle visitors from the Canon parking lot to Jefferson Lab (about a 3-minute bus ride) on a regular schedule from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. The last bus bringing guests to Jefferson Lab will depart the Canon parking lot promptly at 2 p.m. The last bus returning visitors to the Canon parking lot will leave Jefferson Lab at 4 p.m. Handicap and group parking will be available at Jefferson Lab. Handicap visitors and bus groups should contact Sarah Ingels, 757-269-7444, to make arrangements for parking.
Wear your walking shoes, Ware advises, and sunscreen. Shuttle buses will be used to carry visitors between several of the buildings, but marked areas may be traveled on foot. Vendors will be set up to sell light refreshments at the event.
For more information about the Open House and directions for parking, visit: http://www.jlab.org/openhouse/