Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) is the deepest underground laboratory in the United States—and among the deepest in the world. As a dedicated research facility, SURF hosts experiments in physics, including dark matter and neutrinos, as well as biology, geology and engineering. SURF also hosts a low background counting facility and will house the massive underground neutrino detectors of the Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility and Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (LBNF/DUNE).
The world-leading research taking place at SURF is changing the way we understand our universe and our planet. It also has a tremendous economic impact throughout the region and the State of South Dakota.
Through operational spending and job creation—both direct hires and jobs generated by large science projects on-site—SURF creates a ripple of impacts throughout the state.
“The SDSTA is proud to play a major role in advancing South Dakota’s economy. This study demonstrates that the state’s investments in SURF are paying off,” said Mike Headley, Executive Director of the SDSTA and Lab Director of SURF.
“In addition to the economic impacts, the science being performed at SURF is truly world-leading and is putting South Dakota on the map with the international science community. We’re also leveraging this research to educate learners of all ages about our work, including learning opportunities for science teachers and our kids.”
