SDPB's Steve Rokusek gives his signature "wild science" demonstrations at last year's Neutrino Day.
The John T. Vucurevich Foundation recently awarded an $8,000 grant to the Sanford Underground Research Facility (Sanford Lab) for Neutrino Day 2018. The grant will be used to offset the cost for speakers and activities throughout the city of Lead. Neutrino Day takes place July 14.
This year, Sanford Lab celebrates 10 years of Neutrino Day, a free science festival held annually on the second Saturday of July. The festival includes hoistroom tours, science activities and exhibits, live video chats with scientists at Fermilab and underground at Sanford Lab. Keynote speaker Ariel Waldman, founder of Spacehacks.org, will focus on every day science hacks. Waldman sits on the council for NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts, a program that nurtures radical, science-fiction-inspired ideas that could transform future space missions. Additionally, Christopher Mossey will discuss the engineering behind the Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility and the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (LBNF/DUNE). Mossey is Fermilab’s Deputy Director for LBNF.
The John T. Vucurevich Foundation awards grants supporting the advancement of the arts, education and science, and the promotion of social welfare within South Dakota, with preference given to the West River area and in particular the Black Hills. The Foundation has supported Neutrino Day for nearly 10 years. Their investment encourages science-based educational outreach in Lead, the city in which Vucurevich was raised, and the surrounding Black Hills region.
“We greatly appreciate the generosity and partnership of the John T. Vucurevich Foundation and their continued support of Neutrino Day,” said Mike Headley, executive director of the South Dakota Science and Technology Authority. “The Foundation’s partnership allows us to continue to promote STEM activities in an engaging and fun venue.“
Many local organizations contribute to the success of Neutrino Day X, making the free science festival a community-driven event that offers fun for kids of all ages.