Briggs Foundation Honors and Authors
You don’t have to be a nuclear physicist to understand that a $600 million grant for the expansion of the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory at Michigan State University is huge – in more ways than one.
“Our facility and the university’s nuclear physics graduate program have been among the top three in the world – this will make NSCL the number one facility in the world, and the MSU graduate program number one in the country,” says Michael Youngs.
Area residents can take a virtual tour of that top-notch facility April 26 courtesy of Youngs’ presentation at the Sixth Annual Honors & Authors night, hosted by the Briggs Public Library Foundation. The MSU graduate student is the featured speaker at the event that runs from 7 to 9 p.m. at The Emerald Golf Course, located north of St. Johns on US-127.
“All of our talks are designed for individuals who may not have great knowledge or understanding of the lab or what a superconducting cyclotron does – we make nuclear physics interesting for anyone,” Youngs says about the presentation that includes video clips of the facility, PowerPoint and even some “live demos” using teaching tools.
Youngs will also provide information on the history of MSU’s nuclear physics program and the work that’s been done there over the years. Research conducted at the NSCL has been integral to advances in many and varied fields including biomedicine, materials science and national and international security.
The recent award of grant monies adds a new dimension to that research. Construction of the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) will enable researchers to study nuclei that were previously not attainable.
“The FRIB will be a tremendous addition to our facility, and its positive impact for the overall mid-Michigan area is huge,” Youngs says.
In addition to Youngs presentation, the Honors and Authors program includes recognition of Briggs Library special donors and supporters along with information on the Foundation. Light refreshments will be served throughout the evening.
Tickets are $50 each, and benefit the Briggs Public Library Foundation. Donations are tax-deductible. For ticket information contact Foundation President John Sirrine, (989) 224-2853.
For detailed information on NSCL visit www.nscl.msu.edu or call (517) 355-9671 to schedule a group tour.