July 20, 2008

NSLS Summer Sunday Draws Record Number of Visitors

More than 800 community members attended the NSLS Summer Sunday for scientific demos, tours, and freebies on July 20 – a record high for the facility. The NSLS was the first of five facilities to be showcased in the lab-wide program, during which the public is invited to explore some of Brookhaven’s most exciting science.

Visitors began their tours in Berkner Hall, where, in addition to viewing the popular Whiz Bang Science Show, they learned basic information about the purpose and inner workings of a light source from NSLS staff members Andrew Ackerman, George Rakowsky, Gary Weiner, and Marty Woodle. They were then bussed down the street to take a look at the NSLS and learn more about the science performed there through 12 hands-on displays covering topics ranging from diffraction to liquid nitrogen.

Summer Sunday visitors peruse the hands-on displays set up in the NSLS lobby

Numerous displays were unveiled or revamped for this year’s event, including a new exhibit on the exciting science opportunities that will be made possible at NSLS-II and a demo about Fourier transform, at which visitors could win a printed picture of themselves in Fourier space.

At the display “Was Beethoven Poisoned?,” visitors learned about a synchrotron experiment that found an abnormally high amount of lead in the famous musician’s hair. They then plucked strands of their own hair, taped them to paper sample slides, and watched via webcam as NSLS staff used the beamline to looks for common metals such as iron, copper, and zinc.

Upstairs, return visitors noticed the expansion of the popular “Crystal-icious” display, which, in addition to teaching about the importance of x-ray diffraction for determining molecular structures, allowed participants to build and take home their own edible crystals made from gumdrops and toothpicks.

Outside, visitors tested miniature cars that run on solar and fuel cells, watched the effect of liquid nitrogen on magnets, balloons, and flowers, and counted down for a water-rocket launch held two times per hour.

In addition, a series of general science lectures were offered to guests on topics ranging from “Shining Synchrotron Light on Osteoarthritis” to “Lighting a Path to the Future – Student Research at the NSLS.” Lecturers included Marc Allaire, Megan Bourassa, Andy Broadbent, Matt Engel, Jean Jordan-Sweet, and Lisa Miller.

Upon entering the building, each guest received a quiz about scientific topics covered in the displays. Every finished quiz was handed in and redeemed for a Brookhaven Lab blinking button. In addition, about 10 people were selected raffle-style every half hour to receive one of three prizes – an NSLS beach towel, an NSLS umbrella, or a tour of the experimental floor for themselves and their accompanying family or group. By the end of the day, almost 200 visitors received an up-close look at the facility’s control room, beamlines, booster, and researchers.

The rest of the about 70 volunteers included: Alvin Acerbo, Steve Bennett, Imke Bodendiek, Yong Cai, Gulgun Cakmak, Gabriella Carini, Shu Cheung, Randy Church, Joe Coffey, John Dabrowski, Elaine DiMasi, Alain Domingo, Rebecca Ehrlich, Steve Ehrlich, Peter Esposito, Larry Fareria, Kate Feng, Marcelo Ferreira, Sue Foster, Ed Haas, Joanna Hall, Diane Hatton, Madeline Hughes, Greg Hulbert, Steve Hulbert, Abdel Isakovic, Terrell Johnson, Jeff Keister, Bob Kiss, Ariane Kretlow, Tony Kuczewski, Deborah Lange, Andreana Leskovjan, Yongjun Li, Maria Michta, Laura Miller, Steven Mon, Payman Mortazavi, Shirin Mortazavi, Jim Murphy, Kathy Nasta, Chris Owen, Kumi Pandya, Bishnu Panigrahi, Keri Panigrahi, Shreeya Panigrahi, Simone Park, Susila Ramamoorthy, Ray Raynis, Abdul Rumaiz, Meghan Ruppel, Cecilia Sanchez-Hanke, Sanjaya Senanayake, Peter Siddons, Randy Smith, Kendra Snyder, Vivian Stojanoff, Elio Vescovo, Megan Wright, Nancye Wright, Zhong Zhong, Hua Zhou.