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January

14

FRIB invites public to Saturday Morning Physics talks

The Facility for Rare Isotope Beams at MSU is hosting four speakers for the first season of FRIB Saturday Morning Physics, a new part of the Advanced Studies Gateway initiative.

The free public events will take place on the last Saturday of the month during the spring semester. Doors open at 10 a.m. for public viewing of the FRIB art gallery. The talks start at 10:30 a.m. in 1300 FRIB Laboratory.

The United Nations General Assembly has named 2019 the International Year of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements. This year is the 150th anniversary of the formulation of the periodic table created by Dmitry Mendeleev.

The periodic table has allowed scientists to reveal the underlying nature of the building blocks of the universe and to discover new elements that were previously unknown to science. Much of the excitement of the periodic table comes from the gaps still unknown, pointing to what is yet to be discovered.

To celebrate, FRIB Saturday Morning Physics will feature talks on the periodic table. Speakers will discuss exciting discoveries in nuclear science and anticipated developments for the future of FRIB.

FRIB Saturday Morning Physics will share developments at the breaking edge of nuclear science. The talks are geared for anyone curious about physics and will offer question-and-answer sessions with each speaker.

The first season of FRIB Saturday Morning Physics will be the last Saturday of the month from January through April. The second season kicks off in fall 2019. Talks take place at 10:30 a.m. in 1300 FRIB Laboratory (640 S. Shaw Lane, East Lansing, Michigan, 48824) on MSU’s campus. Doors open at 10 a.m. for public viewing of the FRIB art gallery. All talks are free and open to the public.

Upcoming talks include:

Artemis Spyrou, associate professor of physics and National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory associate director for education and outreach: “Year of the periodic table: The synthesis of the elements in the stars and in the lab”

Angela Wilson, John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor of Chemistry: “The transforming power of the periodic table and how it impacts our everyday lives”

Witek Nazarewicz, John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor of Physics and FRIB chief scientist: “Is there an end to the periodic table?”

Brad Sherrill, University Distinguished Professor of Physics and National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory director: “Amazing things about the periodic table you never learned from chemistry”

Whether you are a fan of MSU, love science or just want to know what goes on inside FRIB, come join in the fun at FRIB Saturday Morning Physics!

Michigan State University is establishing FRIB as a new scientific user facility for the Office of Nuclear Physics in the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science. Under construction on campus and operated by MSU, FRIB will enable scientists to make discoveries about the properties of rare isotopes in order to better understand the physics of nuclei, nuclear astrophysics, fundamental interaction and applications for society, including in medicine, homeland security and industry.

FRIB Saturday Morning Physics is part of the Advanced Studies Gateway at FRIB that will feature research workshops as well as public talks, concerts, and other events that are free and open to the public. The program brings together researchers, innovators, creative thinkers, artists, and performers from all fields and strengthens ties between Michigan State University and the larger science community. For information about accessible accommodations and the Advanced Studies Gateway at FRIB and, visit frib.msu.edu/gateway.

By: Amanda Zlotek