Celebrate Nobel Day with cosmologist Neta Bahcall at SURF’s Deep Talks

LEAD, SD— Each December, Nobel Day recognizes outstanding achievements that have transformed humanity’s understanding of the world and our own place in it. This year, join the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in a Nobel Day celebration with noted cosmologist Neta Bahcall on Thursday, Dec.8, at the Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center.

“On Nobel Day, we’re exploring the Nobel-Prize-winning experiment that first put Lead on the map in the scientific community,” said Erin Woodward, Deep Talks coordinator. “If you’ve been curious about the science happening a mile beneath the Black Hills, this presentation with Neta Bahcall is the perfect opportunity to dive in and learn more!”

In 2002, Raymond Davis, Jr., received a share of the Nobel Prize in Physics for his Solar Neutrino Experiment, which took place in the Homestake Gold Mine. John Bahcall was the theoretical physicist behind Davis’ experiment and an early proponent of the creation of a deep underground lab in the former mine. Cosmologist Neta Bahcall worked alongside her late husband John Bahcall for decades. Together, they wrote more than 30 scientific papers. Today, Neta Bahcall continues to do research and teach at the Institute for Advanced Physics at Princeton.

At Deep Talks: Nobel Day, Neta Bahcall will present on John Bahcall’s many contributions to fundamental physics research as well as his work in neutrino astrophysics, which influenced countless experiments and projects for more than four decades, including the Solar Neutrino Experiment at Homestake and the Hubble Space Telescope.

The event will include the presentation of the 2022 Communications and Outreach Experiences in Science (CORES) Award. This award is given annually by SURF to an individual, group, business or organization that demonstrates an ongoing commitment to public outreach efforts across the state. 

Deep Talks begins at 5 p.m. MT with a social hour that includes a Crow Peak Brewing Company beer tasting (must be 21 and older to drink) and light refreshments. The presentation will begin in the Visitor Center classroom at 6 p.m. MT and will be livestreamed. Full event and livestream information is available on our website: https://sanfordlab.org/event/deep-talks-nobel-day-2022.

The Deep Talks lecture series is sponsored by Crow Peak Brewing Company, RCS Construction, Northern Hills Federal Credit Union, Edward Jones, and Chuck and Jolene Lichtenwalner. 

Sanford Underground Research Facility is operated by the South Dakota Science and Technology Authority (SDSTA) with funding from the Department of Energy’s Office of Science. Our mission is to advance world class science and inspire learning across generations. Visit SURF at www.sanfordlab.org.