Neutrino Day science festival returns to Lead on July 8

LEAD, SD— On July 8, Neutrino Day will take over Lead, South Dakota. Sanford Underground Research Facility’s (SURF) free, citywide science festival features hoistroom tours, science activities and exhibits for all ages, engaging talks and live video chats with researchers underground.

“We are so excited to welcome everyone to our fifteenth Neutrino Day,” said Constance Walter, Neutrino Day coordinator and director of Communications at SURF. “Every year brings fun activities, engaging speakers, and new learning opportunities. We can’t wait to share that excitement with the community—and the world.”

Neutrino Day’s keynote speaker is Brian Malow, Earth’s premiere science comedian. Malow has made a name for himself as the go-to comedian for all things nerdy. A favorite of Neil deGrasse Tyson’s StarTalk Radio, Malow has also produced science videos for Time Magazine and been featured in the New York Times, SF Chronicle, and Washington Post. He has even worked with NASA and the National Science Foundation, proving that his love for science is just as real as his comedy skills. His comedy has even been heard on an orbiting space shuttle.

“I want people to know that science is for everyone,” Malow said. “You know, art is not just for artists. Music is not just for musicians. And it’s not just for the scientists. It’s for all of us.”

Malow’s Neutrino Day stand-up special takes place on Saturday, July 8, at 4 p.m. at the Historic Homestake Opera House. The evening of smart, geeky laughter will round out a day of free science fun across the city of Lead.

Neutrino Day brings science to life with dozens of demonstrations and hands-on activities. Check out Black Hills Energy’s state-of-the-art electric vehicles. Discover the not-so-mysterious forces behind the phases of the moon. Detect invisible particles in real time using a cloud chamber and explore how researchers shield their experiments from radiation. Learn how to program robots with the basics of block coding. Learn about biofilms—sticky substances that can be found all around us—and how they impact our daily lives. 

Early-risers can watch the preparation and launch of a stratospheric balloon at 8:30 a.m. in Manuel Brothers Park. And for the first time ever, Neutrino Day welcomes Colorado State University’s Little Shop of Physics and their engaging science demonstrations. Explore activities by location.

Attendees can hop onboard the trolley for a tour of the Yates Hoistroom and see the massive hoist machinery that powers travel throughout the underground. Tours are free, but there is limited availability. We recommend arriving early to guarantee your ticket, but no earlier than 8:30 a.m. Learn more about hoistroom tours.

For those who want a deeper understanding of science and the opportunity to ask scientists about their research, our livestream from the underground and scheduled talks are for you. This year’s speakers will explore the search for the decay of nature’s rarest isotope, recreating GPS underground, and Native-led innovations in renewable energy. See our full speaker line-up.

Neutrino Day takes place at locations across Lead, including the Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center, Manuel Brothers Park, the Handley Recreation Center, the Hampton Inn, the Lead-Deadwood Arts Center, the Historic Homestake Opera House, and Sanford Underground Research Facility's Yates Hoistroom. Start your day at the Visitor Center. From the Visitor Center, trolleys take visitors to Hoistroom Tours and school busses shuttle guests to other locations throughout the day. To plan your Neutrino Day experience, visit www.neutrinoday.com.

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.