National research facility to open its doors to the public

The Synchrotron Radiation Center (SRC) will hold an annual open house on Sunday, Sept. 14.

During the event, scheduled for noon- 5 p.m., SRC staff will offer tours of the facility, including a walk around the electron storage ring, and an opportunity to hear scientists talk about their research. Each tour lasts about an hour; the last tour will leave at 4 p.m.

The SRC uses an electron storage ring to accelerate electrons to nearly the speed of light. As the fast-moving electrons travel around the ring, which is 300 feet in circumference, they give off light equivalent to a miniature sun (X-rays, infrared and ultraviolet). Researchers use this light to study tiny materials, such as semiconductors or cancer cells. During a typical day at the SRC, more than 15 projects are underway by researchers from UW–Madison and other institutions worldwide.

The SRC provides a tool to researchers from around the world to perform precise experiments, ranging from examining rocks as old as the Earth, to understanding new materials, to learning how diseases work. Visitors will have a chance to participate in family-friendly interactive activities. Staff and researchers will give short talks explaining how science research is done using synchrotron light.

The SRC is funded by the National Science Foundation and operated by UW–Madison. It is located in the town of Dunn at the UW Kegonsa Research Campus, 3731 Schneider Dr., which is off Hwy 51 between McFarland and Stoughton.

For more information on the open house, contact Chris Moore at (608) 877-2000 or cmoore@src.wisc.edu.