Maxwell Bernstein is a writer in the Fermilab Office of Communication.
Fermilab earned national recognition for its sustainability efforts, receiving three prestigious awards from the U.S. Department of Energy. The laboratory’s new Integrated Engineering Research Center was celebrated for its environmentally friendly design. The successful transition of 32% of Fermilab’s fleet to zero emission vehicles was also recognized.
Particle accelerator beams can create significant damage to the targets used to generate particles for experiments. Researchers are designing targets to withstand material degradation from radiation damage, shock from thermal expansion and material fatigue — all caused by accelerated protons.
Fermilab received visitors from the São Paulo Research Foundation, including the foundation’s executive director, Carlos Américo Pacheco. The group came to hear from researchers and engineers about how Fermilab brings technologies together from across disciplines to make advances in particle physics, quantum computing and more.
Fermilab’s 2024 Inventor Recognition Ceremony celebrated patents and ideas from Fermilab employees with notable guests. In 2023, 12 new patents were issued with 16 inventors associated with those patents working at Fermilab.
The Science Accelerating Girls’ Engagement in STEM program promotes diversity, equity and inclusion. The second annual SAGE camp at Fermilab provided women and gender minority students a hands-on opportunity to experience work and research. The next camp will take place in July.
Scientists at Fermilab have received funding from the DOE Office of Technology Transitions and the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management to develop devices that generate particles to be accelerated in compact accelerators. The final result could be a machine for metal 3D printing and other applications.
A delegation of researchers from a dozen organizations in the U.K. met with Fermilab scientists. They saw firsthand Fermilab’s connection to the Illinois-Express Quantum Network.
The Teacher Research Associates program invites educators to Fermilab’s campus to work with Fermilab scientists and engineers using Fermilab equipment and lab spaces for research projects. The application deadline for this year’s program is Feb. 18.
The director general and other guests from Spain’s Centre for Energy, Environmental and Technological Research visited Fermilab. Their visit focused on their collaboration on the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment and gave the CIEMAT delegation an opportunity to learn about Fermilab’s other research capabilities.
Firefighters from across the region came to Fermilab this fall to train how to battle wildland fires. The training also had a positive impact on the lab’s ecology.