Fermilab and the Environment

Samantha Panock, an environmental specialist at Fermilab, talks about the role she plays in the ongoing scientific efforts at Fermilab within the Environment, Health and Safety Division, some of her daily tasks, her passion for martial arts, and much more.

If you live in the Chicago suburbs and have ever taken a walk on the Fermilab hike-and-bike trail along Batavia Road, you’ve probably noticed large trees with long, slender bean pods, which — even after they fall to the ground — are ignored by wildlife. Not that long ago, mammoths, mastodons and giant ground sloths roamed the Fermilab grounds and feasted on these bean pods, along with the fruit of two additional species that still can be found growing on site.

The Chicago Wilderness Excellence in Ecological Restoration Award is a recognition of Fermilab’s dedication to protect, restore and maintain its natural areas.