NIU students, staff, faculty play roles in Fermilab’s DUNE experiment

By R.E. Natowicz

Cutting-edge particle physics research is always in season at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, but spring is a most special time of the year as Fermilab’s baby bison are born. Today, two bison calves were born, marking the start of calving season at Fermilab.

Cleo Garcia, a member of the Grounds Maintenance team who has the important job of caring for the bison herd, said that during this season Fermilab is expecting the births of about 20 calves.

Garcia gives extra attention to the female bison, called cows, to estimate the number of new births to expect each year. He watches for physical changes and considers the age of the cows to make this determination.

The Fermilab herd currently consists of 24 cows and two bulls. “Some of them are getting older and might not calve this year,” Garcia said. Last year the cows gave birth to 20 calves, and in the year prior there were 21 births.

In addition to contributing to the conservation of American bison, Fermilab’s herd is a huge draw for visitors. “They’re big animals, and visitors bring their kids who enjoy watching them,” Garcia said.

Garcia notes that the bison have their own personalities — some being more docile, some wilder. They play and engage with each other in different ways. Sometimes the bulls will charge at each other. Most importantly, the bison are very protective of their small calves.

The lab’s first director, Robert R. Wilson, pioneered the idea of making bison a Fermilab tradition. He wanted to show that Fermilab was on the frontier of particle physics research, and bison represented the frontier era. “When you’re outside with them, you’d think you’re out in the prairie,” Garcia said.

Bison are sizable animals: the bulls can weigh over one ton, and cows average between 900 and a little over 1000 pounds. When calves are born, they weigh between 40-70 pounds. The calves grow quickly — just six months later they usually have grown to between 300 and 350 pounds. When bison babies are first born, they are cinnamon colored, and two months later their fur deepens to a darker shade of brown.

Fermilab refreshes the bulls in the herd every five to seven years. The Fermilab bulls have been genetically tested to ensure that they are pure-bred American bison. This is key to maintaining the health of the herd. In 2015, Fermilab tested the entire herd and determined that there were no domesticated cattle genes present.

Calving season usually starts in the middle of April and continues until June. Although there are signs of an early spring in Illinois this year, Garcia noted that so far he hasn’t seen indications that warmer weather is affecting the herd, but added, “We’ll see how the season goes.”

Bison are hardy animals that can live outside year-round in most any weather. Even so, their Fermilab keepers provide them with structures within the corrals to block the wind that can whip across Fermilab’s flat prairie land.

As part of his duties, Garcia feeds the bison and checks on their well-being daily — especially during calving season. He visits all the cows to watch for signs that they may soon give birth. Garcia also monitors the young calves to make sure that they are healthy. During the winter he supplements the herd’s food with hay and grain. Visitors in the summer will see the bison grazing upon plentiful grasses naturally growing on Fermilab’s grounds. They only need to be given ample water during these months.

Garcia said he likes being outdoors with the animals. “Calving season is the most rewarding time of the year,” he said. “You see new life coming to the land.”

You can view the bison herd anytime from the bison camera or visit Fermilab seven days a week during outdoor visiting hours from dawn to dusk.

The Fermilab site has been designated a National Environmental Research Park by the U.S. Department of Energy. The lab’s environmental stewardship efforts are supported by the Department of Energy Office of Science as well as Fermilab Natural Areas.

Fermilab is supported by the Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy. The Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit Fermilab’s website and follow us on Twitter at @Fermilab. 

Bonnie Fleming, the chief research officer at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, was elected as a member of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences in Mathematical and Physical Sciences. As chief research officer, Fleming leads all areas of science and technology at Fermilab.

Fleming has made significant contributions to neutrino research by pioneering a class of detectors called Liquid Argon Time Projection Chambers. This technology provided a giant leap forward in how scientists may study the varying states of neutrinos and how the subatomic particles might interact with matter. These detectors are the core to Fermilab’s neutrino experiments, including the future international Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment.

“Fleming has a long history of research excellence at Fermilab and we are proud to have her at the helm of our science and technology efforts,” said Fermilab Director Lia Merminga. “Her work has opened the possibility to future discoveries in neutrino research and the knowledge these fundamental particles can provide us about our universe.”

Fleming was one of the 250 new members that were elected from 1,250 nominations this year. The American Academy of Arts & Sciences is one of America’s oldest and most prestigious honorary societies and recognizes world leaders in the arts and sciences, business, philanthropy, and public affairs. Elected members join other experts to explore challenges facing society, identify solutions, and promote nonpartisan recommendations that advance the public good.

Notable physicist members include Albert Einstein, Werner Heisenberg, Neil deGrasse Tyson, J. Robert Oppenheimer and many more of the world’s greatest thinkers and scholars.

Fleming began her career at Fermilab working on the Neutrinos at the Tevatron experiment as a graduate student from Columbia University.  Following this, as a Lederman Fellow, she worked on MiniBooNE and started her work on Liquid Argon Time Projection Chambers. From 2004 to 2022, Fleming led a research group studying neutrinos as a professor at Yale University while also performing research at Fermilab. She was the founding spokesperson for the two neutrino experiments, ArgoNeuT and MicroBooNE, focusing on studying neutrinos and developing the next generation of accelerator neutrino detectors using liquid argon, and was an early member of DUNE.

Fleming earned a Ph.D. in physics from Columbia University and currently serves as a member of the National Academies Decadal Survey in particle physics. Fleming also holds a joint appointment with the University of Chicago in the Enrico Fermi Institute within the Department of Physics.

Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory is supported by the Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy. The Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit science.energy.gov.

What do you do at Fermilab?

I’m an environmental specialist within ES&H here at Fermilab. So, my duty is to help each project and each department understand and ensure alignment with environmental regulations.

At the lab, you’re hearing the term sustainability a lot more, same thing with environmental protection. Environment, Safety and Health, and Infrastructure Services Division have been working together to promote environmental protection and sustainability at the lab. Sustainability, in this case, refers to how we evaluate actions we take at Fermilab, with the goal to have an overall smaller environmental footprint.

It’s hard to pin what I do down to just one thing. My day consists of reviewing all of Fermilab’s proposed projects, and activities — any project that requires an environmental perspective. I help them comply with environmental regulations. The team and I work together to protect Fermilab’s land as well as the environment in general.

Also, I’m the lead for three major programs within the Environmental Protection Group. I’m the clean air compliance manager, the National Environmental Policy Act program manager and the lab’s cultural resources subject matter expert.

What I do stems from my love and appreciation for nature. I’ve made it my career to protect the environment to the best of my ability. I help find a balance between preserving nature while also promoting the advancement of human society. It’s difficult, but important work.

How long have you worked at Fermilab?

I just finished my sixth month at Fermilab — it’s been a whirlwind of information, meeting people, and understanding how the Department of Energy operates. Everyday I’m learning more about how Fermilab works. I’m a huge believer in collaboration. I’ve been out and about meeting scientists and technicians. I want to help foster more discussion between my group and all the other groups at the lab.

Prior to Fermilab, I worked for the Environmental Protection Agency, and I worked for a research facility studying plant ecology and evolution.

What is the most challenging part of your work?

As the NEPA Program Manager, part of my job is to promote collaboration and facilitate conversation between projects and departments across the lab. I like to acknowledge that each project or department has its own set of priorities, so it’s an interesting, but not impossible, challenge to get everyone aligned. I think alignment is the key to safe, efficient and successful operations.

One of the goals of the environmental department is to increase awareness of our existence and what we can do for other departments across the lab. We want to support all projects and activities. Everyone in the environmental department is knowledgeable and hardworking. We’re a team of scientists with a strong understanding of the environment and environmental policy.

What is the most rewarding part of the work you do at Fermilab?

For me, the collaboration and networking across all the departments at the lab is one of the most rewarding parts of my job. I get to meet with people across different disciplines and from different walks of life — I learn something new every day!

Fermilab is a leading research facility in particle physics; it’s next level in terms of science and research. When you think about the amazing work that happens here, it’s inspiring. I get to play a small part in accomplishing Fermilab’s mission; it’s motivating for me.

What do you do for fun outside of work?

I’m a big advocate for physical and mental well-being. So, I spend a lot of time outside in nature. I hike and practice yoga and meditation. On top of that, I study martial arts. My hobbies are geared towards supporting my health so I can take care of myself and perform better at work.

I’ve been studying Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for about four years.

At this point, jiu-jitsu is 90% of my personality. Martial arts were pretty intimidating at first. When I started, I was way out of my comfort zone. It’s a male-dominated sport, so I had to get comfortable training with men. The confidence I’ve gained in martial arts has translated into the confidence I need to succeed as a woman in the STEM world. I’m proud of my progress. It takes 10 years to earn your blackbelt in jiu jitsu. At this point in my journey, I have a firm understanding of the basics.

Some of my training partners have become my best friends. You meet people from all walks of life in the world of martial arts. If anyone is interested in studying martial arts, I’d be happy to talk to them about how to start!

Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory is supported by the Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy. The Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit science.energy.gov.