The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science today named Michigan State University as the site for the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams.
Conceptual design work for the proposed new $550 million facility will begin this year, with construction expecting to take about one decade. The facility will attract top researchers from around the world to conduct experiments in nuclear science, astrophysics and applications of isotopes to other fields.
"This is a great day for science," said MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon. "We are grateful to the Department of Energy’s commitment to address this critical priority for the nation's physical sciences research infrastructure, and we are proud to have been selected as a partner. We are deeply dedicated to working with the Department of Energy’s Office of Science to develop an exceptional user facility serving the needs of national and international scientists.
"This is the first step on the journey," Simon said, noting that subsequent allocations must be appropriated by Congress to make the FRIB a reality. Simon said she will work closely with Michigan’s congressional delegation to ensure the facility’s funding.
The facility is expected to bring $1 billion in economic activity and 400 jobs to Michigan, according to an analysis by the Anderson Economic Group.