Nearly 4,000 members of the public attended the 20 August open house at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams and National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory. The "Rare Access” event included activities, demonstrations, presentations, and tours that allowed attendees to learn more about a world-leading science facility in operation (NSCL) and one in the making (FRIB).

The four-hour open house, made possible by 130 volunteers, offered an array of experiences for all ages. Tours were held in the currently operational experimental areas in NSCL that will be used in FRIB experiments, and visitors could tour the FRIB facility under construction.

Several hands-on activities and demonstrations showed the fields of FRIB and NSCL research, including playing the Isotopolis video game, operating an electromagnetic accelerator, smashing model “nuclei” made of magnetic marbles, and operating a control system like a cyclotron operator. Additionally, scientists were on-hand to talk about their work on the frontiers of rare-isotope research, and several educational videos were shown in the "FRIB Theater."

In the presentation hall, speakers gave presentations on the NSCL/FRIB Laboratory, the science being explored, and career opportunities for young people.

This was the first public open house to show the public both NSCL and FRIB.