Since 2011, FRIB has welcomed more than 3,000 school groups to tour the laboratory on the campus of Michigan State University. Students come from public schools, private schools, parochial schools, and homeschools to tour FRIB.  

“Tours are easily the best way to discover what the laboratory is all about, especially for school-aged children,” said Zach Constan, FRIB outreach coordinator. “Our guests explore behind the scenes to understand what we are hoping to discover and why.”

FRIB’s public-engagement programs foster a deeper understanding of science and technology and inspire future generations to pursue careers in science and technical fields, contributing to a workforce that will drive innovation and economic growth and enhance American competitiveness. One of the primary ways FRIB achieves that is through tours of the facility. 

Full tours—led by Constan and FRIB graduate students—generally include demonstrations, an introduction to the goals and methods of nuclear science, and a walk-through of vaults where nuclei are accelerated, filtered and/or studied. Tours take place during business hours and last approximately 90 minutes. They are geared for ages 10 and older. 

Cara Ortiz, a homeschool family leader from the Lansing area, brought her students on a tour after becoming intrigued about the work done at FRIB. Her goal was to spark curiosity and inspire them to be problem solvers.

“As a homeschool family, we are always looking for learning enrichment opportunities, and Michigan State University has been an awesome resource,” Ortiz said. “Nuclear science is something we’ve briefly considered in our discussions of energy crises, space exploration, and medical advancements. I feel that exposing my learners to this tour will set them up for a well-rounded education and to become responsible citizens of our planet.”

“Guests find out how rare isotope research can save lives and change the world. Most importantly, they’ll see that people who work at FRIB represent an incredible variety of cultures, backgrounds, skill sets, and career paths. Those students can keep their eyes and minds open to careers in science going forward.”

FRIB has also partnered with different organizations to reach the public through special events and exhibits. 

• FRIB and the Wharton Center for Performing Arts at MSU teamed up for a unique dance performance called “Of Equal Place: Isotopes in Motion.” The groundbreaking show connected dance, science, and multimedia, offering a unique way to explore the intersections between nuclear science and movement.
• FRIB and the Impression 5 Science Center in Lansing launched a hands-on exhibit called “SMASH: A Nuclear Adventure,” inspired by the cutting-edge nuclear science happening at FRIB. The FRIB exhibit at Impression 5 gives families the opportunity to explore the fascinating world of atoms, isotopes, and cosmic rays in an interactive way. 

Constan hopes that a visit to FRIB will help students realize what is possible in science and for their own future. Tour appointments can be arranged by contacting Constan at visits@frib.msu.edu. FRIB also provides a virtual tour on its YouTube page. 

Michigan State University (MSU) operates the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) as a user facility for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science (DOE-SC), with financial support from and furthering the mission of the DOE-SC Office of Nuclear Physics.