Information about touring FRIB

Reserving a tour

  • Due to the large volume of requests, we recommend requesting public tours at least one month in advance.
    • Recommended audience: Ages 10 and up. Adults responsible for visitors who are under 18 must provide the signed minor permission form below. The tour route is handicap-accessible and safe for those with medical implants.
    • Group size: to ensure tour quality and safety, we generally limit tours to 10-50 visitors per day. Please provide your best estimate of the number of visitors so we can recruit sufficient guides for your tour.
    • Duration: 90 minutes (can vary, but normally requires at least one hour).
    • Cost: Free
  • Tours are offered by appointment and generally occur during business hours: Contact FRIB Outreach Coordinator Zach Constan (517-908-7363, visits@frib.msu.edu) to ask about scheduling a tour.
  • When scheduling, please provide the group/organization name, type of audience (adults, students, etc.), contact person, email address, and number of visitors (an accurate estimate).
  • While planning a visit, consider visiting other MSU attractions listed at visitlearn.msu.edu. Contact the MSU tour coordinators for assistance at tour.msu.edu.

Before coming/safety issues

  • If you are bringing minors:
    • The minor permission form must be signed by the adult responsible for any guests under 18 on the day of the visit.
    • Make sure you have enough adult chaperones. FRIB requires a minimum chaperone-to-child ratio of 1:7 for grades 4-6 and 1:10 for grades 7-8.
  • The tour route is handicap-accessible and safe for guests with medical implants.
  • Photography is not allowed while touring the research space. However, there is a "photo wall" to take a group picture.
  • Guides perform a safety survey before every tour to ensure that visitors will receive no excess radiation exposure (beyond the normal background) while in the vaults.
  • If the attendance number in a group changes significantly from the original estimate, email the FRIB Outreach Coordinator at least 72 hours before the tour.
  • Use the directions to the laboratory to find parking and the laboratory entrance. The public entrance is along the curved-glass section at the northwest corner of the FRIB building, next to the Chemistry building.

What to expect on a tour

  • Upon arrival at the FRIB lobby, a group representative should tell the receptionist they are here for a tour and give the name of the FRIB contact. That person will meet the group in the lobby and escort the group into the laboratory.
  • The tour guide will want to know the level of physics a group understands and whether the group has any time limitations in case the tour runs over. Remember, a typical tour lasts 90 minutes, so plan accordingly.
  • The tour typically begins with an extensive slideshow introduction with demonstrations in the FRIB Auditorium. Bathrooms are available next to that room.
  • If a group has more than 12 people, it will likely be broken up into smaller groups of up to 12 for the tour.
  • If there are young students in your party, each smaller group must have at least one adult chaperone to follow them.
  • This is a walking tour; visitors will be on their feet for the duration.
  • FRIB is a working laboratory. On the day of a tour, some areas may be inaccessible.
  • A group may be joined with another one that requested a tour in the same time period.
  • In case of an alarm, there will be lights and an announcement alerting everyone. The tour guide will help you evacuate to the nearest safe exit.
  • Always follow the directions of the tour guide.

Questions?

Contact the FRIB Outreach Coordinator at visits@frib.msu.edu.