Scientists talk FRIB

Scientists involved with the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams and Michigan State University spoke about their thoughts and hopes for the Facility and its affects on the university:

Dr. Bradley Sherrill, chief scientist for the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, said he believes Michigan State University was chosen to house FRIB, set to be complete no later then June of 2022 according to MSUToday, for a multitude of reasons.

“[It] started with good quality science here for many years, then it started with the idea, and then it started with the effort that went all the way from the students of the university all the way up to the president to make sure that it came here. So, we are now given the opportunity to do it and that’s what we are doing,” said Sherrill.

Sherrill, who self-describes his role as a communicative position between the FRIB laboratory and those who will use it, said the participation of students and university President Lou Anna K. Simon stood out to the committee assigned to approve locating FRIB on the campus.

 “We heard after [the decision was made], from several committee members, that they were actually quite impressed that the president was behind this, that the students were behind this and they obviously thought also that the scientists were doing a good job of planning and preparing and would do a good job of building it,” said Sherrill.

Dr. Raymond “Chip” Brock, a distinguished professor and the former chair of the department of physics and astronomy at MSU, said he thinks the university will benefit from FRIB.

“Those who have become leaders in the project… were among the best teachers in our department and the folks that have management positions, they are among the best teachers in our department... best scientists, best teachers, it’s a win for everybody,” said Brock.

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