Nearly 50 people packed into a meeting room on the evening of June 26 at the Old Barn Community Centre on the UBC campus. They came to find out what really happens at TRIUMF. Members from the community and children who attended expressed a lot of interest in how physics works and about the particles that compose our universe. Nigel Lockyer, TRIUMF’s Director, presented a down-to-earth talk about physics that actively engaged everyone from youngsters to UBC professors.
As TRIUMF’s first community lecture of this kind, the evening was a remarkable success. “Though we thought the crowd would be UBC faculty and staff, we had a large turn-out from the younger generation,” says Lockyer. “At first you wouldn’t think 12 year-olds are the best target audience for sub-atomic physics, but these kids were attentive and asking questions. They thoroughly enjoyed learning.” TRIUMF partnered with the University Neighbourhood Association (UNA) to host this event and jointly provided refreshments from local UBC establishments.
This is the first talk in the “Summer Lecture Series” held this summer. This series aims to engage community members and provide an opportunity for them to learn about the research facilities located in UBC’s South Campus area. The next talk will be hosted by the NRC Fuel Cell Institute on July 24, 2008 at the Old Barn Community Centre.
Thank you to everyone who came out and made this night a success!
By Nicole Dublanko
TRIUMF's Communications Assistant