The Ross Shaft rehabilitation project is a complete overhaul of the shaft that began in 2012. The work prepares the Ross Shaft for its role as the main travelway for upcoming excavation and construction of the Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility (LBNF) to support the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE), the world’s flagship neutrino experiment hosted by the Department of Energy’s Fermilab.

In 2020, the work on the Ross Shaft continued. One series of upgrades included outfitting the shaft with new cage and skip conveyances and replacing thousands of feet of hoist cables.

On June 23, construction company Kiewit Alberici Joint Venture set off explosives beneath the surface in Lead to begin creating space for the international DUNE experiment. The excavation work began with removing 3,000 tons of rock 3,650 feet below ground. This initial step carves out a station for a massive drill whose bore is as wide as a car is long—about four meters. Excavation at the 3650 level will be completed over the next few months, with blasting at the 4850 level planned to begin immediately after.

In 2020, undergraduate students participating in Sanford Lab internships or the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program adapted to a work environment impacted by COVID-19 to gain experience in their fields. Whether working primarily from home or onsite, students gained real-world experience in a time when even the experts had to reexamine how to move science forward safely and efficiently. 

“During this very challenging time, Sanford Lab remains committed to carrying out our mission to advance science through education and public outreach,” said Headley. “We are grateful to continue offering opportunities to undergraduate students to grow in their diverse fields and to contribute to world-leading science at Sanford Lab.”

Amidst early-pandemic lockdowns and work from home, our team devised a new way to connect our virtual community with the science at Sanford Lab. "The Drift" video series gives researchers a chance to answer questions about Sanford Lab science—all while they work from home.

From oddities of neutrinos to the mechanics of keeping experiments at extremely cold temperatures, we've created a full playlist on YouTube and Vimeo. 

This year, our Sanford Lab community rallied to support local causes. 

In March, we passed around a giant polar bear named Percy to raise funds for Special Olympics South Dakota's Polar Plunge. In October, the third-annual Sanford Lab Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign raised awareness about breast cancer, provided educational programming, and raised a total of $4,000 for the Lead-Deadwood Foundation for Health. In December, the SURF Foundation raised $6,650 to deliver holiday STEM backpacks to more than 200 South Dakota students who lack basic school supplies for remote learning. 

Dr. Ernest O. Lawrence won the 1939 Nobel Prize in Physics for inventing the cyclotron, a device for accelerating nuclear particles to very high velocities. Lawrence was a native of Canton, South Dakota. 

This July, the South Dakota Transportation Commission designated a section of United States Highway 18 in South Dakota as a Memorial Highway in honor of Lawrence. 

John “Jack” Headley, spent his life helping people. A devoted father and husband, he believed strongly in serving his community and state. Jack Headley passed away on Christmas Eve 2019, but his legacy of giving continued through a new internship at Sanford Lab. 

Sanford Lab currently offers six internships that support science, communications, mining engineering, engineering and education. As a seventh internship, the Jack Headley STEM Internship will give priority to underrepresented groups within the State of South Dakota.