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Mines students visit SURF 4850 Level

Part of SURF’s mission is to inspire learning across generations, this photo essay showcases our effort to share world-class research with future scientists and engineers.

A group of South Dakota Mines physics students recently took a tour of the 4850 Level of SURF.  These students are already contributing to research here at America’s Underground Lab, including CASPAR and LZ. 

The students today will become the researchers of tomorrow, and this photo essay showcases their trip and learning experience.

Photos are thanks to Stephen Kenny at SURF and Gillian Spiva at South Dakota Mines. 

Four students walk to the far side of the North Cavern of the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) at SURF.

Four students walk to the far side of the South Cavern of the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) at SURF. Photo by Stephen Kenny

Taking a photo inside DUNE

Mines photographer Gillian Spiva captures a photo inside the South DUNE cavern. Photo by Stephen Kenny

Inside one of the DUNE Caverns

The South DUNE caverns after a coat of white plastic liner to the walls and ceiling. Photo by Stephen Kenny

A group walking inside the Central Utility Cavern.

The group walks into the Central Utility Cavern, now under construction, on the 4850 Level of SURF. Photo by Stephen Kenny

A group posed inside the DUNE Cavern

Posing inside the DUNE space with physics faculty member Michael Dowding in the middle. Students include, (L to R) Jacob Shafer, Jonathon Schock, Christopher Butsavage and Victor Hansen. Photo by Gillian Spiva

Inside on the floor of one of the the DUNE Caverns

Marveling at the vast DUNE cavern space. Photo by Gillian Spiva

Walking down a drift towards the Ross 4850 Station.

Walking toward the Ross 4850 Station. Photo by Gillian Spiva

Students walking down a drift at SURF.

Students walking down a drift at SURF near the DUNE space.  Photo by Gillian Spiva

A group inside the South Drift at SURF

Jacob Shafer points out a feature to the group inside the South Drift on the 4850 Level of SURF. Photo by Gillian Spiva

Two students stand inside the CASPAR experiment

Two students stand inside the CASPAR experiment. Photo by Gillian Spiva

Mark Hanhardt stands inside CASPAR

Mark Hanhardt, a PhD candidate at South Dakota Mines and an experiment support scientist at SURF, explains the CASPAR experiment.  Photo by Gillian Spiva

Students converse next to a component for the CASPAR experiment

Students converse next to a component for the CASPAR experiment.  Photo by Gillian Spiva

Removing a shell that covers the Van de Graaff generator and components for the CASPAR experiment

Jacob Shafer and Christopher Butsavage, two Mines physics students who work on CASPAR, help remove the steel shell that covers the Van de Graaff generator, ion source, and components for the experiment. Photo by Stephen Kenny

Removing a shell that covers the Van de Graaff generator and components for the CASPAR experiment

Two students helping remove the steel shell that covers the Van de Graaff generator, ion source, and components for the CASPAR experiment. Photo by Stephen Kenny

Removing a shell that covers the Van de Graaff generator and components for the CASPAR experiment

Mark Hanhardt removes an inner shell that covers beam generating components on the CASPAR experiment. Photo by Stephen Kenny

A photo of two poeple looking inside an open component of the CASPAR experiment

Dr. Frank Strieder explains some of the components inside the CASPAR experiment. Photo by Stephen Kenny