SURF launches John Bahcall Colloquium with inaugural lecture by Neta Bahcall in Rapid City
The Institute for Underground Science at SURF is launching the John Bahcall Colloquium, a monthly series of scientific lectures to build intellectual community while delving into the wide range of disciplines being researched at SURF.
Dr. Neta Bahcall, the Eugene Higgins Professor of Astrophysics at Princeton University and the wife of the late John Bahcall, will present the inaugural John Bahcall Colloquium at the Journey Museum in Rapid City on March 10, 2026. The event will begin at 5 p.m. with a social hour and the presentation titled, John Bahcall: Godfather of Solar Neutrinos, will begin at 6 p.m.
The newly named John Bahcall Colloquium honors renowned astrophysicist John Bahcall. His pioneering work on the solar neutrino problem helped guide Raymond Davis in the hunt for neutrinos inside the former Homestake Mine. The experiment, that began in the mid 1960s, went on to win a 2002 Nobel Prize in Physics. Bahcall’s work launched the field of neutrino astrophysics and helped change our understanding of neutrinos. His scientific legacy includes lasting contributions to the study of galactic structure, quasars, dark matter, neutron star structure, black-holes and stellar environments, and solar neutrinos. The article, John Bahcall: Godfather of Solar Neutrinos, captures highlights of his life, work, and legacy.
Bahcall is remembered for his contributions to cutting-edge research, his leadership of the astronomical community, his critical advocacy for the Hubble Space Telescope, and as a beloved professor and mentor to generations of students—many of whom remember his continued efforts to go above and beyond to encourage young scientists entering the field.
John Bahcall as a young scientist at the Homestake Mine on the site of the neutrino experiment that later won a Nobel Prize.
Photo courtesy Neta Bahcall
“John Bahcall’s incredible contributions to a wide range of research and his dedication to mentorship and education mirror SURF’s own mission to advance world-class science and inspire learning across generations,” said Mike Headley, executive director of the South Dakota Science and Technology Authority and laboratory director at SURF. “There is no one more fitting as a namesake for this colloquium.”
The John Bahcall Colloquium embodies the ongoing efforts at The Institute for Underground Science at SURF to build meaningful pathways and strategic partnerships that foster scientific collaboration, community building, and inspiration for the next generation of researchers. The colloquium, initially launched as “Deeper Talks” at SURF is generally held on the second Wednesday of each month and broadcast via the internet to members of the broader scientific community. Recordings of each colloquium are shared in SURF’s Deep Thoughts newsletter. Past recordings can be found here.
The public is welcome to join the inaugural John Bahcall Colloquium at the Journey Museum in Rapid City, SD, starting with a social hour at 5 p.m. and the presentation at 6 p.m. on March 10, 2026.
John Bahcall
Photo Courtesy of Neta Bahcall
