“Who are the people in your neighborhood?”

I met a nuclear engineer/physicist in the District 13 neighborhood and learned a great deal about the role of Physics in medicine, in technology, and in our future.  Antimatter and Pet Scans…I’ve heard of both.  I didn’t realize that one led to the other--a discovery in theoretical physics leads to life saving medical procedure. What else lies out there?  With South Dakota’s renewed emphasis on research, we are about to find out…if we prepare.

He commented that there will always be a few “bright sparks,” the Einsteins, who make great discoveries and give us the “flashes of insight,” but he cautioned that we need an “army of competent engineers and scientists who understand and can translate these into practical applications”  …sometimes many decades later.  To be ready for that future challenge, he noted that our students need a strong background in Math and Science from the earliest grades on. He also believed that the math and science community can be an important resource for our math and science teachers.

Hot off the Press…

Check out my 8^th edition of Just Give Me the Facts, my campaign newspaper filled with information that affects us all.  Where does the money come from in our budget and where do we spend it? Why do Sioux Falls and South Dakota consistently rank at the top for entrepreneurs and business development? Where do our property taxes go? What’s a neutrino....and why do we care? Where are the jobs? How is South Dakota reacting to federally imposed ObamaCare? What are the 30 million reasons to keep the Trust Funds solvent?  What’s the status of the education lawsuit against the State? …..and lots more!!

Download Just The Facts

Sanford Lab - Black Hills, SD

We can only hope that the scientific discoveries thousands of feet below will match the incredible beauty of the Hills surrounding Sanford Lab at Homestake.

South Dakota, be really proud of your investment in the Sanford Lab at Homestake!

After attending Neutrino Days at the Sanford Lab on July 10, I am even more excited about the possibilities of the Deep Underground Science and Engineering Lab (if you haven’t watched the Sanford Lab video mentioned on my blog, do it NOW). The National Science Foundation has determined that the 4 pillars of the Physics program at the Sanford Lab are: 1) Neutrinos; 2) Proton decay; 3) Double Beta Decay; 4) Dark Matter. 

Neutrino Day featured physicists speaking on these topics.  Also, it was encouraging to see so many kids there doing “hands-on science activities” with the scientists. My conclusion is that I Needed To Take More Physics.  High school students - do not avoid Physics!  It not only explains the world around us; but South Dakota will potentially be the center of future Physics research.  We all need to be a part of this!

Neutrino Day 2010 — “a science adventure”

If you are in the Lead area on Saturday, July 10, don’t miss this free science festival. Fascinating adult and kids’ activities will be held at the Sanford Underground Science and Engineering Lab at Homestake.  For the schedule and detailed information go to: sanfordlabathomestake.org.  This is a great opportunity for all of us to learn more about South Dakota’s potential Deep Underground Science and Engineering Lab…and actually learn what a neutrino is.

Come 4850 feet underground

Come 4850 feet underground…with the Governor and lead scientists from the Sanford Lab at Homestake.  This short video offers great views deep into the former gold mine as well as a preview of some of the anticipated science experiments.  When the Deep Underground Science and Engineering Lab (DUSEL) is fully operational, neutrinos and dark matter may be household terms in South Dakota. The people of South Dakota can really be proud of their important role in the development of this world-class facility which will potentially transform the future of physics.