Brookhaven National Laboratory is opening its doors to the public this summer for a series of free open house events on select Sundays, giving Long Islanders the rare chance to go behind the scenes at one of the nation’s top research facilities.
The U.S. Department of Energy lab, located just north of Exit 68 off the Long Island Expressway, will host visitors on June 29, July 13, Aug. 3 and Sept. 14.
Gates are open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with activities offered on a first-come, first-served basis. No reservations are needed.
Guests can expect interactive exhibits, tours of cutting-edge labs, and hands-on STEM activities for all ages. Adults 18 and older must bring a REAL ID-compliant form of identification. The lab grounds are wheelchair accessible.
Here’s what to expect at each event:
June 29
Family Fun at the Science Learning Center
Kids and families can explore interactive STEM exhibits and visit the Brookhaven firehouse to see firefighting gear and meet members of the Laboratory Protection Division.
July 13
Dazzling Discoveries at the NSLS-II
Tour the National Synchrotron Light Source II, where researchers use light 10 billion times brighter than the sun to study everything from batteries to biology.
Aug. 3
Fascinating Physics
Explore the only active particle collider complex in the U.S., including the STAR detector hall and the Tandem Van de Graaff accelerator, and learn about the lab’s future Electron-Ion Collider.
Sept. 14
Discovery and Innovation
Visit the Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN), where researchers probe tiny structures for big discoveries! Learn about the lab’s scientific computing and AI capabilities. Discover technologies that enable quantum networking, electronics, detectors, and more!
For more details, visit Explore Brookhaven Lab using this link.
Scroll down for more Brookhaven Lab courtesy photos from past events and field trips.
Top photo: Visitors at the Center for Functional Nanomaterials. Credit: Roger Stoutenburgh/Brookhaven National Laboratory
