Experience Fermilab From Your Couch: Open House Planned Virtually For 2nd Year

BATAVIA, IL — Fermilab is making it easy to experience the art of science from the comfort of your home. The particle physics laboratory will be hosting the annual Family Open House from Feb. 9 through Feb. 13.

This year's lineup for the five-day event includes live talks, pre-recorded demos and activities, trivia, virtual tours of lab facilities, and a community art show. Webinars on a variety of topics, including physics, art and ecology, will also be held.

Family Open House has been hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy's Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory for 18 years, and the 2022 event will be its second held virtually. Last year, more than 10,000 people from across the world participated in the event, according to a news release.

"We are really excited for the return of the virtual Family Open House," Amanda Early, Fermilab senior education program leader, said in a statement. "It’s really cool that, regardless of where people are located, they can learn more about the amazing research that takes place at the Fermilab."

Fans of the "Iron Scientist" competition can prepare for an encore at the upcoming open house. The Food Network-inspired spectacle — think "Iron Chef" and "Chopped" — will feature Fermilab staff members battling to create homemade physics demos. Competitors will be given a box of mystery items that they'll use to create a science demonstration. From there, virtual audience members will vote on the best one, and the winner will be declared the Iron Scientist.

The Mr. Freeze cryogenics show, as well as Ask-A-Scientist, will make appearances on Zoom as well. Lab staff will also be reading STEM-themed bedtime stories on Facebook Live starting at 7 p.m. CST each evening during the open house.

Fermilab's event is free, but attendees are required to register in advance. A registration form can be found here.