This is my fifth trip a mile underground. I’m still as excited about the experience now as the first time down.
I remember that first time. Governor Dennis Daugaard came along and was on the program. The experiments were just getting started. We wore jeans and hard hats and took a train ride and traveled to different caverns. I know the train was for the governor but they let me ride along. It was still very much an old gold mine with great potential. I remember asking Governor Daugaard if he really understood neutrino’s and he smiled and said he didn’t really but what he does know is that it’s important work and is glad it’s happening in South Dakota. I won’t lie – I don’t really understand it either. But I like to say I understand enough to have a conversation with really smart people who do.
Each trip underground is different. Now when we go we have to clean every piece of equipment with alcohol wipes. We bag things up for the ride in the miner cage. Then we change out of reflective coveralls and wipe things down again to go into the clean area. Our cage leaves at 7:30 AM and the broadcast is at 11 (mountain time). It leaves plenty of time to talk with scientists, look around at what’s changed and even take a few selfies.
This year on the program I’m interviewing Dr. Ray Jayawardhana, dean of science and professor of physics and astronomy at York University in Toronto. He’s also the keynote speaker at this year’s Neutrino Day. Dr. Jayawardhana is the author of the book “Neutrino Hunters”. It takes an historic look at the scientists who theorized and can I say “invented” neutrinos. There’s a nice section about Ray Davis, the scientist who set up his experiment in the Homestake Gold Mine 50 years ago. I’ll also talk with Mike Headley, Executive Director of the South Dakota Science and Technology Authority. He’ll give an update on the experiments and changes in the lab, the new visitors center and Neutrino Day events. And Emily Graslie will join me. She’s a YouTube sensation as the creator of the educational channel "The Brain Scoop" and is the Chief Curiosity Correspondent for the Field Museum in Chicago. She is also the featured speaker for Friday evening’s Science Café at the Homestake Opera House in Lead.