Spring/Summer 2010
Thirty MESA students viewed the most powerful laser in the world and visited other science facilities during two Lawrence Livermore National Lab Research Days.
The laser--part of the National Ignition Facility--aims to fuse hydrogen atoms nuclei to produce energy. That fusion is the same process that makes stars shine. The laser focuses the energy of 192 giant laser beams onto a target the size of a BB. The tour was designed to expose students to career possibilities at national labs.
Students also visited the Center for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry, which measures the isotopic composition of substances, and the National Atmospheric Release Advisory Center. Students began the day with science demonstrations by the tour guides who are former lab engineers.
The MESA tours were featured in the Lawrence Livermore National Lab's Newsline newsletter. Lab employees attended the MESA Student Leadership Conference and intend to continue a relationship with the program.
Students represented MESA programs from CSU Chico, Los Medanos College, Mission College, San Jose State University, Santa Rosa Junior College, Solano Community College, Sonoma State University, UC Santa Cruz and University of the Pacific.
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