Celebrating the Art and Science of Ignition at City Center Bishop Ranch
The intersection of science and art was the centerpiece of a celebration at City Center Bishop Ranch in San Ramon, California, for Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)’s historic fusion ignition breakthrough at the National Ignition Facility (NIF).
The Sept. 29 event feted “Bringing Star Power to Earth,” an art installation on the exterior of the shopping, retail, and entertainment center that tells the story of LLNL’s achievement through nine 23-foot-tall banners.
On Dec. 5, 2022, LLNL achieved energy breakeven during an experiment at NIF, creating more fusion energy than laser energy needed to spark the reaction. This historic breakthrough opens new applications for the nation’s Stockpile Stewardship program as well as laying the groundwork for a potential fusion energy future.
“We’re gathered here to recognize a monumental achievement in the field of science, an achievement that has the potential to transform our understanding of energy and our future,” said NBC Bay Area meteorologist Rob Mayeda, the event’s emcee. “We're celebrating the incredible team at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory for their groundbreaking achievement of fusion ignition.”
Alex Mehran Jr., president and CEO of Sunset Development Group, developer of the Bishop Ranch complex, said it was “a great honor to be able to celebrate the fusion ignition breakthrough.”
The complex includes City Center Bishop Ranch, a 300,000-square-foot retail, restaurant, and entertainment center that opened in 2019. Sunset Development company launched its Slate project to devote space to banners on the sides of the center to promote the Tri-Valley area and its culture.
Speaking at the celebration, LLNL Director Kim Budil said the nine banners represent different elements of LLNL’s historic achievement of fusion ignition at NIF, the world’s most energetic laser.
“Each banner represents a different element of what it took to get to this point,” Budil said. “Lasers, computer modeling and simulation, experimental design, diagnostics, optics, target fabrication, (our) collaborators and partners, and most importantly, people. And that’s really why we’re here today, to celebrate people. For over 60 years, thousands of researchers at the Lab and from our partner institutions worked to make the impossible possible.”
Many of those LLNL employees, some wearing commemorative fusion ignition T-shirts, were in the audience, as were San Ramon Mayor Dave Hudson, Livermore Mayor John Marchand, Alameda County Supervisor David Haubert, and Contra Costa County Supervisor Candace Andersen.
“Thank you for what you’re doing for all of our communities and all of our businesses, which rely upon your work at the Lab making amazing things happen,” Andersen said.
The banners are part of the center’s Slate Art Program, launched in 2018 to enrich the East Bay community by visually weaving together the rich elements of culture, civic life, and commerce. The fusion ignition installation will remain in place for 12 months.
The banners evolved from a 1930s-era Works Progress Administration style used in a poster series called the “Art of Fusion” to help tell the world of the fusion ignition achievement. The banners were created by LLNL graphic designer James Wickboldt. John Jett, the Lab’s Document Services group leader and creator of the “Ignition” comic book, contributed to the design.
Wickboldt spent his childhood not far from where City Center Bishop Ranch was eventually built. He said he “never imagined” seeing his work featured this way.
“I grew up in San Ramon and now the place where I work is being represented in my hometown,” Wickboldt said. “It's an amazing experience, for sure. It's humbling.”
Audience members were also treated to hands-on science activities presented by the Dougherty Valley High School National Honor Society, Science Olympiad, Tri Valley Robotics of San Ramon, and the Livermore Lab Foundation. LLNL’s NIF & Photon Science Laser Roadshow, featuring a laser DJ and laser light show, was demonstrated by the Lab’s Patrick Poole, Zhi Liao, Stacie Manuel, Ryan Nora, Sara Novell, Dean Rusby, and Clement Trosseille.
One of the activities was presented by the Science Alliance, a group of students from Monte Vista, San Ramon Valley, Dougherty Valley, and California High schools. Science Alliance works with fifth-grade students in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District on science fair projects.
Alliance member Andrew Kim, a San Ramon Valley High senior, was excited to learn about LLNL’s fusion ignition breakthrough since it represents the promise of science in general as a “noble pursuit” for young people looking for careers.
“Science and engineering, that’s what takes us to the next generation, what moves our society as a whole,” Kim said.
Livermore Mayor John Marchand, a trained chemist, was glad to see so much enthusiasm for the “game changing” achievement of fusion ignition.
“The great thing about the Lab is that work is being done in Livermore that can be done nowhere else on Earth,” he said after checking out the Laser Roadshow. “And if you’re a scientist, that’s exciting to you because you want to be able to work on things that are cutting edge, that are going to be able to make a difference.”
More Information:
“Celebrating Ignition at City Center Bishop Ranch,” NIF & Photon Science News, July 16, 2023
“Slate: Bringing Star Power to Earth,” City Center Bishop Ranch
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