New Lecture Series Offers Glimpse into Argonne Research

Even though Argonne National Laboratory is right in our backyard, the goings on inside the 1,500-acre research center often seem mysterious.

The general public, however, can get a window into what’s happening at the energy lab through a new lecture series entitled “Argonne OutLoud,” launching Thursday. 

Though the quarterly lectures will draw from across all Argonne’s research areas, the first talk will focus on plants and sustainability, said lab spokeswoman Eleanor Taylor.

Agronomist and environmental engineer Cristina Negri will speak about the multifaceted role plants play in humans’ interactions with the ecosystem: Not only can plants help clean the environment, they can also serve as an energy source. 

"I like to brag that I have the biggest lab at Argonne," Negri said in a statement. "Many times research has a single focus—only crops, only fuel, only environmental remedies. If you put all three together, you can often make one’s waste a resource for the other."

Negri seemed like a natural fit for the first lecture, both because of the timing—Earth Day is April 22—and the glimpse she offers into the variety of research going on at Argonne.

“People don’t often realize the broad base of research that happens at Argonne,” Taylor said.

There will be a reception featuring related research that starts at 6:30 p.m., half an hour before the 7 p.m. lecture. 

The next talk, scheduled for June 14, will focus on solar energy, which Taylor said seemed like a good match with the summer. The autumn speaker will tackle nuclear energy. 

“We’re trying to do as much as we can to inspire and inform,” Taylor said.

"Changing the bio-energy equation: Turning environmental challenges into sustainable resources" is a free lecture scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday at Argonne National Laboratory. Advanced registration required. For more information or to register, visit www.anl.gov/community/outloud.