image: A group photo of the DUNE-TECH camp attendees.
Credit: Rice University.
In a milestone moment for science education and collaboration, Rice University hosted its first DUNE-TECH (DUNE Training ExperienCe Hub) camp this June, drawing students, researchers and scientists from across the country into the world of neutrino physics and computing. The weeklong event held on Rice’s campus was designed to prepare participants for meaningful engagement with the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) — the most ambitious neutrino experiment ever undertaken in the United States.
“The DUNE-TECH camp was born out of a desire to give students hands-on experience and training in the kind of cutting-edge tools and technologies they’ll need to contribute to the DUNE experiment and to neutrino physics more broadly,” said Aaron Higuera, assistant research professor of physics and astronomy at Rice and the principal investigator for DUNE-TECH. “We’re laying the foundation for the next generation of scientists to ask — and hopefully answer — some of the most fundamental questions about the universe.”
Advancing the frontiers of neutrino science
The DUNE experiment is an international, multi-institutional effort to study neutrinos — the second most abundant particle in the universe. It involves a pair of detectors placed along a 1,300-kilometer baseline with one near the source of a high-intensity neutrino beam at Fermilab in Illinois and the other housed deep underground in South Dakota’s Sanford Underground Research Facility. Together, these detectors will allow researchers to observe neutrino oscillations, probe the origin of matter, test theories of proton decay and even investigate how black holes are born.
Through DUNE-TECH, Rice and its partners — including Fermi National Accelerator Lab, Los Alamos National Lab, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory and others — aim to immerse early career researchers in this groundbreaking scientific endeavor.
“The camp wasn’t just lectures, it was about building skills,” Higuera said. “From C++ and Python programming to machine learning, ROOT data analysis and databases, we introduced participants to the full technical tool kit they’ll need for DUNE and other experiments.”
The students who attended the weeklong camp found it both inspiring and useful for their future studies and careers.
“I’m really into particle physics, and I started doing research with my professor at Wichita State, who’s also involved with DUNE,” said Olive Colfelt, a rising junior at Wichita State University and a DUNE-TECH fellow and camp attendee. “He pointed me toward this opportunity as a great way to expand my computing capabilities.”
“As a physics major, I’ve always been fascinated by neutrinos, especially the unintuitive, almost mysterious things they do, like oscillations,” said Oswaldo J. Cardenas, a rising senior at Harvey Mudd College who attended the camp. “What drew me to this program was the chance to be part of a collaborative environment where you’re thinking, learning and talking with others who are just as curious as you are.”
A week of discovery
The camp kicked off June 9 with a special lecture from Mary Bishai, the 2024 DOE Office of Science Distinguished Scientist Fellow, former DUNE co-spokesperson and a pioneer in neutrino physics. Currently a senior scientist at Brookhaven National Laboratory, Bishai has spent her career unlocking the secrets of neutrinos and played a key role in shaping DUNE’s scientific mission.
“This is a 30-year project, and we need to develop the scientific community that will carry it forward — from high school to undergrad and beyond,” Bishai said. “Some of these young people in attendance today may be standing up here in 10 years announcing what could be a Nobel Prize-winning result.”
“It was incredibly inspiring to have Dr. Bishai speak to the students,” Higuera said. “Her career exemplifies the impact one person can have on the direction of a major scientific collaboration.”
Throughout the week, students and early career researchers dove into technical sessions on computing and neutrino theory. The diverse group of lecturers — representing national labs and universities from across the country — gave students the opportunity to build community and network during coffee breaks, including a Wednesday night dinner at Rice’s historic Cohen House.
The future of fundamental physics
With its emphasis on skill-building, mentorship and collaboration, DUNE-TECH reflects a growing recognition of the importance of training in science. As the DUNE experiment moves closer to operations, camps like this one will be essential to preparing a global workforce capable of analyzing data and advancing bold new theories.
“It’s been incredible to see how everyone has come together. Research teams get to share their work, and it’s inspiring to hear about what they’re doing,” said Mikayla Bukenya, who helped establish DUNE-TECH and graduated from Rice with a computer science degree this spring. “I enjoy having conversations with the team and helping out, especially on the software side of things. It’s great to contribute in that way.”
“DUNE is a once-in-a-generation project, and Rice is proud to be a hub for this kind of high-impact science education,” Higuera said. “This camp is our way of making sure that when the big discoveries come, our students are ready to lead.”