The Boulby Underground Laboratory is the UK’s deep underground science facility, situated in the Boulby Mine 1,100 m underground. From deep in the mine, the Boulby team are taking part in a wide variety of science: from searching for dark matter and testing robotics for future space exploration, to studying different materials and investigating the possibility of alien life. This event will take place during a very exciting project, MINAR (Mine Analogue Research). This event will include an introduction to the work done at the lab, and a virtual tour of the facility, as well as an opportunity to ask questions.

This online event will take place via Zoom webinar and will be streamed live on the Boulby Facebook page. On Zoom, attendees will not be visible or audible, but will be able to ask questions via the text-based Q&A and chat functions. This event is particularly aimed at students in Key Stage 3 and the general public.

MINAR has brought in international teams from NASA, ESA, India, and universities across the UK and internationally to study life in the deep subsurface and test planetary exploration equipment. In particular, MINAR focuses on the synergies between planetary exploration and mining, using the active mine environment to test technologies that create synergies between these two areas, such as rovers to carry out 3D mapping and gas detection for safety and structural assessments in mines and the exploration of other planets. The initiative has hosted the NASA Spaceward Bound project and ESA astronaut training.

If you cannot make the live event, but would like to receive a recording, please register and be sure to tick the 'I would like to receive a recording' box on the order form. You are welcome to send in questions, to visitral@stfc.ac.uk, before or after the event and we will do our best to answer!

If you are a school and cannot use Zoom, please let us know on the registration form and we will do our best to accommodate you via another platform.