Mr. DiCarlo's and Ms. Young's Environmental Science class took a tour of UMASS Lowell's nuclear research reactor on Monday. A highly secure facility, the tour was made possible through the efforts of Dr. Mark Tries, Associate Professor of Radiological Sciences and Protection at UMASS Lowell. The reactor came online in 1975 and is used primarily for training and research in the fields of nuclear science, radiochemistry and engineering. It was a very interesting tour and I think many found it surprising that there was a nuclear reactor so close by. The picture below was taken in front of the secure door to enter the reactor containment dome (no photos are allowed inside).