Gov. Blagojevich proclaims Nov. 28 Argonne National Laboratory Day

As Argonne National Laboratory’s celebration of its 60th anniversary continues, the laboratory has been given a special “day” by the State of Illinois. Gov. Rod Blagojevich has declared Tuesday, Nov. 28 “Argonne National Laboratory Day” in Illinois in recognition of Argonne’s 60 years of world-renowned research and development.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory, operated and managed by UChicago Argonne LLC, is a multipurpose national laboratory known for its innovations in energy, science, technology, biomedicine and national security. Argonne has been operated by the University since its founding in 1946. This summer, a new five-year contract was signed that places the laboratory under the management of UChicago Argonne LLC. The University, the sole member of the LLC, established partnerships with Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. and BWT Technologies Inc. to manage the laboratory.

“The research technology at Argonne has translated into significant scientific and economic benefits for our state, and this growing facility will continue to play an important role in the emergence of Illinois as a national center for science and technology,” Blagojevich said. “We look forward to continuing to work together to leverage larger investments at this important facility, advance cutting-edge research and create more high-tech, high-paying Illinois jobs.”

Argonne was chartered as the first U.S. national laboratory in 1946 as an extension of the World War II Metallurgical Laboratory at the University, which produced the first controlled nuclear chain reaction. Blagojevich has committed nearly $93 million in funding for projects at Argonne since 2002. These projects include the Center for Nanoscale Materials, Ricketts Regional Biocontainment Laboratory, the Advanced Protein Crystallization Facility and I-WIRE.

“As Argonne celebrates its 60th anniversary, we are pleased to have this recognition from Governor Blagojevich,” said Robert Rosner, Director of Argonne and the William Wrather Distinguished Service Professor in Astronomy & Astrophysics and the College. “On behalf of Argonne’s 2,900 employees and more than 5,000 users annually of our scientific facilities, I thank the Governor and the people of Illinois for this recognition.”

Argonne’s $475 million annual budget supports studies ranging from studies of the atomic nucleus to global climate change.