Department of Physics, Kansas State University

Kansas is more often associated with agriculture, tornadoes and empty space than with high-level science and technology, and changing this perception is the central goal of the film. Current cutting-edge physics research at K-State focuses on the areas of Atomic, Molecular and Optical (AMO) physics and high-energy physics/cosmology, specifically highlighting the very high level of support by the US Department of Energy. One central topic of the film is the J.R. Macdonald Laboratory - a state-of-the-art AMO physics laboratory located at K-State, which is supported by DOE for the last 50 years. Another common theme for the film is a connection between the effort located in Kansas and experiments at large-scale facilities worldwide (like SLAC, Fermilab, Cern, NASA observatories etc.) While for AMO physics a combination of lab-based and facility-based experiments opens up exciting new possibilities for maintaining a coordinated research program, for high-energy physics and cosmology connection to large-scale facilities is the only way to conduct (or participate in) hands-on experimental research. This connection to facilities and, thus, to National Labs also provide a variety of opportunities for students - from training and internship to future employment