Young, aspiring scientists dug into the science behind environmental cleanup at the recent Los Alamos ScienceFest Discovery Day, with hands-on activities conducted by the Environmental Management Los Alamos Field Office’s legacy cleanup contractor.
Office of Environmental Management
October 13, 2026
Estimated Read Time min
The Newport News Nuclear BWXT-Los Alamos LLC team welcomed families to its booth during the Los Alamos ScienceFest Discovery Day. The interactive setup introduced visitors to the real-world science, engineering principles and safety protocols that drive the Los Alamos National Laboratory legacy cleanup mission.
LOS ALAMOS, N.M. — Young, aspiring scientists dug into the science behind environmental cleanup at the recent Los Alamos ScienceFest Discovery Day, with hands-on activities conducted by the Environmental Management Los Alamos Field Office’s legacy cleanup contractor.
The event for children and their families capped the 19th annual ScienceFest featuring the theme “It’s All Elemental!” Newport News Nuclear BWXT-Los Alamos LLC (N3B) introduced families to the science and safety practices that support the U.S Department of Energy’s Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) legacy cleanup mission.
“Our goal this year was to take engineering principles and break them down into something tangible for kids,” said Brad Smith, N3B president and general manager. “When a child visualizes how we are retrieving legacy waste by digging up simulated material, they connect with some remediation techniques we use on active cleanup sites while encouraging their curiosity about careers in science and engineering.”
Stepping into the shoes of a field technician, a toddler practices the "Dig with Care" activity, wearing a toy hard hat and safety vest to carefully excavate simulated materials. The activity decomposed complex waste retrieval concepts into a tangible, educational experience.
At N3B’s “Dig with Care” activity, children donned safety glasses, vests and toy hard hats using excavation tools to uncover colored popsicle sticks representing legacy waste. Kids unearthed these targets alongside other surprises, including toy dinosaurs, hidden “artifacts” and costume jewels.
The activity offered a simplified introduction to waste retrieval, showing how deliberate excavation supports safe cleanup.
Beyond the dig, N3B demonstrated the engineering controls used during soil remediation. Using a setup of cocoa powder and a water spray bottle, team members showed children how moisture binds to fine particles. The demonstration illustrated how dust suppression traps loose materials, preventing contaminants from traveling through the air during active operations.
“The kids’ enthusiasm was clear,” said N3B Executive Officer Mark Lesinski. “They weren't just digging for simulated legacy waste, hidden dinosaurs and jewels, they were asking questions about how we locate buried material and protect people and the environment. Events like ScienceFest give us the opportunity to answer those questions, share our mission and help families understand the work taking place in their community.”
-Contributor: Donavan Mager
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