Nigel Smith - Mines Light
@nigeljtsmith.bsky.social
Executive Director & CEO of TRIUMF, Canada’s national particle accelerator centre. Previously dark matter & cosmic ray hunter, and underground lab builder. (he/him)
Our Galaxy. Stitched images of the Milky Way above our home on Vancouver Island. I find it impossible to see this without a sense of wonder, a deep respect for nature, and awe that science is able to connect us to the inner workings of the universe.
iPhone 13 on a tripod.
iPhone 13 on a tripod.
November 4, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Our Galaxy. Stitched images of the Milky Way above our home on Vancouver Island. I find it impossible to see this without a sense of wonder, a deep respect for nature, and awe that science is able to connect us to the inner workings of the universe.
iPhone 13 on a tripod.
iPhone 13 on a tripod.
July 30, 2025 at 5:00 AM
Been a bit quiet on BlueSky recently, due to a tonne of travel. Last week in Heidelberg moving international double beta decay forward, this week in Prague pitching Canada in ApPEC astroparticle eu coordination and the US electron ion collider
International collaboration is the bedrock of research
International collaboration is the bedrock of research
June 8, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Been a bit quiet on BlueSky recently, due to a tonne of travel. Last week in Heidelberg moving international double beta decay forward, this week in Prague pitching Canada in ApPEC astroparticle eu coordination and the US electron ion collider
International collaboration is the bedrock of research
International collaboration is the bedrock of research
April 19, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Colours of a Vancouver Spring.
March 29, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Colours of a Vancouver Spring.
January tour of the @coschoolofmines.bsky.social facility at the Edgar Experimental Mine. Looking cool, and a great entry to the family of underground laboratories. Some great science planned here.
February 8, 2025 at 8:40 AM
January tour of the @coschoolofmines.bsky.social facility at the Edgar Experimental Mine. Looking cool, and a great entry to the family of underground laboratories. Some great science planned here.
The beauty of Vancouver, Maple Ridge, the Rockies and the Fraser River. Taken from the skies as I head towards Ottawa. Someone has to live here, I guess.
February 5, 2025 at 3:56 AM
The beauty of Vancouver, Maple Ridge, the Rockies and the Fraser River. Taken from the skies as I head towards Ottawa. Someone has to live here, I guess.
Burns Day and Night. Beautiful day in Vancouver and @triumflab.bsky.social midwinter party at night, a chance to regale the team with a bit of the Scottish bard.
January 26, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Burns Day and Night. Beautiful day in Vancouver and @triumflab.bsky.social midwinter party at night, a chance to regale the team with a bit of the Scottish bard.
iPhone attempt to capture the Moon and Jupiter over TRIUMF, picks up Orion and its nebula rising over the lab.
#VancouverNights
#AwesomeSkies
#VancouverNights
#AwesomeSkies
January 12, 2025 at 8:26 PM
iPhone attempt to capture the Moon and Jupiter over TRIUMF, picks up Orion and its nebula rising over the lab.
#VancouverNights
#AwesomeSkies
#VancouverNights
#AwesomeSkies
Today marks 50 years since proton beans were first extracted from the TRIUMF cyclotron, the start of five decades of science from this amazing facility.
We took a moment to recreate an iconic set of photographs of that day in 1974, including all those who worked at TRIUMF then.
We took a moment to recreate an iconic set of photographs of that day in 1974, including all those who worked at TRIUMF then.
December 16, 2024 at 2:07 AM
Today marks 50 years since proton beans were first extracted from the TRIUMF cyclotron, the start of five decades of science from this amazing facility.
We took a moment to recreate an iconic set of photographs of that day in 1974, including all those who worked at TRIUMF then.
We took a moment to recreate an iconic set of photographs of that day in 1974, including all those who worked at TRIUMF then.
The tide is high, but we’re holding on…
English Bay looking awesome after the storm, with a really high tide lapping the coast.
English Bay looking awesome after the storm, with a really high tide lapping the coast.
December 15, 2024 at 12:40 AM
The tide is high, but we’re holding on…
English Bay looking awesome after the storm, with a really high tide lapping the coast.
English Bay looking awesome after the storm, with a really high tide lapping the coast.
A great pleasure to be at the 2024 ICRI conference on Research Infrastructure in Brisbane. Fabulous location (if a tad humid), wonderful discussions, and great to meet up with a wide range of individuals engaged in large scale research. And less than 24 hours notice to stand-in on a panel!
December 5, 2024 at 2:15 AM
A great pleasure to be at the 2024 ICRI conference on Research Infrastructure in Brisbane. Fabulous location (if a tad humid), wonderful discussions, and great to meet up with a wide range of individuals engaged in large scale research. And less than 24 hours notice to stand-in on a panel!
The approach to Nanaimo. Always lovely to get back to the island for a break, even if only for 24 hours.
#IslandLife
#FerryCrossingsILike
#IslandLife
#FerryCrossingsILike
November 24, 2024 at 4:54 PM
The approach to Nanaimo. Always lovely to get back to the island for a break, even if only for 24 hours.
#IslandLife
#FerryCrossingsILike
#IslandLife
#FerryCrossingsILike
Looking forward to the CNSC2024 plenary panel on “Canadian Research Facilities at the Forefront of Scientific Breakthroughs”
Brings together research leaders from some of Canada’s major research platforms, Perimeter Institute, TRIUMF, Canadian LightSource and SNOLAB.
Brings together research leaders from some of Canada’s major research platforms, Perimeter Institute, TRIUMF, Canadian LightSource and SNOLAB.
November 21, 2024 at 2:34 PM
Looking forward to the CNSC2024 plenary panel on “Canadian Research Facilities at the Forefront of Scientific Breakthroughs”
Brings together research leaders from some of Canada’s major research platforms, Perimeter Institute, TRIUMF, Canadian LightSource and SNOLAB.
Brings together research leaders from some of Canada’s major research platforms, Perimeter Institute, TRIUMF, Canadian LightSource and SNOLAB.
Earth4D meeting in LA requires a field trip to the methane producing La Brea tar pits. Site of the demise of animals and creatures for millennia. We lost no one.
November 13, 2024 at 2:46 AM
Earth4D meeting in LA requires a field trip to the methane producing La Brea tar pits. Site of the demise of animals and creatures for millennia. We lost no one.
Flying visit to Bonn for a DFG review. Couple of hours in town - a thoughtful memorial to the 1933 book burning in Bonn, with book spines inlaid to the pavement. Juxtaposed to the Alte Rathaus and one of the bars in which Beethoven had a glass or two.
Culture and anti-culture side by side.
Culture and anti-culture side by side.
November 10, 2024 at 9:34 PM
Flying visit to Bonn for a DFG review. Couple of hours in town - a thoughtful memorial to the 1933 book burning in Bonn, with book spines inlaid to the pavement. Juxtaposed to the Alte Rathaus and one of the bars in which Beethoven had a glass or two.
Culture and anti-culture side by side.
Culture and anti-culture side by side.
Late to the party…
October 15, 2024 at 8:33 PM
Late to the party…
M81, Bode’s Galaxy. A galactic centre of older stars with more recent star formation in the arms. Central black hole of 70 million solar masses.
#BackYardAstronomy
#GalaxySeason
#AwesomenessFromMyDeck
#BackYardAstronomy
#GalaxySeason
#AwesomenessFromMyDeck
April 13, 2024 at 4:20 PM
M81, Bode’s Galaxy. A galactic centre of older stars with more recent star formation in the arms. Central black hole of 70 million solar masses.
#BackYardAstronomy
#GalaxySeason
#AwesomenessFromMyDeck
#BackYardAstronomy
#GalaxySeason
#AwesomenessFromMyDeck
Enjoying the clear nights on Vancouver Island and opportunity to fire up the scopes. Orion low in the sky, so not the best contrast for my favourite target (isn’t it everyone’s?), the Horsehead Nebula discovered by Williamina Fleming in 1888. Dust clouds against a star forming molecular cloud region
April 1, 2024 at 5:09 PM
Enjoying the clear nights on Vancouver Island and opportunity to fire up the scopes. Orion low in the sky, so not the best contrast for my favourite target (isn’t it everyone’s?), the Horsehead Nebula discovered by Williamina Fleming in 1888. Dust clouds against a star forming molecular cloud region
M1, the Crab Nebula, discovered by John Bevis in 1731. First object associated with a supernova, linked to 1054 supernova seen around the world. First continuous VHE gamma ray source identified using Air Cherenkov technique pioneered by Michael Hillas (Leeds). Awesome dude.
#FromMyDeck
#IslandLife
#FromMyDeck
#IslandLife
April 1, 2024 at 5:03 PM
M1, the Crab Nebula, discovered by John Bevis in 1731. First object associated with a supernova, linked to 1054 supernova seen around the world. First continuous VHE gamma ray source identified using Air Cherenkov technique pioneered by Michael Hillas (Leeds). Awesome dude.
#FromMyDeck
#IslandLife
#FromMyDeck
#IslandLife
Another favourite astrophotography target - the Whirlpool Galaxy. M51(a) and its companion galaxy M51(b). Deviation of the spiral arm due to the interactions as M51(b) passed through the main galaxy some 500 million years ago.
#BackYardAstronomy
#IslandLife
#UnistellarEvScope
#BackYardAstronomy
#IslandLife
#UnistellarEvScope
March 30, 2024 at 3:39 PM
Another favourite astrophotography target - the Whirlpool Galaxy. M51(a) and its companion galaxy M51(b). Deviation of the spiral arm due to the interactions as M51(b) passed through the main galaxy some 500 million years ago.
#BackYardAstronomy
#IslandLife
#UnistellarEvScope
#BackYardAstronomy
#IslandLife
#UnistellarEvScope
This year is the 50th anniversary of beam being successfully steered and extracted from TRIUMF’s main cyclotron - the world’s most colourful accelerator!
Pastel colours shown here are accurate, to help orientate workers in a radiation environment. Chosen by artist BC Binney… it was the 70’s!
Pastel colours shown here are accurate, to help orientate workers in a radiation environment. Chosen by artist BC Binney… it was the 70’s!
March 10, 2024 at 3:56 PM
This year is the 50th anniversary of beam being successfully steered and extracted from TRIUMF’s main cyclotron - the world’s most colourful accelerator!
Pastel colours shown here are accurate, to help orientate workers in a radiation environment. Chosen by artist BC Binney… it was the 70’s!
Pastel colours shown here are accurate, to help orientate workers in a radiation environment. Chosen by artist BC Binney… it was the 70’s!
Vancouver skies.
February 4, 2024 at 2:14 AM
Vancouver skies.
Packed house at the #CSPC2023 session on Major Research Facilities and a discussion on responding to the Bouchard report on federal support to research ecosystem. Session highlights Canadian facilities are at a critical inflection point.
November 22, 2024 at 9:57 AM
Packed house at the #CSPC2023 session on Major Research Facilities and a discussion on responding to the Bouchard report on federal support to research ecosystem. Session highlights Canadian facilities are at a critical inflection point.
November 8, 2023 at 2:37 PM