Second Target Station in-person workshop set for May 19-21, 2026

The report, “Advancing U.S. Leadership: The Science Case for a Second Target Station at the Spallation Neutron Source” identifies grand scientific challenges that must be addressed to maintain U.S. scientific leadership and the characteristics and capabilities the Second Target Station (STS) must have to enable transformative scientific discoveries in those essential areas. The report was the outcome of a committee comprised of university and national laboratory experts and identified 10 specific grand challenges around five science themes: quantum materials, materials science and engineering, chemistry and catalysis, soft matter and polymers, and biological systems.

The future site of the STS is undergoing site preparations for construction. A Department of Energy (DOE) independent project review will take place beginning 9 June 2026. The documentation for that review must contain three instrument concepts for inclusion in the STS project that reflect the science needed to address the grand challenges along with two alternates.
In concert with the SNS-HFIR User Community Executive Committee (SHUG-EC), the NSSA has assembled neutron scattering community members into five working Science Theme Advisory Committees (STAC) with broad membership to assess the report and recommend instrument concepts for the STS prior to the June 2026 review. Each committee consists of five non-ORNL researchers (including co-chairs) familiar with using neutrons and one to three non-ORNL neutron scientists with instrument building expertise. Additionally, each committee has three ORNL technical consultants. Each STAC is currently:

• Evaluating the 10 specific grand challenges and key questions in the report and identifying any priority scientific challenges that should be added or amended.
• Preparing a prioritized suite of high-level instrument concepts that will address the scientific challenges in their science theme area.

An in-person workshop will be held 19-21 May in the Washington, D.C., area, at which the STACs will present their findings and work collectively to develop consensus instrument concepts and science prioritization for STS.

Importantly, members of the scientific community, both neutron users and non-neutron users, have been asked to review and provide feedback on the Grand Challenges Report. If you are interested in contributing to this effort, please contact the STAC chairs.

The STAC committee will present a consensus whitepaper to the DOE BES by 26 May 2026. We appreciate the aggressive timeline of this initiative and would like to hereby thank all community members for their efforts in empowering the Second Target Station’s science mission.

Sincerely,

Adrian Brügger, Columbia University, President, NSSA

Hillary Smith, Swarthmore College, Former Chair, SHUG-EC