November 4th, 2021 - Berkeley Nucleonics Donates Lab Equipment to Montana State University

Berkeley Nucleonics is happy to donate a full bench of test equipment to Steve Birrell, a volunteer from time to time at Montana State University, and to their engineering students. This equipment will go to the new experiments laboratory, from multi-channel oscilloscopes to arbitrary waveform generators, allowing students and encouraging them to test a variety of circuits and conduct experiments IRL.

Steve Birrell

Steve moved to Bozeman in 1989 to help start one of the first laser companies in the Bozeman area. The photonics community has grown since then to over 25 companies. The engineering and physics departments at MSU have grown tremendously, making them a nationally respected photonics group.

He has always had an interest in the technical development of the engineers and technicians.  This later led to local interest from a professional and academic level.  Contacts have naturally led to opportunities in providing seminars for current students. Steve has been a mentor-like figure to his engineering students. He would arrange meetings to discuss their career opportunities and engineering topics from time to time. There is one thing he would like for all his engineers to know, the advantage of getting on the job experience is not only in design, but on hands-on experience with production and lab equipment such as soldering irons, oscilloscopes, machine shop tools, etc. 

Quantum Composers

Over the years Quantum Composers has made a habit of hiring interns and providing opportunities to gain some hands-on experience and occasionally to do senior projects. Steve and the Photonics & Laser Technology Program have been working for a few years trying to get better facilities.

Photonics & Laser Technology Program

The Photonics & Laser Technology Program is part of Gallatin College MSU. Gallatin College MSU is Southwest Montana’s two-year college, offering two-year associate degrees and one-year professional certificates and students have the opportunity to complete the Associate of Applied Science in Photonics and Laser Technology. 

Associate of Applied Science in Photonics and Laser Technology (AAS PLT)

The Associate of Applied Science in Photonics and Laser Technology (AAS PLT) prepares students for entry level employment as a photonics or photonics-related technician for a variety of applications. Students learn the scientific principles, get a better understanding of optics, fiber-optics, and lasers by incorporating these devices in electronic and electro-optics systems. This electronics curriculum is critical to the student’s success in the program and in the industry. Majority of this curriculum is hands-on. Students spend the first year in an electronics lab meanwhile photonics and optics is introduced in the following semester.

Makers Lab: An Informal Solution That Will Work

During a couple discussions with two of his students, Steve asked about the on campus resources that were available. They indicated that there were in fact some resources available but access was limited and it was difficult to use the equipment long term for a larger project. This led to the concept of developing an off campus “Makers Lab”. 

His main focus is to try and locate the perfect space for the lab. He has been gathering equipment as well (thus the request for a BNC Oscilloscope). He has purchased a couple of computers and loaded them with schematic capture and CAD software. Quantum Composers on the other hand, is providing a couple of pulse generators such as the BNC Model 577 and ultimately hopes to provide soldering stations, optical breadboards, simple machine shop tools, etc. in the near future.

An Additional Note: 

Steve is on the Industrial Advisory Board for the Photonics & Laser Technology Program and has a commitment in providing a couple of seminars with topics relating to optical lab procedures and electrical equipment. The BNC oscilloscopes will be the perfect equipment for his discussions. Steve’s goal is to help engineers and technicians understand the general architecture, features and limitations of different instruments. 

With the help and support of Steve and Berkeley Nucleonics, students will be able to better understand their role in the industry.

You can reach Steve Birrell at 406-581-4208.