Chi-Chang's Corner

25th Anniversary Highlights NSLS History

December 6, 2007

Chi-Chang Kao
NSLS Department Chair
kao@bnl.gov

Archives:
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007

On November 22, 2007, we marked the 25th anniversary of the NSLS dedication. The history of this facility can teach us many lessons: resourcefulness in the face of a tight budget, ingenuity when things don't turn out as planned, and a devotion to scientific and technical excellence. The tumultuous start to the NSLS eventually gave way to what we have today – one of the world’s most productive and cost-effective user facilities. Thank you to the leaders of our past and those who continue to guide us into the future.

As you are probably aware, we are currently operating under a continuing resolution while Congress works on a bill that requires the trimming of scientific appropriations bills approved in the summer. As a result, the slated $700 million increase for the Department of Energy's Office of Science is in serious jeopardy. In addition to coordinating visits to congressional members in their home districts, the Synchrotron and Neutron Users' Group (SNUG) is asking facility users across the country to email their local elected officials about how this action could hurt basic energy science research. I also encourage you to take a few minutes and do so.

The next Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) meeting will be held on December 13-14. The main agenda items are NSLS to NSLS-II transition planning and the discussion of major initiatives, including upgrades of beamlines X18A (chemical sciences), X21 (materials science), X17 (earth/materials science), and the possibility of building out X5 (life sciences). We'll also discuss the upcoming triennial beamline reviews with the SAC. Participating Research Teams will be informed shortly about specific review times and expectations.

As a follow-up to the Integrated Safety Management audit, we have begun to reorganize set-up laboratories. A group has been formed to work with the Laboratory Stewards and will start by clearing out unnecessary equipment and materials from each laboratory. When complete, all the laboratories will be reorganized, "safety envelopes" defining allowed procedures and control requirements will be written for each, and continuing review and oversight of laboratory operations will be led by the Laboratory Stewards with support from the Environment, Safety and Health (ESH) staff. This is an important effort and I look forward to more efficient and safe use of the laboratories. I'd also like to welcome Lori Stiegler to the NSLS as our new ESH Coordinator. Lori has worked in various ESH positions on site for many years and brings useful experience to the NSLS. She will support the department ESH programs and represent our interests within the Laboratory ESH community.

Projects undertaken during the winter shutdown are going well and we expect that operations will be brought back online as scheduled: January 9 for the VUV ring and January 17 for the X-ray ring. In addition to routine and preventative maintenance work, the major upgrade projects are mostly associated with the new mini-gap undulator (MGU) and front end for the X9 small-angle x-ray scattering beamline. The largest of the projects is the installation of a new pick-up electrode in the ring vacuum chamber upstream of the X9 MGU, to be used for the active interlock protection of the ring chamber and front-end components from the powerful MGU beam.

I hope everyone has a very happy and safe holiday season.