IGPP director candidate Mathez speaks at the Laboratory
Edmond Mathez of the Department of Earth and Planetary Science at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, is one of five candidates to become director of the Laboratory's Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics. Mathez spoke Tuesday in the J. Robert Oppenheimer Study Center. At 8:30 this morning, William Leeman of the Department of Earth Science at Rice University, will speak on "How Subduction Zones Work." The talk is in the Superconductivity Technology Center large conference room 134 at Technical Area 3. All the IGPP director candidate presentations are open to Lab workers. For more information, see the Feb. 1 Daily Newsbulletin. Photo by LeRoy N. Sanchez, Public Affairs
Diversity consultant West to lead four
training sessons at the Lab
Diversity consultant and trainer Roland West is returning to the Lab later this month to teach a class related to diversity. The training sessions are designed for supervisors and managers, but are open to all interested employees.
The first session is from 1 to 5 p.m., Feb. 13 in room 165 of the Canyon School Complex on Central Avenue.
Additional sessions - the material is the same in all the sessons - are scheduled for 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m., Feb. 14, and 8 a.m. to noon on Feb. 15. These sessions also are in room 165 of the Canyon School complex. There is no cost to attend the training sessions.
"Leading a Diverse Work force" will examine several issues, said Dwight Herrera of the Laboratory's Diversity (DVO) Office, which is sponsoring the training.
He said the class will include a module on defining diversity where managers and supervisors will be led through a process that allows them to collectively define diversity so that they can better understand the challenges of creating a healthier, multicultural, dual-gender environment.
The class also includes a "diversity debate" whereby participants will debate whether diversity strengthens or weakens the Laboratory. "The debate process will be designed to help participants better understand the advantages of diversity if [it is] effectively managed," said Herrera.
The training also will focus on effectively leading a diverse work force. Participants will be asked to identify the steps and actions that must be identified and taken for Laboratory leadership to effectively lead in a diverse organization. "Each participant will develop a personal action plan designed to help him or her more effectively manage and lead in the Laboratory's increasingly diverse work environment," Herrera said.
To register for the training, go to the Virtual Training Center on the Laboratory Web page and click on "Training" or go to http://www.hr.lanl.gov/TIOCourses/TIOaha.asp?Coursenumber=22242 online, or to the Diversity (DVO) Office Web page at http://www.lanl.gov/orgs/dvo/ online.
Lisa Gutierrez, DVO director, recently wrote a master management memo on the diversity training. To read the memo, click here.
A one-time professional basketball player with the former Baltimore Bullets, West is owner of Roland D. West diversity consulting in Cincinnati.
His company provides training and consulting service to public and private institutions that endeavor to create a healthy, multicultural, diverse work environment. "Our approach is to help organizations move from a 'have to' to a 'want to' attitude in dealing with diversity issues," said West. "For an organization to create a 'want to' culture, it must help its employees become more effective managing their attitudes and behaviors."
For more information, contact Herrera of DVO at 7-5665.
--Steve Sandoval
Exercise caution when
planning unofficial travel
Several Laboratory employees recently have expressed concern to Internal Security (ISEC) about unofficial trips to countries on the Department of Energy's list of "Sponsors of Terrorism."
The DOE list consists of the following countries: Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Sudan and Syria. While not on the list, Afghanistan certainly should also be considered a sponsor of terrorism while deciding where to travel, according to ISEC.
United States law normally prohibits such travel, but there are some exemptions for travel associated with professional research and conference attendance, academic exchange, official U.S. government business, humanitarian visits for close family, journalists, amateur and semi-professional athletes. None of these exemptions cover tourist travel or research stemming from personal interests.
"Aside from the legality of travel to these countries, there are security and counterintelligence concerns for any Los Alamos employee undertaking such travel," said Ken Schiffer, director of ISEC. "Laboratory affiliation is, in any case, of great interest to the very active intelligence services of these foreign governments."
Since the U.S. has no direct diplomatic relations with many of these countries, American citizens traveling there have no diplomatic recourse should any traveler experience unfavorable incidents or events, according to Schiffer.
The Laboratory cannot prohibit personal travel to these countries. Any employee considering such travel is encouraged to talk to an ISEC representative before departing and be aware of the potential counterintelligence and personal security issues which might affect the traveler's decision.
For more information, contact the ISEC Office at 5-6090.
--Kevin N. Roark
 |
Latest Laboratory News Letter is now available The latest issue of the Los Alamos News Letter is scheduled to appear in mailboxes and newstands today. This issue features the Postdoctoral Award Program, profiles several students and also contains an editorial by Science and Technology Base (STB) Programs Office Leader Allen Hartford, previous published in the Actinide Research Quarterly, on the importance of students to the Laboratory, the state and nation. There also is an article about the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000 administered by the Department of Labor. Newsmakers feature Chuck Montaño, new chairperson of the state's Hispano Roundtable; Richard Mah, champion for Hispanic issues and initiatives; and Larry Witt and Dan Varley, recently named Engineering Sciences and Applications (ESA) Division deputy leaders. Laboratory workers can access the Los Alamos News Letter on the Web at http://www.lanl.gov/worldview/news/LANL/020702.pdf online, or they can obtain additional copies at the bright blue distribution boxes. Organizations receiving too many or too few L.A.N.L.s, can call the mailroom at 7-4166. |
February issue of Personal Best is now online
The February edition of Personal
Best, the health and wellness newsletter, is now available
online.
February is American Heart Month. Cardiovascular disease continues
to be the number one killer of Americans. This month, readers
will learn how to reduce heart disease risk through physical activity
and stress reduction. Elevated triglycerides (fat in the bloodstream)
also may increase heart disease risk and are discussed in the
"Expert Advice" section of this month's issue.
If a heart attack should strike be prepared by reviewing the heart attack symptoms listed in the "Health Care" section.
Warming up cold winter days with a healthy bowl of soup is the topic of the "Nutrition" section. The recipe of the month is black bean escarole soup.
Also in this issue: winter workout tips, suggestions for improving communication with health care providers, symptoms of thyroid disorder and screening guidelines, an alcohol drinking checklist to complete and seven parental expectations of a child care service. Also, read about considerations for online diet programs, a quiz on water, carbohydrates lessons and the five signs of good mental health.
Personal Best is provided for Laboratory personnel by the Positive Health Directions program, part of Occupational Medicine (ESH-2) and Compensation and Benefits (HR-1). The hardcopy Body Bulletin, Safety Check Solutions and the online Personal Best are published by Scott Publishing in Edmonds, Wash. They replace the Wellstreet Journal formerly published by ESH-2 and the Positive Health Directions hardcopy newsletter.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Operated by the University of California for the National Nuclear Security Administration, of the US Department of Energy. |
Mesa Public Library hosts New Mexico
library roundtable
