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As we begin 2007, it's
appropriate to reflect on our 2006 experiences and plan for the next 12 months
of fun and adventure! In my effort to really understand the things that matter
most, I''ve started the new year reading "Life's Greatest Lessons". One of
my favorite chapters so far is the one about living by choice, not by chance.
It's a chapter that reminds all of us that our greatest source of strength is
our ability to choose how we live our lives. On that reflective thought, on
behalf of my colleagues at the Laboratory, we wish you a fulfilling
2007.
Lillian
Montoya-Rael
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| From the desk of Michael
Anastasio, LANL Director |
 
The holidays are
traditionally a time to celebrate and reconnect with family and friends, and I
strongly encourage you to take this time to do just that. Relax, be safe, and
start 2007 refreshed and ready to take on the many challenges that lay before
each of us. As for me, I am excited about what lies ahead for the Laboratory and
strongly believe that the best is yet to come.
As we begin this new year,
I'd like you know that Jan Van Prooyen has been appointed as the acting
LANL Deputy Director to replace John Mitchell who retired in December. Jan's
experience includes leading and managing large organizations. From 2003 to 2006,
Jan was the president of Bechtel's Defense and Space Unit. This 5,000-person
organization provided technical services in threat reduction, space and missile
homeland security, chemical demilitarization, and contingency response programs
to government customers. Jan holds a Ph.D. in nuclear engineering from the
University of Virginia and a B.S. in engineering from the U.S. Military Academy,
West Point.
And finally, I encourage
you to take a moment to read my assessment of the last six months at the
Laboratory. It captures my recent update to our employees and I thought it
important to share it with you, our community stakeholders.
Again, I offer my best
wishes for an enjoyable holiday season and an inspiring New
Year.
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| What's the BUZZ?
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Scientists at LANL
are working very closely with those often-feared insects -- bees! These
aren't just any bees, they're bomb-sniffing bees. And they're providing a new
technology that soon could help fight terrorism.
Scientists at LANL say that
bees can be trained like dogs, to react to specific smells. It hasn't been until
recently that there was a practical way to harness individual bees and turn
their reactions to specific scents into signals.
By studying and training
bees, members of the Los Alamos Stealthy Insect Sensor Project team have
been able to harness the honeybee�s exceptional olfactory sense by using the
bees� natural reaction to nectar, a proboscis extension reflex (sticking out
their tongue) to record an unmistakable response to a scent.
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| Nambe Pueblo
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The Department of Energy
has extended through 2011 a contract with Nambe Pueblo to support safety and
emergency preparedness associated with shipments to the Waste Isolation Pilot
Plant (WIPP) near Carlsbad.
After the completion of the
contract, the pueblo will have received about half a million dollars. The
pueblo is contracted to use the funding to carry out accident prevention,
emergency response and preparedness and public information activities associated
with the shipment of transuranic waste to WIPP.
Congratulations to Nambe
Pueblo for thier efforts to secure and retain this
procurement.
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| The Finest Nine
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Nine of LANL's own
scientists have been selected as new Fellows of the American Physical
Society. This is the highest number recognized from Los Alamos in a single
year. The award recognizes their extraordinary efforts in physics.
The scientists named are:
George "Rusty" Gray of Structure and Property Relations, Neil Harrison
of the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Michael Fitzsimmons
of the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center, Robert Hixson of Shock and
Detonation Physics, Philipp Kronberg of the Institute of Geophysics and
Planetary Physics, Michael Nastasi of the Center for Integrated
Nanotechnologies, Eddy Timmersmans of Atomic and Optical Theory,
Arthur Voter of Theoretical Chemistry and Molecular Physics, Brenda
Dingus of Neutron Science and Technology.
Only one half to one
percent of the total American Physical Society membership is elected to be a
Fellow.
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| Wheels of Science
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You may arrive home from
work one day and have your children tell you that they dissected cow eyes or
learned how flies are able to move so fast. No need to be alarmed, it's all part
of the activities offered to regional schools by the Bradbury
Science Museum's Science on Wheels Program. As part of the Community
Programs Office outreach efforts, the Museum's science educators visit
various elementary schools in northern New Mexico at least three times a week to
teach students about science.
So far, a total of
thirty-two schools have been visited. Schools are also encouraged to visit the
Museum and participate in Museum Explorations. This program allows
students to see exhibits displayed at the museum and take part in various
hands-on activities.
The Museum is part of the
Community Programs Office and is open 10 a.m - 5 p.m. Tuesday through
Saturday and from 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday and Monday.
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| Vecinos Volunteer
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A grant in the amount of
$1,000 was presented to the Los
Alamos Retired and Senior Organization in honor of Bill Todd. This is
because Bill received the "Vecinos" (spanish for neighbors) award for his
outstanding volunteer work especially in helping run the White Rock Senior
Center. He serves on the Center's steering committee and was the chairman of the
organization's board of directors for three years. He also volunteers for the
Laboratory Retiree Group and Wildlife Center.
The recipient of the
"Vecinos" award is able to select the non-profit organization that will receive
the grant.
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| Community Calendar
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