FINAL EXAM — For the final test of the Radioactive Dispersal Device training at Argonne-West, radioactive sources are hidden in various locations in the site’s facilities. Trainees must find and characterize all of the materials.

ANL-W provides unique `dirty bomb' training

By Dave Jacqué

They're informally known as "weapons of mass disruption." A radiological dispersal device (RDD), or "dirty bomb," uses a conventional explosive to loft radioactive materials — which could range from smuggled plutonium to contaminated hospital waste — over a large area. The RDD itself may not produce much more than a loud bang; but a terrorist armed with such a device is capable of causing a large-scale panic and rendering an area of several city blocks uninhabitable.

Experts in the Department of Defense and other federal agencies are trained to deal with nuclear weapons, but until recently had few opportunities to learn to detect and characterize RDDs. Through a contract with the federal Defense Threat Reduction Agency, a wing of the Defense Department, Argonne-West is now supplying "hands-on" training for teams from various organizations.

"Most of these people have a lot of background in explosives," said Jennifer Turnage (NT-AW), who coordinates the training. "We give them the background on radioactive materials."

Argonne-West is the ideal training ground: a secure site, complete with five decades of experience in radiation physics, detector use and development, and expertise in handling and characterizing radioactive materials. The site has a wide variety of materials that are potential RDD payloads. The training program is an outgrowth of Argonne's involvement in the Domestic Nuclear Event Attribution Program. In the event that a radiological weapon is detonated, Argonne has the lead for the "forensics" — the chemical and isotopic analysis of material used and determining its origin.

So far, six teams have taken the training, 11 teams are scheduled for 2004, and dozens more may be trained in 2005. Future training classes will include members of the National Guard Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Teams who support state emergency response organizations, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the U.S. Coast Guard.

Six to eight people participate in each five-day course, which starts with lectures on potential RDD materials, radiation physics and the use of various detectors. Trainees spend a lot of time at the Transient Reactor Test Facility to give them a first-hand look at the shielding and other safeguards required when dealing with radioactive materials. They learn to identify the types of materials that may be used in RDDs, like radioactive cesium and cobalt, and waste drums filled with typical waste materials.

"We spend a lot of time with extremely high-dose sources," said Kevin Carney (NT-AW), the program's technical lead. "Trainees learn to characterize the contents of containers that may hold RDD materials. That's at the heart of what they're trying to do in the field — getting a picture of what they're dealing with."

In the final test, radioactive sources are hidden in various locations in Argonne-West facilities. Trainees must find and characterize all of the materials.

"This is the only training program in the nation where we put people in front of real, live stuff," Carney said.

For more information on RDD materials training at Argonne-West, call program director Richard McKnight at ext. 2-6088 or rdmcknight@anl.gov.

6 senior scientists named to lab's
top scientific rank

Six Argonne scientists have been named Senior Scientist-710, the top scientific rank at the laboratory.

The 710 designation is awarded as the hallmark of a distinguished scientific career. Nominations of scientists proposed for that honor must survive an especially detailed review process. Typically, more than a year passes before a nomination is acted upon.

Scientists promoted to 710 during the past year are:

Sam Bader, a senior physicist and scientific director of Argonne's Center for Nanoscale Materials. He is widely known for his work in magnetic surfaces, films and superlattices. He has co-authored more than 270 publications and is one of the most cited physicists worldwide. Bader received his Ph.D. in physics from the University of California at Berkeley. He joined Argonne in 1975 as a post-doctoral fellow.

Bader is a fellow of the American Physical Society and of the American Vacuum Society. He is an editor of the Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials and an associate editor of Applied Physics Letters.

Kwang-Je Kim is associate division director for research in the Accelerator Systems Division at the Advanced Photon Source. In that position, he conducts his own research and oversees the research in the Accelerator Systems Division on principles and development of advanced accelerators. Kim received a Ph.D. in physics from University of Maryland in 1970 and joined Argonne in 1998 as associate division director of the Accelerator Systems Division. He also holds a joint appointment as professor of physics at the University of Chicago.

Kim has published more than 180 professional papers. He is a fellow of the American Physical Society.

Jerry Nolen, director of Argonne's ATLAS research facility. ATLAS (the Argonne Tandem-Linac Accelerator System) is the world's first superconducting accelerator for particles heavier than the electron. Nolen received the Ph.D. in physics from Princeton University, and joined Argonne in 1992 after teaching physics at Princeton, the University of Maryland, and Michigan State University.

Nolen is also technical director of Argonne's development of the Rare Isotope Accelerator project, a $1 billion device to be built by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Nolen is a fellow of the American Physical Society.

Marion Thurnauer, a senior scientist in Argonne's Chemistry Division. She conducts research into photochemical energy conversion in natural and artificial photosynthesis. Thurnauer has published 125 professional papers, holds three patents, has served on numerous review panels and committees, has received several awards and honors, and is a member of several professional societies, including the American Chemical Society and the Association for Women in Science.

She has been an active member of Argonne's Women in Science and Technology program, and one of the founders of the laboratory's annual conference for female high school students, Science Careers in Search of Women.

David Wade is a senior technical advisor in Argonne's Engineering Research Directorate. He conducts research into advanced nuclear energy systems with the goal of providing sustainable, environmentally compatible global energy supplies. He is a Fellow of the American Nuclear Society.

Wade has published more than 100 professional papers, holds several patents, and has contributed to several major research projects, including Argonne's next-generation nuclear energy concept, the Integral Fast Reactor. He recently has championed applications of nuclear energy for production of hydrogen to achieve a carbon-emissions-free energy source for transportation.

Albert Wagner, a theoretical chemist in Argonne's Chemistry Division, conducts research into chemical dynamics in the gas phase.

He has published 116 professional papers and has contributed to several major research projects, including groundbreaking work in the reaction between oxygen and hydrogen. Recently, Wagner was a key player in a multi-laboratory effort that combined state-of-the-art experimental and theoretical techniques to provide a definitive determination of the heat of formation of the hydroxyl (OH) radical and a new and precise measurement of the gas-phase bond dissociation energy of water.

Lab director to present
`State of the Laboratory'

Argonne Director Hermann Grunder will present a "State of the Laboratory" address for all employees Friday, March 26, at 2 p.m.

Grunder will speak in the Building 402 Conference Center. Live video of the address will be broadcast to the auditoriums in buildings 203 and 362, and to the Laboratory and Office Building Conference Room at Argonne-West.

All employees whose schedules permit are invited to attend. Shuttle bus service will be provided from the east area, Building 900, the 300 area and Buildings 200, 201, 202, 203, 205, 208, 212, 222 and 223.

Researchers to discuss LDRD work

A mini-symposium on the results of Laboratory-Directed Research and Development (LDRD) projects will be held from 2 - 3:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 23, in Argonne-East's Building 201, Conference Room 190A and B.

Topics include:

"Designer Antibodies and Interaction Mapping" by Brian Kay (BIO)

"Nano-Architecture from the Bio-System: Fabrication, Assembly and Function" by Liaohai Chen (BIO)

"Prokaryotic Simulation System: Computational Biology and Bioinformatics — The Science Drivers for PXRF" by Ed Frank (MCS)

"Production of Hydrogen Gas from Hydrogen Sulfide" by Greg Krumdick (ES)

"Isobaric Mass Separation and the Beam Properties Extracted from a RIA Type Gas Catcher" by Guy Savard (PHY)

"Linear Collider R&D: High-Brightness Electron Sources" by Wei Gai (HEP)

Argonne communication efforts
win big in competition

Argonne graphic designers, photographers, writers and editors have received 24 awards in the Society for Technical Communication (STC) 2003-2004 Chicago-area competition.

The STC, a 25,000-member professional association dedicated to advancing the arts and sciences of technical communication, holds an annual competition to honor the work of communications professionals. Over the past 20 years, Argonne has had a remarkable track record of awards at these competitions, with numerous publications and graphics recognized at regional and international levels.

This year, Argonne communication efforts have maintained that tradition at the regional level by winning three awards at the distinguished level — the highest award in any individual category. Projects receiving distinguished awards are eligible for additional awards in STC's international competition.

Jane Andrew (AOD) won a distinguished award for her work on a contact and information directory for the Advanced Photon Source — the nation's most brilliant source of X-rays. "The concept and organization are as brilliant as the subject matter," the judges wrote in response to Andrew's publication. "An enormous amount of information is conveyed quickly and easily."

Paul Boisvert and George Joch (both IPD) each carried off one distinguished award in addition to a slew of compliments from their judges. Boisvert, who was recognized for his article "Shining Light on a New Gene Therapy," received praise for writing an "elegant piece" that offered "high accessibility to an extremely complex topic." Judges were equally impressed by Joch's photograph "Laser Magic," which was honored for its "superior quality of lighting — one that brings forth overtly the feeling of excitement associated with the subject matter."

Several Argonne communication products won excellence awards in the Chicago-area competition:

Wes Agresta and George Joch (both IPD) received excellence awards for their photographs. Agresta was recognized for "J.S. Jiang Portrait" and "Tuff Cell," and Joch for "Nanolight" and "Spent Nuclear Fuel Test."

Cindi Andersen (IPD) received an excellence award for the cover design to "Basic Research Needs for the Hydrogen Economy." Other design awards include Frank Emge (IPD), for his illustration of "Hydrogen and Electricity from Integrated Coal Gasification Combined Cycle," and Sana Sandler and Kevin Brown (both IPD), for designing the Argonne Counterintelligence logo.

Evelyn Brown, David Baurac (both C&PA) and Judi Damm (IPD) won an excellence award for Frontiers 2003, Argonne's annual research highlights publication. Brown and Baurac also received the same honor for logos, a magazine about Argonne research.

Dann Sarro and Floyd Bennett (both IPD) received an excellence award for "Nuclear Power Development Timeline." Sarro also won an excellence award for his physical research exhibit, which was displayed at the Illinois State Fair.

In the Online Communications: Technical Marketing category, Paul Boisvert and Cheryl Drugan (both IPD) won an excellence award for their "Office of Technology Transfer: Online Interviews." Frank Emge (IPD) was also honored in this category for his "Introduction to Slurry Injection Technology."

The STC also awarded eight awards of merit to other IPD-assisted projects.

Podolski's efforts in automotive
research recognized

The United States Council for Automotive Research (USCAR) has recognized Argonne's Walter Podolski (CMT) for his exceptional efforts in supporting the collaboration of USCAR and the FreedomCAR Partnership.

Podolski, a chemical engineer in Argonne's Electrochemical Technology Program, has worked with FreedomCAR's Fuel Cell Technical Team for the past five years, providing analysis and technical support for projects dealing with fuel cells and the hydrogen that will be needed to fuel them.

The Fuel Cell Technical Team is one of several FreedomCAR teams comprising industry and government representatives. Fellow team members selected Podolski to receive this award, which was presented at the FreedomCAR All-Tech-Team Meeting in Troy, Michigan.

Among the accomplishments cited in the award were his contributions to the Fuel Cell Power Systems Roadmap update, now nearing completion, and his work on the Hydrogen Storage Technical Team.

The FreedomCAR Partnership focuses government support on fundamental, high-risk research that applies to multiple-passenger vehicles and emphasizes the development of fuel cells and hydrogen infrastructure technologies. USCAR is the umbrella organization of DaimlerChrysler, Ford and General Motors, formed in 1992 to further strengthen the technology base of the domestic auto industry through cooperative, pre-competitive research.

Argonne's Electrochemical Technology Program includes transportation-related work on the development, analysis and evaluation of fuel cells and advanced lithium batteries. The work is done under the U.S. Department of Energy's FreedomCAR and Hydrogen Fuel Initiatives.

Leipzig String Quartet to play
at Argonne-East April 4

The Leipzig String Quartet will perform at Argonne-East's Building 402 Conference Center Sunday, April 4, at 3 p.m.

The quartet will perform compositions by Mendelssohn, Beethoven and Brahms.

The concert is open to the public. Visitors who are U.S. citizens need photo identification to enter the site and should call to register before the concert. Non-U.S. citizens must register before the event by calling (630) 252-3751 during business hours.

Sponsored by Arts at Argonne, the program is partially supported by the University of Chicago and the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

Admission is $25. To order tickets, call ext. 2-3751 or mail a request using the online ticket request form. Remaining tickets will be available the week of March 27 in the Building 213 Cafeteria between noon and 1 p.m.

Rube Goldberg machine to be demonstrated

The winner of Argonne's Rube Goldberg machine contest for Chicago-area high schools will receive their first-place trophy and demonstrate their winning machine at noon Wednesday, March 31, in Argonne-East's Building 213 Cafeteria.

Morgan Park Academy defeated 10 other Chicago-area high schools, Feb. 13, at Navy Pier by building the best, most-reliable machine to select, mark and cast an election ballot in 20 or more steps.

Morgan Park will compete for the 2004 Illinois state championship against five other Illinois high schools Saturday, April 17, at the Chicago Children's Museum on Navy Pier.

Argonne's Educational Programs and Communications and Public Affairs divisions sponsored the February contest in collaboration with Chicago Children's Museum, and the National Rube Goldberg Machine Contest, held annually at Purdue University. The Illinois state championship is co-sponsored by the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Both contests are licensed by Rube Goldberg Inc.

Polls open for Argonne Club board election

The Argonne Club is holding an online election to fill two open board member positions.

The election will run through Friday, April 9. There are three candidates. The two candidates with the most votes will serve on the board until 2006.

To vote or for more details see www.argonneclub.anl.gov.

New publications available for free trial via AIM

Journal Citation Reports and the Essential Science Indicators of the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) are available to Argonne employees via the Argonne Information Management System through Wednesday, March 31.

Journal Citation Reports ranks journals based upon impact factors, article counts and immediacy factors, providing users with an objective method for evaluating a particular journal's relative importance. Essential Science Indicators helps users analyze research performance of institutions worldwide, identify key scientific findings and determine research output and impact in specific fields of research.

Employees at any location with access to the Argonne intranet can access both products at www.aim.anl.gov by clicking on the "Free Trial" message.

Questions regarding searching these and other Argonne-licensed ISI products can be directed to any Argonne librarian or to the Ask an Argonne Librarian service at www.aim.anl.gov/askalib.

These products are being evaluated as possible Argonne-East library subscriptions for 2004. Reactions to this product and comments about their usefulness to research at the laboratory can be directed to Yvette Woell (IPD) at ext. 2-4275.

Network managers focus on capability, reliability

Computer network managers and all interested employees are invited to attend the next meeting of the Network Managers' Working Group Thursday, March 25, from 9-11 a.m. The hosted reception will be held at the Argonne Guest House and will focus and foster "people networking" activities, with members of the core networking section as well as with the network managers within each division.

The Network Managers' Working Group seeks to enhance the capability and reliability of the laboratory's network infrastructure. Through this group, information is exchanged and disseminated, planning is done between the divisions and core networking and operational contacts are established to allow divisions to quickly and efficiently resolve technical issues.

This group's participation will be imperative to maintaining seamless, non-disruptive interaction between the divisional local area networks, the wireless network infrastructure, the campus network infrastructure, and wide area network connections.

Representatives are typically appointed by a division director, but the meetings are open to anyone with an interest. All employees are welcome to join the mailing list (anl-net-mgr@anl.gov) and attend the meetings, generally held on the last Thursday of each month from 9-11 a.m.

For more information, contact Scott Pinkerton (CIS) at ext. 2-9770 or pinkerton@anl.gov.

Applications for MBA are due March 26

Applications are now being accepted for the 2004 University of Chicago Executive Master's of Business Administration Program. This year Argonne management will select one employee to participate in this program, offered through the university's Graduate School of Business.

Applications may be obtained online or by calling the Human Resources Performance Development section at ext. 2-3410. The deadline for returning completed applications to Human Resources is Friday, March 26.

This program is designed for middle and upper-level managers who are expected to retain full job responsibilities while attending classes in advanced studies in management every other Friday and Saturday beginning in July. The entire program spans 20 months.

Each applicant is asked to have a reference letter from his or her current division director. Call Geralyn Becker (HR) at ext. 2-3410 for more information.

Retirement vendors to visit ANL-E

The laboratory's retirement vendors will send representatives to Argonne-East during April. To schedule an appointment, call the number listed.

Fidelity — Tuesday, April 6, and Tuesday, April 20. Call the appointment desk at (800) 642-7131.

Prudential — Wednesday, April 7, and Wednesday, April 21. Call Cheryl at (847) 619-3519.

TIAA-CREF — Thursday, April 29, and Friday, April 30. Call the appointment desk at (800) 842-2005.

RETIREES

Gary A. Odell (FAC) retired Feb. 16 with 40 years of service.

Sandra L. Peterson (NPS) retired Jan. 30 with 14 years of service.

Christine E. Ward (ERA) retired Jan. 30 with 19 years of service.

Charles E. Wood (PFS) retired Feb. 20 with 13 years of service.

CIS Classes

Classes offered by Computing and Instrumentation Solutions are held in Argonne-East's Building 201, Room 167. Unless otherwise specified, class sizes are limited to eight participants and cost $215. Complete computer class descriptions, schedules and enrollment forms are available online.

For information about enrollment, contact Diane Cavazos (CIS) at ext. 2-7153 or dkcavazos@anl.gov.

April classes include:

"Introduction to Word 2000" (CIS100) — Thursday, April 1, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

"Introduction to Excel 2000" (CIS101) — Friday, April 2, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

"Introduction to Access 2000" (CIS102) — Monday, April 5, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

"Introduction to PowerPoint 2000" (CIS106) — Tuesday, April 6, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

"Advanced to PowerPoint 2000" (CIS107) — Wednesday, April 7, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

UNIX classes

"Beginning Unix" (CIS564) —Tuesday, April 27, 9 a.m. - noon and Thursday, April 29, 9 a.m. _ noon.

"vi Editor in Unix" (CIS567) — Friday, April 30, 9 a.m. - noon.

County offers recycling for auto products

Someone has been leaving used automotive products at the Argonne Service Station. The station does not accept used motor oil or other products for recycling.

DuPage County has a drop-off facility at Fire Station No. 4, 1971 Brookdale Road, Naperville. The facility is open Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., excluding holidays. More information is online.

Double Eagles preparing for '04 golf season

The Double Eagle Golf League will hold a pre-season kick-off meeting at 11:30 a.m. Friday, March 26, in Argonne-East's Building 402, Conference Room E1100.

The golf league is a nine-hole league that plays Wednesday afternoons starting April 14 at the Village Greens in Woodridge, on 75th Street west of Lemont Road. All employees, contractors, family and friends are welcome to join.

For more information, contact Richard Rosenberg (XFD) at ext. 2-6112.

In Memoriam

Emma L. Berrill, a retired senior secretary with 7 years of service in the Chemical Technology Division, died Nov. 2. Her sister, Marilyn, survives her.

Dan Damrow, a retired senior engineering technician with 20 years of service in the Accelerator Research Facilities, died Jan. 4. His daughter, Alice Caha, survives him.

Fred Iwami, a retired scientific associate with 33 years of service in the Occupational Health and Safety Division, died Feb. 14. His wife, Jean, and sons survive him.

Manuel Kanter, a retired program leader with 40 years of service in the Division of Educational Programs, died Feb. 6. His wife, Ruth Klain, survives him.

Donald G. Miskelly, a retired model fabricator with 34 years of service in the Central Shops Division, died Jan. 20. His daughter, Peggy Aiello, survives him.

Emily Nowicki, a retired clerk senior with 12 years of service in the Plant Facilities and Services Division, died Feb. 19. Her husband, Edward, and sons, Philip and Gregory, survive her.

William B. Oglesby, a retired stock handler with 34 years of service in the Plant Facilities and Service Division, died Feb. 7. His wife, Dezoree, survives him.

Guest House will host dinner event

The Argonne Guest House Restaurant is hosting a "Taste of Two Islands" reception and dinner Friday, April 16. The reception will begin at 5:30 p.m.

The meal will include five courses each served with two wines. Entrees will include such items as grilled quail and seared beef tenderloin.

The event costs $68 per person not including tax and gratuity; group rates are available. Dinner attendees can purchase wine by the bottle or the case.

For more information or to make a reservation, contact Kathy at (630) 739-6000.