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Argonne scientists have helped Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry (MSI) create an interactive, online exhibit that allows learning to move from the museum into the classroom.
This joint collaboration produced an online learning experience called "Tales from the Underground," an addition to the museum's "Reusable City" exhibit that shows visitors how the choices people make in their daily lives affect the environment.
Argonne helped develop the original, traditional exhibit, which opened in 1998. To create the interactive, online extension to the exhibit, the museum tapped into the Environmental Assessment Division (EAD) and its capabilities in environmental research and Internet applications. In addition to making the Web site more kid-friendly, specialized maps of 77 Chicago neighborhoods were compiled through the use of the MaD (Maps and Data) browser, according to Robert Johnson (EAD), who worked closely with museum employees on the application of this technology.
"Argonne's EAD has been using the MaD browser for the last several years for characterization and remediation data collected during Department of Defense and Department of Energy site cleanup work," Johnson said. "The browser was used recently in a prototype chemical-biological attack warning system for the Army and as a means for tracking railcars loaded with contaminated soils for the Army Corps of Engineers." Other EAD employees involved with the project were Dave LePoire, Pam Richmond, Kurt Roloff, and Doug Hudson.
"The whole idea of the Lab is to make students feels like they are on a top-secret mission," according to Lynn Gazley, the exhibits project manager at MSI. Students act as "underground agents" and take an undercover look at their neighborhood's water, soil, and air quality.
To participate in the online portion, students collect soil samples from their backyards, guided by a kit available for purchase from MSI. The students enter their results onto the Tales from the Underground Web site, and can share their findings with students in other parts of Chicago. The $10 kit lets students conduct analyses of pH, nitrate, and phosphate, three key elements in determining the health of soil. Although the kits are still under production, there is a waiting list of teachers who want to purchase them, mainly from the Hyde Park area where the kit was originally tested.
Students -- or "underground agents" as the exhibit refers to them -- are able to enter their data on the map using the MaD browser and upload the results to a master database maintained by EAD with museum staff approval. Locations are color-coded based on their pH, nitrate and phosphate levels, and students can add their school if it is not already included.
For more information, send e-mail to underground@ msichicago.org, or call the museum at (773) 684-1414, ext. 2202.
-- Linda Jakubowski
A Service Awards Dinner for Argonne-West employees celebrating 25, 30 and 35 years of service during 1999 will be held Friday, March 17, at the Shilo Inn in Idaho Falls.
A hosted social hour starts at 6:30 p.m. Dinner begins at 7:30 p.m. Invitations will be mailed to employees in February.
A Service Awards Luncheon for employees celebrating 20 years of service during 1999 will be held Friday, Feb. 18, in the Laboratory and Office Building Conference Room, Building 752. Invitations will be mailed in late January or early February.
A new site-wide beverage-container recycling program is under way at Argonne-East.
The new program will allow employees to recycle glass, plastic, metal, aluminum and Styrofoam drink containers by placing their empties in special recycling receptacles.
Under the new program, sponsored by Plant Facilities and Services and Argonne's Pollution Prevention Program, receptacles will be placed in all laboratory buildings during the next two months.
Receptacles and educational posters for the program were purchased through a grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs.
For more information on the beverage container recycling program, call the Pollution Prevention Hotline at ext. 2-1476, the PFS Hotline at ext. 2-2706, or visit the Web site.
Chun-Keung Loong of the Intense Pulsed Neutron Source Division (IPNS) has been elected a fellow of the American Physical Society (APS)
The honor is limited to no more than one half of one percent of the society's membership, and recognizes outstanding contributions to the field of physics. Loong has been a member of the society since 1978.
The society honored Loong for "pioneering work in the development of chopper spectrometers at spallation neutron sources and their exploitation for important problems in materials physics and applied materials science."
Loong has been at Argonne since 1982, first as a postdoctoral fellow at IPNS and now a senior physicist.
IPNS is a national user facility, which has 13 neutron-scattering instruments and facilities for materials research. The neutron source has been in operation since 1981, and its high scientific productivity and cost-effectiveness among Department of Energy neutron sources have been recognized by national and international committees.
Loong has been collaborating with scientists from the United States, Japan and Europe on studies of luminescent materials, high-temperature ceramics, oxide catalysts and proton conductors.
He received Argonne's Pacesetter Award in 1984 and 1996, and has written over 170 articles in various scientific journals.
By cutting back on power use during the hottest days of the summer of 1999, Argonne-East earned $111,125 from ComEd.
Argonne is a member of the Commonwealth Edison Energy Cooperative (CEEC), a group of more than 200 Chicago-area institutions that reduce electrical demand during peak periods. In return, ComEd refunds cooperative members $35 for each kilowatt saved.
The reduced demand cuts pollution, helps the company avoid overtaxing its system and lessens the need to build additional power plants just for peak usage periods.
The laboratory was asked to curtail power three times, for a total of 18 hours. The average load curtailed was 3175 kilowatts. Besides helping earn refund money, the power cutbacks help reduce the lab's overall electric bill.
"By participating in this program, Argonne demonstrates its commitment to the national goal of improving energy efficiency and to taking a leadership role in complying with DOE orders regarding energy efficiency," said Jug Uppal (PFS-FPE), who oversees Argonne's participation in the CEEC.
When ComEd asks the laboratory to reduce power consumption, standby diesel generators augment the laboratory's electricity supply. Lighting is reduced in some areas, and employees are asked to pitch in by turning off unnecessary lights and equipment.
"Everyone at Argonne should be congratulated for helping to make this program a success," Uppal said. "Remember, every little bit of energy saved helps to keep the lab's costs down."
Argonne has been refunded more than $750,000 in its eight years as a member of the CEEC. This year's check was one of the largest the laboratory has received.
Employees can win Integrated Safety Management coffee mugs by answering a short quiz in each special issue ofESH Focus.
Mugs will be awarded to the first 50 employees to complete the quiz and send them by interoffice mail toFocusEditor Eddi Langenberg at mail stop ESH-202, or bring them in person to Building 202, Room E135.
Names of all winners will appear in upcoming issues ofArgonne News.
Winners of the first contest were:
| Ronald Bare, ECT
Tom Barkalow, ESH Mike Bartos, OCF John Benkert, PFS Greg Borland, ESH Barbara Burke, ECT Charles Dickerman, RE Dorland Edgar, ES Bob Ferry, AOD Paul Froehle, RE Paul Ganz, PFS-US Beth Gardner, CMT Irene Ginger, ET Maury Goodman, HEP Gary Griffin, ESH Diana Grygiel, ESH Gary Gunderson, AOD |
Jamie Hase, ES
Dennis Hennebry, PFS Ralph Hinterman, ESH Mary Hodshire, PFS Angela Johnson-Ware, IPD-MED Kennis Kilsdonk, RE Jim Klick, ASD Greg Krumdick, ES Gregg Kulma, ESH Terry Lang, OCF-PIM Qiang'an Li, MSD Nazarali Merchant, CMT Denise Moores, ET Vic Omiecinski, ECT Carol Onik, IA Mary Pietryga, IPD Les Poch, DIS |
Kalimullah, RA
Jeanne Riley, PFS Bonnie Ritchey, MCS Faith Ruppert, RE Susan Rura, CMT Lillian Ruscic, CMT Young S. Park, TD S. D. Shastri, UPD Yong Shin, RE Bob Sommer, PFS-CS Mary Kay Specht, ESH Josh Stein, ASD Cindy Svestka, ES Dave Tolle, ESH Julie Tossing, ESH William Ward, PFS |
A representative from MetLife will visit Argonne-East each Tuesday during February to meet with individual employees for insurance comparisons and quotes for the "METPAY" group automobile and homeowners insurance.
To schedule an appointment, call (630) 810-0346, ext. 143. Before each appointment, employees should fax their auto policy renewal statements to Craig Riddick at (630) 810-1628.
A two-day course on Microsoft Project 98 will be offered Tuesday, Feb. 22 and Feb. 29.
The popular project management software helps users plan budgets and schedules and keeps project team members updated.
Classes will be held in Argonne-East's Building 221, Room A142 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Cost is $390.
The class is sponsored by the Electronics and Communications Technologies Division. Enrollment information can be found here. Cancellation notice is required by Friday, Feb. 4.
Human Resources has scheduled several classes at Argonne-East during February.
To enroll, contact a Training Management System representative. Call Betty Iwan (HR) at ext. 2-3410 for more information, or visit the Human Resources Web site.
Time Management (HR486) will help employees assess
their time management habits and examine the
impact of choice and control. Wednesday, Feb. 2, 1
p.m. - 5 p.m., Building 201, Room 274.
Performance Management (HR561) provides management
skills to more effectively manage, document and
influence the performance of employees. Wednesday,
Feb. 23, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m., Building 201, Room 274.
Desk for Success (HR401) presents six principles
for organizing one's desktop, and covers action
files, rapid mail sorting and personal reference
books. This is a companion course to Win The Paper
Chase, held Jan. 27. Thursday, Feb. 3, 1 p.m. - 5
p.m., Building 201, Room 190.
Certified Professional Secretary Review: Office
Technology (HR330) surveys the impact of
technology on the secretary's role. This course is
one of six courses recommended for those intending
to take the Certified Professional Secretaries
exam. Feb. 9 through March 10, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
in Building 201, Room 238.
