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The U.S. Department of Energy's advanced nuclear power research will be consolidated at Argonne-West and the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, the U.S. Department of Energy site in southeastern Idaho where Argonne-West is located.
The two laboratories "will be the centerpiece of DOE's efforts to broaden the role of nuclear energy in our nation's energy future," U.S. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham said at a July 15 town meeting in Idaho Falls. The laboratories "will be the central command center for the federal government's Generation IV nuclear systems research."
Generation IV nuclear energy systems will feature improved economics, safety, reliability and sustainability. They could be deployed commercially by 2030.
"It makes tremendous sense for the United States to maintain a strong role for nuclear energy," Abraham said. "We want to see existing nuclear plants remain online for their full life expectancy, and we want to see new plants built."
Managerial responsibility for the INEEL site will shift from DOE's Environmental Management Office to its Nuclear Energy Office. Argonne-West is already managed by that office and shares joint and cooperative programs with INEEL.
"We are still going to continue to work to clean up the legacy of the Cold War weapons production," Abraham said, referring primarily to nuclear weapons waste stored at INEEL, "but at the same time our nuclear energy work will take on an increasingly dominant role."
In addition to Generation IV research, INEEL will take on the Idaho Advanced Fuel Cycle Technology Initiative, a new national security program aimed at transforming and optimizing the management of spent nuclear fuel. INEEL will develop advanced fuel transportation systems and practices capable of withstanding not just accidents but also sabotage or assault by terrorists.
A new program at Argonne allows university students, along with their professors, to work with scientists on cutting-edge research.
The goal of the Faculty and Student Teams (FaST) program is to foster collaboration between faculty and Argonne scientists. The program provides hands-on research projects for students to encourage them to pursue careers in science and technology.
This new initiative represents a partnership between the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science and the National Science Foundation.
The program is primarily aimed at faculty and student teams from small undergraduate institutions and research institutions serving large populations of groups historically under-represented in the fields of science, engineering and technology.
"I'm hoping to broaden my skills and knowledge in the field of biology, particularly molecular biology," said Jasmin Feimster, a participant from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NCAT).
Harold Myron, director of the Division of Educational Programs, said FaST cultivates relationships between the students and faculty, as well as the schools and the laboratory.
"With their research," he said, "the faculty gets enhanced, the students get enhanced, and maybe if they're lucky they can continue their research at home during the school year. This benefits the faculty, the students, the school, Argonne, DOE and the National Science Foundation."
This summer there are three teams at Argonne. A team from NCAT, headed by Mary Smith, collaborates with Darrell Chandler (ES). They are using bioinformatics and biochip technology to develop a biochip that allows the simultaneous detection of at least six viruses. They will use the chip to study patterns of viral infection in various plant hosts.
"Our team is looking forward to gaining hands-on experiences in the Biochip Laboratory," Smith said. "The biochip represents cutting-edge technology for biological research."
Another team from Pace University in New York City, headed by Dennis Anderson, is collaborating with Gregor von Laszewski (MCS). They are using Java to create software for the Grid, a distributed computing collaboration and data-handling infrastructure that connects geographically dispersed computing resources.
The final team, from Chicago State University, is headed by Jacques Richard and is collaborating with Paul Fischer (MCS). They are working to further develop NeK5000, a code used for simulation of fluid flow in a broad range of applications, from reactor cooling to blood flow. The team is investigating extensions to this code that will allow simulation of flow in situations where the vessel wall is moving.
FaST enables students to use advanced instrumentation that may not be available to them at their universities.
"The program allows me to experience some state-of-the-art technology that I may not have access to as an undergraduate at my university," said Rakisha Nicholson, a participant from NCAT.
Linda Phaire-Washington, senior program leader in DEP, agreed with Nicholson. "The FaST program gives participants an opportunity to be on the ground floor of new ideas and exciting projects," she said. "It involves them in a highly interactive and stimulating immersion experience in research, and it's an opportunity to add to the diversity of the science and engineering workforce. We are very excited about the long-term implications for FaST."
-- Katie Williams
A mini-symposium on the results of Laboratory- Directed Research and Development (LDRD) projects will be held at 2 - 4 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 6, in Argonne-East's Building 402, Conference Room E1100.
The LDRD program funds creative and innovative research and development at Argonne. Selection of the projects is the responsibility of the laboratory director.
Projects to be covered will include:
"Diffraction of Ultrashort XFEL Pulses
by Perfect Crystals" by Sarvjit Shastri (XFD)
"MEMS-based Instruments for Basic
Research Applications" by Goran Karapetrov (MSD)
"Genetic Events Leading to the
Induction and Execution of Programmed Cell Death" by Eliezer Huberman (BTC)
"Polymeric Platforms for Molecular
Trafficking and Targeting" by Millicent Firestone (MSD)
"Neutrino Factory Initiative at
Argonne" by Maury Goodman (HEP)
"Investigate Systems-Related Concepts
for a High-Temperature, HLMC-Cooled Reactor and Develop Basic Experimental Capabilities Supporting
HLMC Reactor Concepts" by James Sienicki (RAE)
"Nanophontonics" by Michael Pellin
(MSD)
Argonne-East's 3-on-3 All-Star basketball game, held July 17, pitted team "New School," comprising younger employees, against team "Old School," a more "seasoned" group. Youth beat experience 41-29 during the competition, which marked the 10th anniversary of Argonne's 3-on-3 Roundball Tournament.
"The old-timers just ran out of steam," said Leon Reed (HEP), a player for team Old School.
Eric Wilkinson (PFS-WMO) led his team to victory with 18 points. Members of the winning team were Wilkinson, Eric Bond (PFS-WMO), Anthony Evans (PFS-CU), Mike Skwarek (ECT-CCT) and Bobby Rushin (NBL). Among the Old School line-up were Reed, Kenneth Wiggins (PFS-WMO), Timothy Kuhfuss (ECT-ADM), Greg Owens (PFS-DR), Art Frigo (CMT) and Kevin Klosowski (PFS-WMO).
All-Star game players were chosen from this year's teams for their dedication to the basketball league, said league president Johnny Reed (PFS-WMO).
The 3-on-3 championship game will be held Tuesday, Aug. 6, starting at 11:30 a.m. at the basketball court south of Freund Lodge, Building 600. Employees are welcome to cheer on the teams; spectators will be treated to hot dogs and hamburgers. Winners of the double-elimination playoffs will advance to the final round. Individual trophies will be handed out after the game.
--Jodi Genshaft
The laboratory's retirement vendors will visit Argonne-East during August to discuss the stock market and their retirement plans.
They will cover the history of the stock market, educational tools to help employees through the current volatile market, what help the companies can provide and specifics on their individual mutual funds.
The one-hour talks will begin at noon in the Building 362 Auditorium.
Fidelity: Tuesday, Aug. 13, and
Tuesday, Aug. 20
TIAA-CREF: Thursday, Aug. 15, and
Friday, Aug. 21
Prudential: Wednesday, Aug. 14, and
Wednesday, Aug. 21
The ANL-9 form, used to request safety equipment, has been revised. The form will now only be available online.
Old versions should be removed from stock.
Aetna is offering a special enrollment period for its Long Term Care Plan. Eligible employees can enroll during August without having to provide evidence of good health.
Eligible employees are regular employees who work at least 20 hours per week and temporary employees whose appointment will last six months or more. Employees who are not eligible for the special enrollment will need to go through the underwriting process.
A representative will be at Argonne-East Wednesday, Aug. 14, at 9:30 a.m. in the Building 203 Auditorium, and at Argonne-West Monday, Aug. 12, at 9 a.m. in the L&O Conference Room.
For more information, call Aetna at 1-800-537-8521. Aetna has also set up a Web site with details specific to Argonne.
The Human Resources-Employee Benefits Web site includes many useful links, from benefits forms to retirement plan performance charts.
The Web site will provide information on:
External Benefit Links (to outside
vendors)
Online Benefit Forms
How to Contact Employee Benefits Staff
Retirement Fund Performance
(quarterly)
For Your Benefit Newsletter
Adult/Elder Web Site (links to outside
sources)
Summary Plan Descriptions (of benefit
plans)
Open Enrollment Site
Special Benefit Notices
Summary Annual Reports (financial
information)
John A. Pardini, a retired reactor mechanical engineer with 35 years of service in the EBR-II Division, died April 20. His wife, Artura, survives him.
Marcia W. Rosenthal, a retired biologist with 30 years of service in the Biology Division, died April 10. Her husband, Gerson, survives her.
Robert K. Steunenberg, a retired senior chemist with 35 years of service in the Chemical Technology Division, died May 25. His wife, Jean, survives him.
William A. Trojanus, a retired sergeant with 24 years of service in the Security Division, died May 11. His daughter, Catherine Black, survives him.
Warren J. Tyrrell, a retired plant systems supervisor with 35 years of service in the Plant Facilities and Services Division, died May 17.
Human Resources will offer a variety of classes during August.
To enroll, contact a Training Management System Representative. For more information, call Betty Iwan at ext. 2-3410. For full course descriptions, visit the HR Web site (See "On the Web," page 2).
All classes will be held in Argonne-East's Building 201, Room 190 unless otherwise stated.
"Russian Language" (HR164). Tuesdays
and Thursdays, Building 208, Room A262. Beginner classes start at 11 a.m. Intermediate classes
begin at 10 a.m.
"Conflict and Communication Skills in
the Workplace" (HR269). Thursday, Aug. 8, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
"Leadership & Motivation" (HR641).
Monday, Aug. 27, Noon-5 p.m.
"Presentation Excellence" (HR532).
Tuesday, Aug. 28, and Thursday, Aug. 29, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Building 401, Room E1100.