|
|||
| ARGONNE HOME PAGE | INSIDE ARGONNE | NEWS HOME PAGE | BACK ISSUES |
|
|
|||
| ARGONNE HOME PAGE | INSIDE ARGONNE | NEWS HOME PAGE | BACK ISSUES |
A grant providing $17 million in State of Illinois funds toward construction of the Center for Nanoscale Materials (CNM) at Argonne National Laboratory was executed last week, releasing the appropriation that was part of Illinois’ budget for fiscal year 2003, which ends June 30.
The CNM is one of five centers for nanoscale research being built at Department of Energy national laboratories. Expected to be completed in winter 2005-2006, CNM’s building is to abut the Advanced Photon Source near a specially designed hard X-ray nanoprobe beamline that will permit scientists to study structures as small as 30 nanometers (30 billionths of a meter) in size, using advanced diffraction, spectroscopy and imaging techniques.
The payment is part of $36 million Illinois has pledged for construction of the center and clears the way for signing a final (Title II) design contract. Preliminary (Title I) design was covered by $2 million appropriated in fiscal year 2002.
The balance of the state money is in Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s 2004 budget, recently passed by the Illinois General Assembly. Completing the design is expected to take about five months. Then, bids will be sought, with construction expected to start in early spring of 2004.
The first $10 million of $36 million the Department of Energy plans to provide for the nanoprobe and CNM instrumentation is included in the proposed federal budget for fiscal year 2004, which begins Oct. 1.
The building, a two-story, 85,000-square-foot structure, will include offices, meeting rooms, clean rooms and laboratories for creating and studying nano-sized materials. The offices will accommodate about 130 CNM staff and users. Full-scale research at the center is expected to begin in 2007.
Six Argonne scientists and four support employees will be honored by The University of Chicago at a ceremony Thursday, June 19, at 2:30 p.m. in Argonne-East’s Building 213 Cafeteria.
All employees whose schedules permit are invited to attend.
2003 University of Chicago Distinguished Performance Awards, recognizing outstanding scientific or technical achievements or a distinguished record of achievements, will be given to:
Phillip Finck
(ERA) and Jim Laidler (CMT)
Ian Foster
(MCS)
George Srajer
(XFD) and Jidong Jiang (MSD)
Michael
Thackeray (CMT)
2003 University of Chicago Outstanding Service Awards, the university’s highest honor for support employees, will be given to:
Pat Canaday
(OPA)
Pascal J.
Colaianni (PFS-US)
Donald LeBuis
(BIO)
Denis Wozniak
(IPNS)
Early close for cafeteria
The Building 213 Cafeteria will close by 1 p.m. the day of the ceremony, and will have only limited seating in the dining room.
Argonne Director Hermann Grunder spoke about Argonne’s mission and priorities at a “Science in Illinois” congressional briefing May 14.
The program was organized in conjunction with Gov. Blagojevich’s Washington Office to inform members of the Illinois delegation, legislative staff and the Science and Appropriations Committees of the missions and goals of Argonne and Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory.
Grunder and Fermilab Director Michael Witherell explained the laboratories’ economic value to the country and addressed the need for further research funding.
Grunder identified Argonne as the leading laboratory for applied science and said Argonne has helped to enhance energy and national security, economic productivity and quality of life by creating knowledge and technologies in the national interest.
Grunder also discussed Argonne’s strategic goals, which included contributions to environmental research; advanced nuclear power technologies that are safe, economical, proliferation-resistant and environmentally sustainable; and technology to close the fuel cycle, which would help reduce the cost of nuclear waste disposal by billions of dollars and would dispose of weapons-grade plutonium and actinides.
He also described recent successes, such as the determination by Advanced Photon Source (APS) researchers of the structure of the edema factor, one of the three toxins that make anthrax so deadly, and the July 2002 visit by President Bush, who commended Argonne for its contributions to homeland security.
Other presenters included the directors of the Northern Illinois Consortium for Accelerator and Detector Development (NICADD) and the Illinois Consortium for Accelerator Research (ICAR). Keynote speakers included Rep. Judy Biggert, chair of the Energy Subcommittee of the House Science Committee, and Ray Orbach, director of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science.
A mini-symposium on the results of Laboratory-Directed Research and Development (LDRD) projects will be held Monday, June 23, from 2-3:30 p.m. in Argonne-East’s Building 402, Conference Room E1100-E1200.
All employees whose schedules permit are invited to attend.
Presentations will include:
2 p.m.
“Computational Modeling of Clay-Polymer Nanocomposite Membranes,” by
Paula Moon (MCS)
2:15 p.m. --
“Environmental Decision Making Technology R&D,” by Robert Johnson
(EAD)
2:30 p.m. --
“Trace Measurement of DNA Adducts by VUV Soft Ionization,” by Jerry
Moore (MSD)
2:45 p.m. --
Break
3 p.m. --
“Spin Polarized Nanostructures at Interfaces of Superconductors and
Diluted Magnetic Semiconductors: New Prospects for Tunable Quantum Dot
Arrays,” by Boldizsar Janko (MSD)
3:15 p.m. --
“Band Gap Engineering of Transparent Conducting Oxides,” by David
Kaufman (ET)
By Jennifer Wisz
Argonne-East hosted emergency management officials from local, state and federal agencies during the recent “TopOff 2” nationwide emergency exercise.
TopOff 2 (Top Officials 2) was a nationwide exercise May 12-16. The exercise began with a simulated “dirty bomb” exploding near downtown Seattle. Next was a simulated biological attack on the Chicago area.
The Argonne-East site was used as a part of TopOff 2. Building 314 was used as the federal, state and local Joint Operations Center (JOC). The site was used since it is far away from the downtown Chicago area and is a secure federal facility.
Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge took part in TopOff 2. Ridge and Blagojevich visited Argonne to participate in interviews and to give speeches for a TopOff 2 media briefing.
Argonne Emergency Management Officer Gary Winner (EQO) said the emergency response at Argonne went well. While the JOC dealt with the “big picture,” Argonne and DOE emergency response personnel tested their capabilities to respond to the simulated plague.
The laboratory’s objectives were to protect site personnel, to safely and quickly shut down all Argonne facilities and to support the JOC. Argonne worked closely with DuPage County and State of Illinois Emergency Management Agency, Winner said.
The FBI, Federal Emergency Management Agency and the State of Illinois Emergency Management Agency were involved at the JOC for the emergency response all week.
By Megan Mills
Volunteers are still needed for the upcoming Argonne-East Employee Picnic set for Saturday, July 12. Volunteers are vital to the success of the picnic, and the experience has proved to be rewarding for past volunteers.
As a former board member and president of the Argonne Club, Carolyn Arthur (HR-DPO) understands the importance of volunteering. Her favorite game remains bingo.
“I enjoy running the bingo game because it gives me a chance to interact with people, more so than with other games,” said Arthur. “Bingo is something that the whole family can participate in and enjoy, and I try to make it more fun by adding humor and playing crazy games.”
For Alan Beyer (CIS) volunteering at the picnic has become a yearly tradition. He initially became involved through a friend in the Argonne Club who persuaded Beyer and his mother to sign up to sell tickets.
“Volunteering has been a good experience for me to get to know people at the lab,” said Beyer. “It was also an opportunity for me to find out what the picnic was all about.”
Employees interested in volunteering for the July 12 picnic can visit the Argonne Club Summer Picnic Website and select the game and time of their choice. Contact Steve Hanuska (ASD) at ext. 2-4339 or at hanuska@aps .anl.gov or Loretta Phillips (CIS) at ext. 2-6934.
The Argonne-East Pool is now open for the summer season, with a new look. The pool now sports a new deck and fresh paint.
Swimming hours are 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekends.
Cost is $3 for adults and $2 for children under 12. Family season passes are $95 per family with children under age 18, and individual season tickets are $50. Tickets are available at the Argonne pool.
An employee-only swim period will be held weekdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The cost is $1 per person.
Swimmers must provide their own towels. Flotation devices are not permitted, and children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
Swim lessons are offered for children over the age of three; see the schedule at right. The cost is $26 per session for each child; sessions last two weeks and include eight lessons. Those interested can register for the lessons at the Argonne pool. Lesson tickets cannot be used for open swim.
For more information, call ext. 2-7602.
Swim Lesson Schedule
| Session 1 | Session 2 | Session 3 |
| June 23 -- July 3 | July 7 -- July 18 | July 28 -- August 8 |
Times
| Intermediate/beginner | Intermediate/beginner | Beginner |
| 9 - 9:30 a.m. | 9:45 - 10:15 a.m. | 10:30 - 11 a.m. |
A meeting to discuss interest in forming an Argonne affiliated Latino club is scheduled for Monday, June 23, at 11:30 a.m. in the Building 213 Cafeteria, Dining Rooms A and B.
Club activities would include networking, cultural events and social involvement. All Argonne and U.S. Department of Energy employees are invited. Interested employees who cannot attend the meeting can contact Teri Rodriguez (HR) at ext. 2-2976.
Exercise physiologist Michael Arenberg will present “Aerobic Fitness Supercharged” Thursday, June 26, at noon in Argonne-East’s Building 200 Auditorium.
Arenberg will discuss ways to increase aerobic fitness while staying free from injury. He will dispel training myths and answer questions.
Arenberg has coached distance runners for 20 years. He has completed 25 marathons, 11 “iron man” races and qualified for three iron-man world championships.
Employees of every fitness level are invited to attend.
The seminar is co-sponsored by the Argonne Running Club and the Human Resources Wellness Program.
A representative from MetLife Auto & Home will visit Argonne-East Tuesday, June 17 and Tuesday, July 1, to meet with individual employees for insurance comparisons and quotes for the “METPAY” group automobile and homeowners insurance program. To schedule an appointment, call (630) 810-0346, ext. 143. Employees can also receive a quote by phone: call 1-800-438-6388.
Argonne-East employees can help inform the public about the laboratory and its research during the Downers Grove Heritage Festival, June 27-29.
Volunteers will answer questions and distribute printed materials and giveaways. Employees are needed Friday, June 27, from early evening until 8 p.m.; Saturday, June 28, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday, June 29 from noon to 8 p.m.
For more information, contact Cindy Wilkinson (OPA) at ext. 2-5561 or cindy@anl.gov.
Benigno T. Banez (NE) retired May 29 with 31 years of service.
Samit K. Bhattacharyya (ERA) retired May 29 with 29 years of service.
David A. Clayden (FAC) retired May 29 with 29 years of service.
Robert F. Denkins (ENT) retired May 29 with 22 years of service.
Gene V. French (NPS) retired May 29 with 38 years of service.
Donald W. Grosse (FAC) retired May 29 with 12 years of service.
David L. Kurth (PHY) retired May 2 with 40 years of service.
Gary L. Lentz (FAC) retired May 30 with 30 years of service.
Lee T. Lowry (ENT) retired May 29 with 26 years of service.
L. Paul Martinez (FAC) retired May 29 with 20 years of service.
Albert Painter (PFS) retired May 30 with 37 years of service.
John C. Phillips (NE) retired May 29 with 14 years of service.
Larry Spencer (ENT) retired May 29 with 38 years of service.
William R. Vroman (NPS) retired May 30 with 33 years of service.
John O. Young (NT) retired May 29 with 36 years of service.
A class on computer ergonomics and a demonstration of ergonomic chairs will be held at Argonne-East Thursday, June 19.
“Computer User Ergonomics” (ESH 583) will be held from 9:30 - 11:45 a.m. in Building 202, B-169, and is recommended for people who work with computers four or more hours per day.
To register, contact a Training Management System representative. To arrange a special class session or a workstation evaluation, call Carol Giles (EQO) at ext. 2-3427.
Ergonomic chairs
Several styles of ergonomic chairs and height-adjustable tables will be demonstrated in Building 202, E126 (follow the signs to ESH-Training), from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. All are welcome, and no appointment is necessary.