Morehouse College President Massey to speak Feb. 3 at Los Alamos National Laboratory

Contact: Steve Sandoval, (505) 665-9206 (00-015)

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LOS ALAMOS, N.M., Jan. 27, 2000 -- "Diversity in American Science and Technology: Can We Afford It?" is the subject of a talk by Morehouse College President Walter Massey Feb. 3 at the Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory.

The talk begins at 1:10 p.m. in the Physics Building Auditorium at Technical Area 3 and is open to Laboratory employees, subcontract personnel and the public.

Massey also is former director of the National Science Foundation, former vice president for research at the University of Chicago and director of Argonne National Laboratory in Chicago.

The talk is sponsored by the African American Diversity Working Group as part of the Laboratory's observation of Black History Month, said Betty Harris of Los Alamos' Office of Equal Opportunity. Black History Month is celebrated nationally in February.

"We are honored to have a person of Mr. Massey's stature and reputation come to Los Alamos to talk about the importance of diversity in science and technology," said Harris, who also is a member of the African American Diversity Working Group.

"Dr. Massey's breadth of experience, not only as a scientist but as an administrator, has given him keen insight into this area, which can only help our Laboratory as we continue to address diversity in our workforce," said Harris.

Located in Atlanta, Morehouse is the nation's only historically black all-male four-year liberal arts college.

Massey has held a number of administrative and academic positions, including provost and senior vice president for academic affairs for the University of California. In this position, Massey was responsible for the development of academic research planning and policy, budget planning and allocations and programmatic oversight of the three UC-managed national labs, including Los Alamos.

He also was a professor and dean of the college of physics at Brown University and assistant professor of physics at the University of Illinois.

Massey has bachelor's degrees in physics and math from Morehouse College and master's and doctoral degrees in physics from Washington University in St. Louis, Mo. He also has received honorary degrees from 25 institutions.

Massey has served as the chairman and president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and vice president of the American Physical Society. He also was on the National Science Board and the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. He is a member of the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board.

Massey has written numerous articles on science and math education, the role of science in a democratic society and university-industry interactions and technology transfer in international settings.

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