Laboratory equipment being used by higher education institutions through new Laboratory education equipment gift program

Contact: Steve Sandoval, steves@lanl.gov, (505) 665-9206 (00-121)

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LOS ALAMOS, N.M., Sept. 12, 2000 -- Higher education institutions in New Mexico and around the country have received more than 30 pieces of equipment from the Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory under a program that began last spring.

The equipment ranges from metal lathes for machining to an electron microscope to arc welders to personal computers and computer accessories. It is available to universities through the Laboratory Education Equipment Gift program. Two out-of-state universities also received lasers, while a small college in Illinois received a gas chromatograph and accessories.

Of the roughly 35 pieces of equipment donated or pending donation, 15 have gone to in-state universities. Johnson Controls Northern New Mexico stores equipment that has been designated for donation to colleges.

Nine pieces of equipment have been donated to Northern New Mexico Community College in Española; a metal lathe went to New Mexico State University's Chemistry and Biochemistry Department; a geiger counter went to University of New Mexico, Los Alamos; and four pieces of equipment were given to New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology in Socorro. Among the equipment donated to New Mexico Tech were a ceramic tape caster and two tensile strength testers.

And earlier this summer, Cal Tech began relocating 150 cosmic ray detectors that had been at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center to California.

North Carolina State University will receive a dye laser, two personal computers, an optical table and other equipment to support the laser. And Baylor University in Waco, Texas, recently received an excimer laser and supporting equipment, said Thomasina Gurule of Los Alamos' Business Planning and Budgeting Group and coordinator of the Laboratory Education Equipment Gift program.

Excess equipment, as defined under federal guidelines, is eligible for "gifting" to education institutions in New Mexico and elsewhere under the new program. This equipment includes computers, computer accessories, photographic equipment, communication equipment, measuring tools, and special industrial and metal-working machinery.

Earlier this year Laboratory Director John Browne proposed to DOE a new process to speed the transfer of excess property to educational institutions and nonprofit organizations. In the past, Los Alamos and other DOE laboratories have been able to give equipment considered surplus under DOE's Energy Related Laboratory Equipment program. And since 1994, a separate program has allowed the Lab to donate excess equipment, mostly computers, to kindergartens through high schools.

Business administration and outreach staff at the Laboratory worked with DOE to develop criteria for the new program, one of several new economic development and educational outreach initiatives that the Laboratory is pursuing.

Educational or nonprofit institutions receiving excess property must use it for technical and scientific education or research activities.

Furniture, office supplies or vehicles, for example, aren't eligible for gifting. All equipment deemed excess will be reviewed for security, hazards, high risk and export concerns before being declared eligible. The Laboratory will document and keep records of all excess equipment that is gifted under the program.

For more information, contact Gurule at 665-8079 or write to leeg@lanl.gov by electronic mail.

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