Public lecture series gives residents a chance to peer into ongoing Lab research

Contact: Chris Pearcy, cpearcy@lanl.gov, (505) 665-3892

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LOS ALAMOS, N.M., Sept. 18, 2001 -- Scientists and engineers at the Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory will report on recent advances in their science research at the Frontiers in Science Public Lecture Series that begins next week. The series is intended to inform the general public, in a clear and straightforward manner, about the diversity of research conducted at the Laboratory.

The Laboratory will sponsor four free lectures a year in Los Alamos, Santa Fe, Española and Taos to ensure that Northern New Mexico residents can attend. All lectures are scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

"We want to make people aware that the Lab researches global warming, AIDS, astrophysics and a number of important issues facing the world in addition to nuclear weapons research," said Joe Ginocchio, coordinator of the lecture series.

Charles Keller, of the Los Alamos branch of the University of California's Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, will talk about his global warming research on Sept. 26 in the James A. Little Theater at the New Mexico School for the Deaf in Santa Fe. He will repeat that lecture on Oct. 3 at Los Alamos High School, Oct. 4 at Northern New Mexico Community College in Española and Oct. 17 at the Taos Convention Center.

William Feldman, of the Laboratory's Space and Atmospheric Sciences Group, will discuss his work on the Lunar Prospector and Mars Odyssey mission on Oct. 30 at Los Alamos High School. He will repeat his discussion on Nov.1 at the Center for the Arts Theater at Northern New Mexico Community College in Española, Nov. 7 at the James A. Little Theater in Santa Fe and Nov. 8 in the Taos Convention Center.

Other lectures have not yet been scheduled.

Keller will speak in support of evidence for global warming by reviewing drivers of climate change and the effects of human activities on climate. The issue of global warming has been a contentious topic in recent years, with some scientists concluding that the planet is warming because of chemicals added to the atmosphere by human activities and others arguing that evidence is doubtful.

"This talk will take us back thousands of years in search for examples of present climate change," said Keller, "and it will look at why human emissions of so-called greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, carbon dioxide in particular, may be warming the planet."

A 30-year employee of the Laboratory, Keller has a doctorate in astronomy and astrophysics from Indiana University. He began his interest in atmospheric studies in 1977 and became involved in climate studies in 1981.

Feldman said he will spend most of his lecture discussing the possibility of water on the moon. His scientific team at the Lab discovered evidence of lunar water three years ago. Also, one of Feldman's neutron spectrometers is headed to Mars where it will map the planet's water table. It is expected to reach Mars orbit on Oct. 24; Feldman said he may discuss some initial findings of that mission as well.

Also a 30-year employee with the Laboratory, Feldman completed his undergraduate work at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and finished graduate school with a doctoral degree from Stanford University.

For more information about the lecture series, contact Ginocchio at 667-5630, or visit the Public Lecture Series Web site at http://stb.lanl.gov/fellows.html online.

Los Alamos National Laboratory is operated by the University of California for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration.

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