Los Alamos' history subject of American Physical Society talks, Laboratory Director to give keynote speech

Contact: Kevin Roark, knroark@lanl.gov, (505) 665-0582 (02-032)

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LOS ALAMOS, N.M., April 18, 2002 -- John C. Browne, director of the Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory, will address members of the American Physical Society at their annual conference, held this year in Albuquerque. Browne's speech, part of an afternoon series of talks on the history of Los Alamos, will focus on science and technology at the Lab in the Post-Cold War era.

At Los Alamos for 19 years, Browne served as Physics Division Director, director of the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center, and in several Associate Laboratory Directorships before taking over as Director in 1997. He received his bachelor's in Physics from Drexel University and his doctorate in Physics from Duke University.

He has been a Fellow of the American Physical Society since 1987 and is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

"Our mission supports national security by ensuring the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile," said Browne. "We work to reduce the threat from weapons of mass destruction in support of counter terrorism and homeland defense and solve national energy, environment, infrastructure and health security problems. Recent events have also reminded us of the importance of robust and vibrant research and development capabilities to meet new and evolving threats to our national security."

Browne's presentation will highlight post-cold war science and technology in the area of national defense and homeland security, such as the Lab's assistance to law enforcement in identifying and characterizing the anthrax bacteria used in attacks on civilians, postal workers and elected officials, the development and deployment of new and more accurate nuclear materials detectors, the use of early-warning systems that identify chemical or biological weapons, and the advancement of computer models that can help protect the nation's infrastructure.

He will examine the Laboratory's accomplishments in non-defense science at Los Alamos, as well, such as the Laboratory's work with NASA to map the presence of water on Mars, work with the National Science Foundation to study high-energy astrophysical phenomena, exploration of high-temperature superconductors, investigation of quantum information systems, application of neutrons to condensed-matter and nuclear physics research, development of large-scale modeling and simulations to understand complex phenomena and exploration of nanoscience.

Capping the series of sessions titled "The History of Los Alamos," Browne's talk is scheduled for approximately 4:20 p.m., Sunday April 21, in Ballroom C of the Albuquerque Convention Center. For information about attending the talk contact APS Media Relations at (301) 209-3238 or the Los Alamos National Laboratory public affairs office at 667-7000.

Los Alamos National Laboratory is operated by the University of California for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) of the U.S. Department of Energy and works in partnership with NNSA's Sandia and Lawrence Livermore national laboratories to support NNSA in its mission.

Los Alamos enhances global security by ensuring safety and confidence in the U.S. nuclear stockpile, developing technologies to reduce threats from weapons of mass destruction and improving the environmental and nuclear materials legacy of the cold war. Los Alamos' capabilities assist the nation in addressing energy, environment, infrastructure and biological security problems.

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