Los Alamos, University of California and NMSU collaborate in research and education

Contact: James E. Rickman, jamesr@lanl.gov, (505) 665-9203 (04-007)

Recent News Los Alamos scientist named Asian American Engineer of the Year Los Alamos scientist featured in NASA science update Los Alamos muon detector could thwart nuclear smugglers Wojciech H. Zurek named Phi Beta Kappa visiting scholar Four Los Alamos physicists honored by American Physical Society Los Alamos National Laboratory organizations earn seven out of 13 NNSA Pollution Prevention awards Carter Hydrick returns to the Bradbury Science Museum Feb. 15 Laboratory supports summer science program New NASA IBEX mission to carry Los Alamos instrument Beason takes top threat reduction post at Los Alamos

LOS ALAMOS, N.M., Feb. 13, 2004 -- Los Alamos National Laboratory and the University of California today will further enhance its partnerships with New Mexico academic institutions by signing two memoranda of understanding with New Mexico State University at 1 p.m. in the state capitol rotunda.

The University of California, which operates the Laboratory, will sign MOUs on research and education and on intellectual property during the signing ceremony at the Round House. Laboratory Director G. Peter Nanos, NMSU interim President William Flores and John Birely, UC Associate Vice President for Laboratory Programs, are scheduled to attend the signing ceremony, along with several New Mexico Legislators.

"This partnership signifies another successful partnership with New Mexico's state universities," said Laboratory Director G. Peter Nanos. "These partnerships allow New Mexican universities to participate in the great science for which Los Alamos is known, and they allow the Laboratory to potentially recruit more of its future scientists from the great state of New Mexico. This is a win-win situation for all parties involved."

Research areas covered under the MOUs are modeling and simulation - such as predictive science, decision making and engineering design - and security, including applications to homeland security and homeland defense, environmental security, sensor and detection technology and information intelligence.

The MOUs are beneficial to all institutions involved. For NMSU, they provide research opportunities for students and faculty to participate in innovative research collaboration with the Laboratory. For UC and the Laboratory, the MOUs provide an opportunity to enhance research capabilities in areas of strategic importance to the Laboratory's national-security mission as well as an opportunity to create a pipeline of NMSU students who may pursue research careers at the Laboratory or with other high tech industries and organizations throughout NM. UC is providing $500,000 a year out of the fee UC receives for managing the Laboratory to support the efforts. Support will continue at least until the end of UC's current contract to operate the Laboratory.

"These MOUs demonstrate UC's recognition that strategic partnerships with New Mexico academic institutions help the Laboratory continue its excellence in fulfilling important national security and national defense missions," said Robert Foley, UC's vice president for the Laboratory management. "The opportunity to work with NMSU and other NM institutions allow us to tap into the valuable research and educational resources located in New Mexico."

The Laboratory signed a memorandum of understanding with the University of New Mexico in October that focused on collaborative research projects in bioscience, materials science and computer science, among others.

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 develops and applies science and technology to ensure the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear deterrent; reduce the threat of weapons of mass destruction, proliferation and terrorism; and solve national problems in defense, energy, environment and infrastructure.

Additional news releases related to Organization/Operations