Los Alamos staff member Begay selected to New York Academy of Sciences

Contact: Steve Sandoval, steves@lanl.gov, (505) 665-9206 (04-055)

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LOS ALAMOS, N.M., June 15, 2004 -- Fred Begay of Los Alamos National Laboratory's Government Relations Office was recently elected to the New York Academy of Sciences.

"I'm pleased and proud to receive the New York Academy of Sciences award and to be included in the oldest academy in the country. The Academy is widely recognized as one of the world's foremost organizers of scientific conferences and symposia and has evolved beyond convener to include the roles of communicator and mentor," Begay said.

Begay's Los Alamos career began in 1971 in the former Laser Research and Technology Division as a nuclear physicist where he participated in numerous controlled thermonuclear fusion programs. He has worked for various groups throughout his Laboratory career, including the Physics and Human Resources divisions, the Science and Technology Base Programs Office and the Community Relations Office. He currently is a member of Los Alamos' Tribal Relations Team in the Government Relations Office. Begay works on science and technology outreach programs for the Navajo government.

Begay also has held research and teaching appointments at Stanford University, where he worked on fundamental elementary particle studies (1975); and at the University of Maryland, where he worked on fundamental plasma physics studies (1987-1988).

Begay has received numerous awards for his contributions in science, science education and public service, including the Ely Parker Award, American Indian Society for Engineering and Science, 1992; Lifetime Achievement Award, National Science Foundation, 1994; Distinguished Scientist Award, Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science, 1999.

Begay also has had numerous films produced about his life including the "Nation within a Nation," Hearst Metrotone News, 1972; "In Our Native Land," Sandia National Laboratories, 1973; "The Long Walk of Fred Young-Begay, " British Broadcasting Corporation and NOVA, 1978; and "Dancing with Photons," KNME-TV, 1997.

In addition, Begay is featured in numerous books and magazines, including National Geographic Magazine, 1987, and is noted in the Notable Twentieth Century Scientists, Gale Research Inc., 1994.

Begay earned his bachelor's degree in physics and math, his master's degree in physics and a doctoral degree in nuclear physics from the University of New Mexico.

Since 1817, the New York Academy of Sciences has brought together scientists of different disciplines from around the world to advance the understanding of science, technology and medicine.

Los Alamos National Laboratory is operated by the University of California for the National Nuclear Security Administration 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 the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile, developing technical solutions to reduce the threat of weapons of mass destruction and solving problems related to energy, environment, infrastructure, health and national security concerns.

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Note to reporters and photo editors: an image is available at http://www.lanl.gov/worldview/news/photos/BegayFred.jpg online.

Photo credit: LeRoy N. Sanchez, Los Alamos National Laboratory

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