October Connections newsletter highlights Lab's impact in local communities

October 13, 2010—Helping to improve math and science teaching in area schools. Supporting today's students to become tomorrow's high-tech employees and science literate adults. Showcasing the great science done at Los Alamos. These and more news items are highlighted in the October issue of the Connections newsletter now online.

Community Programs Office Director Kurt Steinhaus touches on the importance of a quality education and how the Lab is playing a role, noting that 58 Northern New Mexico teachers who participated in the Lab's Math and Science Academy program have earned a master's degree in math and science teaching; that a record number of students worked at the Laboratory this summer; and that math test scores of students in five Española schools participating in the Math and Science Academy program have increased for four consecutive years.

"That's something that principals, teachers, parents, and students can all be proud of," said Steinhaus. Another thing Lab employees can be proud of, he said, is the more than $500,000 donated or pledged by employees and Los Alamos National Security, LLC to the Los Alamos Employees' Scholarship Fund. The funds will support more than 50 college scholarships for students.

This issue also has news about the Bradbury Science Museum's High Tech Halloween later this month, a Family and Youth Leadership Institute next month in Santa Fe, and wraps up the recent Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Day that showcased the research of more than 40 Lab scientists receiving LDRD funding.

Published monthly by Community Programs, Connections is distributed to interested parties across the state.

Connections also links to a calendar of upcoming community events. Send feedback or story ideas for future issues of Connections to Linda Anderman or connections@lanl.gov, or call (505) 665-4400.