Community Programs Office
Connections Newsletter
The Lab's Connection to the Northern New Mexico Community!
May 2012

Studies are currently underway to determine if a radioactive element, actinium 225 (Ac-225), could provide a new inroad for cancer treatment. LANL, in conjunction with two other Department of Energy laboratories, is working to create enough of the material to supply clinical trials as research continues. Read more

Wanted: Women Wielding Hammers (and paint, and saws, etc.)

The Santa Fe Habitat for Humanity is holding its Women Build Week from May 8-12. You don’t have to have any previous building experience to participate, so you could learn some new, handy skills while you volunteer. Read more

Los Alamos Employees' Scholarship Fund Drive in May

You could help a deserving student obtain a college degree through a contribution to the Los Alamos Employees' Scholarship Fund during its campaign in May. Read more

“Books Are Fun” Funds Shoes

During April, a "Books Are Fun" event held at the Lab helped raise almost $2,000 for the LANL Laces program. Read more

Hooked on Books

Summer is around the corner, and soon our children will need things to keep them occupied. Now is an ideal time to encourage a love of reading that will hopefully last a lifetime. Santa Fe’s Alliance for Literacy has a program called Hooked on Books to encourage kids to enter a world of printed information and imagination. Read more

Contribute Items to the Museum of the American Military Family

Formed a little more than a year ago, the Museum of the American Military Family in Albuquerque is accepting items for its exhibits. Read more

Small Business Management Courses in May

The Santa Fe Chapter of SCORE (a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping small businesses) will hold a series of management courses in May. Read more

Sessions for Small-Business Leveraged Projects Assistance in May

The New Mexico Small Business Assistance (NMSBA) Program (a partnership of Los Alamos and Sandia national laboratories and the State of New Mexico) provides technical assistance from lab scientists and engineers to New Mexico small businesses at no cost. Read more

2012 Santa Fe Business Awards Nominations Due May 18

The City of Santa Fe and the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce are accepting nominations for the 2012 Santa Fe Business Awards. Read more

Lab Director Meets with the Major Subcontractor Consortium

The Lab’s recent voluntary separation of more than 500 employees and other cost-savings efforts caused some business concerns about potential financial impacts. To help address the situation, Lab Director Charlie McMillan met with more than 30 members of the LANL’s Major Subcontractor Consortium to discuss what we're doing and why. Read more

Supercomputing Challenge Has a Winner!

More than 200 New Mexico students and their teachers participated in the 22nd annual New Mexico Supercomputing Challenge held at Los Alamos National Laboratory in late April. The winner was Jordon Medlock from Albuquerque’s Manzano High School. Read more

Kids Campus Open House on May 8 at Santa Fe Community College

Santa Fe Community College’s (SFCC) Early Childhood Development Center becomes “Kids Campus at SFCC” on May 8 with an open house 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. and the launching of a new website. Read more

Nominate a Teacher for a Golden Apple Award by May 31

Each year, the Golden Apple Foundation of New Mexico recognizes the State’s teachers who exemplify a high standard of teaching in elementary, middle, and high schools. The seven teachers who will be selected for the 2013 award will receive a $1,500 stipend, funding for a comprehensive professional development plan, ongoing professional development as a member of the Golden Apple Academy of Fellows, and a laptop computer donated by Intel Corporation. Read more

Los Alamos High School Students Attend FIRST Robotics Competition

Students from Los Alamos High School recently traveled to Utah to participate in the FIRST Robotics Competition. It was the team’s first-ever entry in the regional event, and they finished 14th out of 44 entries from nine states. Read more

Los Alamos High School Student Qualifies for International Competition

Holly Erickson, from Los Alamos High School, will compete against more than 1,500 students from 65 countries at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair scheduled for later this month in Pittsburgh. Read more

Fifty-five Projects Awarded Pollution Prevention Prizes

In April, 55 different projects and more than 450 employees representing 141 Lab organizations were recognized for their pollution prevention contributions. Read more

Organizing for Efficient Waste Processing

Just as you don’t create only one kind of waste during a project at home, neither does the Lab with its wide range of missions and work. With 77 different categories of waste currently located at our waste handling facilities at Area G, presorting the containers means more efficient remediation, characterization, and disposition prior to shipment to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. Read more

Conserving Department of Energy Land

A parcel of land under the control of the Department of Energy (DOE) has been used for dumping and as an unofficial shooting range. Due to the negative environmental effects of these activities, efforts are being taken to deter them. Read more

McMillan Testifies Before Senate Subcommittee

LANL Director Charlie McMillan recently testified before the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces. Read more

“How’s My DRIVING?” Campaign Begins

To help ensure that Lab employees who operate government vehicles do so safely, the Lab has launched a “How’s my DRIVING?” campaign. Each of the Laboratory’s more than 1,500 vehicles now have a placard with a vehicle identification number and the phone number 665-SAFE, or 665-7233, so unsafe driving behaviors can be reported. Read more

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