Los Alamos National Laboratory

Los Alamos National Laboratory

Delivering science and technology to protect our nation and promote world stability

For your calendar

Apply to LAESF’s four-year scholarships (open to all regional students); Future City competition; regional Science Bowls; New Mexico Electric Car Challenge; and more
November 2, 2015
2015 LAESF Gold scholarship winners Alexander Ortiz of Santa Fe High School, Charlotte Flory of Questa High School and Chloe Keilers of Los Alamos High School (l to r).

2015 LAESF Gold scholarship winners Alexander Ortiz of Santa Fe High School, Charlotte Flory of Questa High School and Chloe Keilers of Los Alamos High School (l to r).

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  • Community Programs Director
  • Kathy Keith
  • Email

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Apply to LAESF’s four-year scholarships (open to all regional students): Now
Since its inception in 1998, the Los Alamos Employees’ Scholarship Fund (LAESF) has awarded $5 million in total to more than 1,000 students from across northern New Mexico. The next batch of high school applicants is invited to apply to the fund’s 2016 four-year scholarships by January 19, 2016. The scholarships are open to all regional students and not tied to Los Alamos National Laboratory employment. Awards are based on academic performance, leadership potential, critical thinking skills and career goals. Financial need, diversity and regional representation are integral components of the selections process. For additional information, visit the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) Foundation’s How to Apply web page. You also might enjoy checking out the $422,500 in scholarships awarded to 78 regional students story in Community Connections’ May 2015 issue.
Register for the Future City competition: Now
The Future City competition starts with a question: How can we make the world a better place? To answer it, sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students imagine, research, design and build cities of the future that showcase their solution to a city-wide sustainability issue. To register for the January 16, 2016, event, visit Future City’s Registration page. You also might consider reading the Española students invited to White House Science Fair article in Community Connections’ May 2015 issue.
Register for the regional ScienceBowls: Now
New Mexico students are invited to compete in the middle school (6th-8th grades) or high school (9th-12th grades) regional Science Bowl competitions. The Science Bowl is a Jeopardy-like event in the form of a round robin in the morning and double elimination after lunch. Teams consist of four students and one optional alternative team member. Event dates: January 23, 2016, for middle school students and February 27, 2016, for high school students. For details, go to Sandia National Laboratories’ DOE Regional Science Bowls website.
Enjoy the November Night Sky Show: Nov. 6
Want to learn more about what is visible in the night sky this month? Visit moons, planets, stars and other celestial objects from the safety of the Los Alamos Nature Center’s planetarium. The show will focus on planets that can be seen throughout the month, constellation and star patterns and selected celestial objects (e.g., star clusters, nebulae, double stars) readily viewed with binoculars. Once your eyes are adjusted to the darkness and you know what to look for tonight, you can venture outside for a brief tour of the evening constellations, weather permitting. Bring a warm jacket if you want to stay for stargazing. The shows typically sell out, so it’s best to get your tickets early. For details, consult the Pajarito Environmental Education Center’s November Night Sky Show web page.
Look for the next “Science on the Hill” interview: Nov. 9
The Santa Fe New Mexicans’ "Science on the Hill" columns publish the second Monday of each month and highlight the wide-ranging, cutting-edge research of Los Alamos National Laboratory scientists. In the most recent article, Jumpstarting the carbon capture industry, Richard Middleton of Los Alamos’ Computational Earth Science group discussed how carbon capture, utilization and storage capacity can provide a crucial bridge between the current global energy economy and a cleaner, more diversified energy future.
Chat with scientists: Nov. 14
Every second Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. the Bradbury Science Museum features scientists and researchers talking to visitors about their favorite science, technology, engineering and math topics. The conversations are intended for all ages, so bring your kids and stop by the museum for a chat. While you're here, be sure to check out the museum’s new environmental exhibit.
Plan to attend the New Mexico Electric Car Challenge: Nov. 21
The New Mexico Middle School Electric Car Challenge (formerly the NM Hydrogen Fuels Challenge) features a battery-powered model car race, design competition and the option to compete in an oral presentation. The primary goal of the competition is to generate enthusiasm for science, technology, engineering and math skills at a crucial stage in the development of middle school students. Time: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Location: Highland High School, 4700 Coal Ave. SE, Albuquerque.
Plan to attend 2016 Discover E: February 25, 2016
Discover E (Engineering) is an evening of interesting, interactive and fun engineering, science, math and technology demonstrations for K-12 students and their parents or guardians. Favorite activities include investigations of basic engineering, science, technology and math principles, including bridges, casting, chain reactions, chemistry, crystal structures, earthquake-resistant buildings, electrical circuits, engines, fluids, forensic science, liquid-nitrogen ice cream, optical illusions, radiation, robots, reverse engineering, sound waves, thermodynamics, vacuum cannon, materials properties and materials processing. Time: From 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. Location: Los Alamos High School’s Common Area. For further information, email Dr. Beverly Aikin (bevaikin@lanl.gov).
Plan to attend the 2016 RoboRAVE Rally: March 5, 2016
The first Northern New Mexico RoboRAVE Rally took place at Northern New Mexico College in Española in March 2014 and brought students from across the region to compete their robots and have fun. The 2016 event will partner with Albuquerque’s Explora museum in combining northern New Mexico’s Science Showdown with the RoboRAVE. To get a sense for what is involved in preparing for the event, check the Getting ready for the Northern New Mexico RoboRAVE story in Community Connections’ March 2015 issue.
Market your goods or services to the Laboratory:  Anytime
Qualified companies interested in procurement opportunities with Los Alamos National Laboratory are invited to register their business with the System for Award Management, the primary supplier database for the federal government. Once done, the companies then should email their completed Supplier Information Form (pdf) to Los Alamos’ Small Business Program Office at business@lanl.gov and attach their company capability statement. To learn more, see the Marketing your goods or services to the Laboratory article in Community Connections’ May 2015 issue. 
Request a Lab volunteer:  Anytime
Los Alamos National Laboratory participation in science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) events is made possible with support from the Department of Energy through the Laboratory’s Science Education Community Service Time Program. To request STEM experts, members of the community can complete a brief online request form. The form also can be accessed from the STEM Education Programs website. An additional option for requesting Los Alamos experts and other volunteers is through the Laboratory’s Vecinos Volunteer Program, which partners with the national VolunteerMatch initiative.  
Take advantage of the Laboratory's Speakers Bureau:  Anytime
Los Alamos National Laboratory’s Speakers Bureau brings audiences together with scientists and experts whose ideas and science are changing and inspiring the world. The speakers offer free presentations on a wide variety of subjects and can tailor the content for a range of audiences. While the majority of possible topics are science subjects—from dark matter to quantum cryptography—some of the speakers are experts in related areas, including the Laboratory’s history. For details and examples of some of the available topics, visit the Speakers Bureau website.

Los Alamos National Laboratory and/or the Laboratory’s management company, Los Alamos National Security (LANS), LLC, help support the above events and campaigns.

To include your event or application deadline in upcoming calendars, please email connections@lanl.gov with a brief description of how the proposed calendar item is connected to the Laboratory and/or LANS.

Community Connections features news and opportunities that grow out of the Laboratory’s Good Neighbor Pledge: “To partner with our neighbors on strengthening math and science learning, diversifying the economy and expanding community giving in northern New Mexico.”

November 2015 (Native American Heritage Month)