Other News - December 2025

The Bradbury Science Museum and Manhattan Project National Historical Park staff learned how leading institutions care for their collections at recent meetings with the Smithsonian Institution and the CIA Museum in Washington.

“We wanted to better understand how other federal institutions are employing current best practices in artifact stewardship,” says Patrick Moore, the director of the Bradbury. “Our goal is to take what we learn and apply it directly to enhancing our collections management and all its associated procedures.”

The Bradbury Science Museum’s collection includes a wide range of items, from samples of trinitite, to personal journals, technical drawings, scientific instruments and even J. Robert Oppenheimer’s office chair and personal copy of the Bhagavad-Gita.

The museum plans to apply lessons from the meetings to refine policies for accepting, tagging and tracking items. “Museums are entering a new era of collections management, and we want the Bradbury to be at the forefront,” says Moore. “Caring for artifacts is not just about preserving them for the future, it’s about understanding their history, relevance, and the stories they tell.”

Regional Development Corporation awards 48 Micro-Grants to regional small businesses

Nearly 50 Northern New Mexico businesses have received awards of up to $3,000 from the nonprofit Regional Development Corporation’s Micro-Grant fund.

Supported by more than $130,000 from Laboratory operator Triad National Security, the fund provides a small infusion of capital to help businesses diversify, sustain or grow revenue, leverage other investments, or put systems in place that lead to growth and create job opportunities.

The RDC also provides technical assistance to all applicants, whether or not they receive funding. The full list of recipients is here. 

Laboratory employee Deanna Vigil honored for her work supporting LAESF scholarships

Deanna Vigil, who works in the chemistry division at the Laboratory, has been named one of 2025’s 10 Who Made a Difference by the Santa Fe New Mexican newspaper, for her work with the Los Alamos Employees’ Scholarship Fund (LAESF) Advisory Committee.

She helps Northern New Mexico students reach their college potential by promoting the LAESF scholarships and encouraging young people to apply. She also serves on the board of the Pojoaque Valley School District Educational Foundation, and has established a scholarship through the Pojoaque Valley Catholic Daughters. Vigil, herself a past LANL Scholar, also mentors new members of the advisory committee, and is active in fundraising initiatives.