 | Friday, June 10, 2005 |
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Friday, June 10 9:00 a.m. GSA – Annual Fermilab Student Conference – New Perspectives 2005 - Curia II 12:00 p.m. Summer Lecture Series - 1 West Speaker: L. Lederman, Illinois Math and Science Academy/Fermilab Title: Neutrinos: Past, Present and Future 3:30 p.m. DIRECTOR'S COFFEE BREAK - 2nd Flr X-Over 4:00 p.m. Joint Experimental Theoretical Physics Seminar - 1 West Speaker: R. Erbacher, University of California, Davis Title: Top Quark Properties from CDF
Saturday, June 11
Monday, June 13 |
 Chance Thunderstorms 90º/69º
Extended Forecast |
Secon Level 3 |
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Friday, June 10 Cream of Wild Mushroom Soup Blackened Fish Filet Sandwich $4.85 Southern Fried Chicken $3.75 Casserole Florentine with Italian Sausage $3.75 Eggplant Parmesan Panini $4.85 Pizza Supreme $3.00 Baked Potato Bar w/ Chili $4.85 The Wilson Hall Cafe now accepts Visa, Master Card, Discover and American Express at Cash Register #1.
Wilson Hall Cafe Menu |
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Hopes and Stakes Are High
As Users Ponder the Future The Office of Science hopes a new advisory panel can open doors that are "not easily opened." The advisory panel, EPP2010, hopes to reverse a five-year budget trend of "systematically dis-investing in physics." Fermilab hopes that both succeed in clearing a path to the proposed International Linear Collider that would ensure its long-term future and its return to the high-energy frontier. And the recently-appointed director of the Global Design Effort believes Fermilab "can position itself well — if we go
Thursday's presentations demonstrated the high stakes for the field, as the Annual Users' Meeting drew to a conclusion with talks by Robin Staffin, Associate Director for High-Energy Physics in the DOE Office of Science; Charles Shank, former director of Berkeley Lab and a member of the National Academies' EPP2010 panel on the future of high-energy physics; Pier Oddone, Fermilab Director-Designate, and Barry Barish, head of the Global Design Effort for the
Personifying the future of the field, Konstantin Anikeev, of MIT and CDF,
received the URA Thesis Award for his measurements of the lifetimes of B-meson
states, including a world-best measurement of the B(s) average lifetime; while
Reinhard Schwienhorst, of Michigan State University and DZero, received the Alvin
Tollestrup Award for postdoctoral research, for his work in searching for single
Top production. Both awards are funded by Universities Research Association, Inc.
While reading the citation for the postdoc award, Tollestrup added a comment that
could serve as a memorable if unintentional metaphor for current issues: "The
physics of today is limited by the background of the physics of yesterday."
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On the Job with CSI Group:
Backups to Data to Donuts | ||
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The Core Servers and Infrastructure group, part of the Core Support Services section of the Computing Department, handles everything from instant messaging and web servers, to new software design and protection against hackers and viruses. Processing 1 million email messages and 1500 printing jobs a week, the CSI group is vital to everyone at the lab who relies on a computer.
Although they do not work directly on those computers that run experiments, CSI members are responsible for massive data backups and are on call to assist users whenever a Help Desk ticket is opened. They are also responsible for NGOP, which monitors systems to make sure they are running without processor or memory problems. In addition, members of the group work directly with divisions around the lab, so that each one becomes familiar with a specific area of computing. "Right now budgets have just come in," said group leader Jack Schmidt. "We are helping different groups decide how to get the most effective computer or software." Laura Mengel, head of the Web Server Office, also works with K-12 teachers to help them learn to use computing in the classroom. "We are trying to get them to use the internet like scientists," she said. "Instead of reading about an experiment, students can perform it." Each member brings something different to the group. "We all have our strengths," said Schmidt.
A lot of fun is scattered in the Scientific Linux development, SMS management and AFS work that this department takes care of: "We're a pretty fun group." Schmidt admitted. The team keeps its energy up with practical jokes, and with coffee and donuts in constant supply. And it's always good to see them happy: All of our computers depend on it.
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From Nature Magazine, June 2005 High-Risk Physics by Geoff Brumfiel In the world of billion-dollar particle physics, one lab is taking an enormous gamble on its future. Geoff Brumfiel takes a look at Fermilab’s hopes to host the next big machine. Sitting in a temporary office, Pier Oddone seems relaxed, even confident. Next month, the 60-year-old physicist takes the helm of the leading highenergy physics laboratory in the United States, at a time when the lab’s particle accelerator — its raison d’ętre — is scheduled to close within five years. But Oddone is optimistic about the lab’s future. “It is a tremendous opportunity to move vigorously in new directions,” he says. Read more |
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DOE Safety Review at Fermilab Next Week From June 13-17 the Office of Science will perform the eighth of nine electrical safety reviews scheduled for Fermilab. Director Dr. Raymond Orbach requested these reviews to obtain an overview of the status of energized electrical work and to assist the lab in ensuring electrical safety. Keith Schuh of Fermilab's Partical Physics Division ES&H department said that the review should make available "an independent assessment of the planning
The review team will evaluate how Fermilab plans and executes electrical work, specifically with reference to the requirements in NFPA 70-E "Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace" and the lab's own FESHM electrical safety chapters. "My hope," said Schuh, "is that the review team finds many noteworthy practices at Fermilab, and that our program can be used as a model for other labs."
Schuh planned the review team's schedule while on site, and foresees no
interruptions as a result of their visit. "It shouldn't affect more than
25 people in total," he said. Far from disrupting current work, the team
will focus on planning and management, emphasizing the importance of
implementing safety procedures by training contractors and subcontractors
in the Department of Energy and Fermilab's safety requirements. The review
team will conclude their visit with a Flash Hazard Training session at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, June 17. This presentation is aimed at the entire Fermilab community to spread awareness of possible electric hazards during work here at the lab.
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Florian Organizes Website for FNAL's Bike Commuters | ||
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As the full bike racks outside Wilson Hall attest to, many employees take
advantage of Fermilab's many bike paths and beautiful natural surroundings
and regularly commute to the lab on their bicycles. Bob Florian of
the Accelerator Controls Department has been making his 7 mile trip
to work on his bike for years, and after noticing how many others commute
using bicycles, Florian set up a
Web site for his fellow riders last July.
"I have been riding to work for many years, especially during the summer." Florian said. "I was aware of other riders and thought it might be interesting to get information about things like how much gas we're saving or how many miles we ride." Since Florian created the site 11 months ago, 51 riders have registered and 45 have entered information about subjects including their mileage and the weather conditions during their ride. Florian collects the individual riders' data and compiles it into statistics about the lab's biking community. As of June 9, 2005, Fermilab's bicycle commuters had saved 725.430 gallons of gas and had burned a total of 727,868 calories.
Florian has also registered Fermilab for the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation's
Commuter Challenge, a part of the organization's Bike to Work Week (June 11-17).
He will submit the number of Fermilab employees who bike to work at least once
during that period to the Federation, and organizations with the highest
percentage of bike-riding employees during the week will receive awards.
To sign up for both Bike to Work Week and Florian's regular website,
contact florian@fnal.gov.
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Robin Staffin To Speak at SLAC on Monday - Streaming Video Will Be Available On Monday, June 13, Robin Staffin, Associate Director in DOE's Office of Science, will speak on the state of the national high energy physics program and its future at 4:15 p.m. PST. Streaming video wil be available. more information
Karaoke at Users Center
New SciTech Exhibit!
New Classifieds on Fermilab Today
Fermilab Folk Club Barn Dance |
