Fermilab Today

Friday, September 1, 2006

Friday, September 1
3:30 p.m. DIRECTOR'S COFFEE BREAK - 2nd Flr X-over
4:00 p.m. Joint Experimental Theoretical Physics Seminar - 1 West
Speaker: D. Hooper, Fermilab
Title: Probing SUSY with Dark Matter Experiments

Monday, September 4
Labor Day

Tuesday, September 5
3:30 p.m. DIRECTOR'S COFFEE BREAK - 2nd Flr X-over
4:00 p.m. Accelerator Physics and Technology Seminar - 1 West
Speaker: X. Yang, Fermilab
Title: Simulation of Transition Crossing in the Fermilab Booster

Click here for a full calendar with links to additional information.

Chance of Showers 71º/55º

Extended Forecast

Weather at Fermilab

Secon Level 3

Friday, September 1
-Cream of Wild Mushroom
-Blackened Fish Filet Sandwich
-Southern Fried Chicken
-Tuna Casserole
-Eggplant Parmesan Panini
-Assorted Slice Pizza
-Assorted Sub Sandwich

Upcoming Menu

Wednesday, September 6
Lunch
-Salmon Fillet w/Watercress Sauce
-Orzo w/Pine Nuts, Tomatoes and Arugula
-Chocolate Raspberry Cake

Thursday, September 7
Dinner
-Melon and Prosciutto
-Pork Tenderloin w/Madeira Sauce
-Vegetables of the Season
-Marzipan Cake

Chez Leon Menu
Call x4598 to make your reservation.

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Six years later, 'Nature of Science' is recast as podcast

Yale sophomore David Mackenzie reconfigured an old video into a podcast.

The answers came six years before the questions were asked. And it was Yale sophomore David Mackenzie, son of Fermilab theorist Paul Mackenzie, who finally did the asking. Mackenzie spent the summer working with Fermilab's Jim Shultz of Visual Media Services to reconfigure and podcast a six-year-old video called "The Nature of Science," in which biochemists, physicists and paleontologists reflect on the scientific process. Mackenzie edited the old video into a conversation in which the scientists answer new questions he poses.

"At the beginning this summer, I was handed a CD of some QuickTime movies," said Mackenzie. "I just started thinking about how to get these into a conversational format--how to weave them into a sort of narrative." He devised a list of questions he could ask the scientists on the CD, and then moved backward, editing the old conversations. Questions like "How do you feel about being wrong?" and "What made you want to become a scientist?" are followed by seamless answers from young scientists, including Debbie Harris, Leo Bellantoni and Scott Dodelson of Fermilab.

"I really liked some of the main points and I just thought they were worded so well," said Fred Ullrich of Visual Media Services. In addition to writing nine questions and a short introduction, Mackenzie provided the music and narration. "Six years after we recorded these young scientists, David brings the conversation alive again," said Ullrich. "His approach really sets a standard for future podcasts."

Check out Mackenzie's podcast on the VMS website.
--Siri Steiner

Time to celebrate: Fermilab employees and users gathered Wednesday to toast recent luminosity records and to thank the Accelerator Division for providing Fermilab experiments with a steady supply of particles. "It's amazing what you do every day," said DOE Fermi Site Office Manager Joanna Livengood. "You guys are amazing and terrific."

Stay tuned for next week's story on the tweaks and triumphs that allowed the Tevatron to set new records.

New Scientist,
September 2, 2006:
North of the big bang (article preview)
Magnetic fields that guide you on a trip through time? Anil Ananthaswamy sets his cosmic compass

"MY EXERCISE every morning is to try and pour cold water on my fantasies." Don't worry, Massimo Giovannini is not thinking of anything salacious. He's a physicist at the CERN particle physics lab in Geneva, Switzerland, and Giovannini's flights of fancy concern the gigantic and mysterious magnetic fields that stretch through space.
Read More

Gone in 20 picoseconds

Partial schematic of the polarized electron source for the ILC. (Click image to see full schematic)

Imagine that you are given roughly three months to complete a project. Then your boss comes in and asks if you can speed things up - not by just a couple of weeks or even months. You have precisely 100 times less than your original deadline, squeezing the amount of time in three months down to one day. Picture yourself in this situation, and you will have a renewed respect for the massive requirement of the electron source R&D group for the International Linear Collider - shortening the electron pulses from two nanoseconds to 20 picoseconds.
Read More

EPA will remove hazardous waste from your home

Attention homeowners: It's time to round up old medicines, used batteries, weed killers and any other hazardous waste that might be lurking in your home. The Illinois EPA will drop by your neighborhood to pick them up and dispose of them this fall. The agency has just released a hazardous waste collection schedule, planned for 10 Illinois communities during September and October.

In addition to the waste collection dates posted, there is a local permanent drop-off location at Naperville's Fire Station No. 4, just off of Route 59. They accept household hazardous waste every weekend from 9am-3pm. The best time for drop-off is on Sunday afternoons (you might have to wait an hour during peak periods). Additional information about permanent drop-off locations are listed near the bottom of the collection schedule press release.

Weekly Time Sheets Due Today
Due to the holiday on Monday, weekly time sheets must be given to Payroll by 10:00 a.m. on Friday, September 1.

Hadronic Shower Simulation Workshop
A Hadronic Showers workshop will take place at Fermilab from September 6 through September 8. The workshop will focus on the understanding and simulation of hadronic showers in calorimeters, in shielding, in the atmosphere and the ocean. If you would like to participate, please register as soon as possible. There is no registration fee.

Benefits survey
Would you like to give feedback about your benefits? The Benefits Office invites you to participate in a survey, and will use your feedback to enhance customer service and review benefit offerings. You may complete the survey electronically or come to the Benefits Office to pick up a paper copy. The survey ends September 8.

2007 Recreation Facility memberships
2006 Recreation Facility memberships will expire October 2, but you can buy a new one starting today. The cost is $85.00 for a regular membership and $55.00 for graduate students. Employees who purchase memberships in the beginning of September will receive 13 months for the price of 12. Fees can be paid with Visa, MasterCard, check or cash in the Recreation Office, WH15W. Registration forms are available at the Recreation Webpage, and in the Recreation Office. If you would like to check out the facility before purchasing a membership, contact the Recreation Office for a 1-day pass.

Professional Development
New classes are always being added to the professional development schedule. For the most up-to-date course offerings, go to the web page.

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New classified ads have been posted on Fermilab Today.

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