Fermilab Today Tuesday, January 22, 2008
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Tuesday, Jan. 22
3:30 p.m.
DIRECTOR'S COFFEE BREAK - 2nd Flr X-Over
THERE WILL BE NO ACCELERATOR PHYSICS AND TECHNOLOGY SEMINAR TODAY

Wednesday, Jan. 23
2:30 p.m.
Particle Astrophysics Seminar - Curia II (NOTE DATE)
Speaker: Y. Mao, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Title: Constraining Cosmological and Gravitational Parameters with Upcoming Astrophysical Data
3:30 p.m.
DIRECTOR'S COFFEE BREAK - 2nd Flr X-Over
4 p.m.
Fermilab Colloquium - One West
Speaker: O. Sporns, Indiana University
Title: Complex Brain Networks - A Key to Understanding Brain Function

Click here for NALCAL,
a weekly calendar with links to additional information.

Weather

WeatherChance of snow 23°/5°

Extended Forecast
Weather at Fermilab

Current Security Status

Secon Level 3

Wilson Hall Cafe
Tuesday, Jan. 22
- Chicken & rice soup
- Low carb burger
- Baked meatloaf w/gravy
- Smart cuisine: parmesan baked fish
- Peppered beef
- Assorted slice pizza
- Chipotle chili & queso nachos supreme

*Carb Restricted Alternative

Wilson Hall Cafe Menu

Chez Leon

Wednesday, Jan. 23
Lunch
- Tinga con tostadas
- Rice & beans
- Pico de gallo
- Pastel de tres leche

Thursday, Jan. 24
Dinner
- Coquille St. Jacques
- Grilled duck breast w/lingonberry wine sauce
- Roasted butternut squash
- Wild rice w/raisins
- Chocolate fondue w/fresh fruit

Chez Leon Menu
Call x4598 to make your reservation.

Archives

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Info

Fermilab Today
is online at:
www.fnal.gov/today/

Send comments and suggestions to:
today@fnal.gov

In Memoriam

In Memoriam: Bob Ducar

Bob Ducar

Bob Ducar, a senior engineer with the Accelerator Division's External Beamlines Department, died after a long battle with cancer last week. He was 63.

"The guy was a class act," said Mike Andrews, NuMI-AD and ES&H coordinator. "He was someone you could trust, someone with integrity. You couldn't find someone who cared about this place more."

Ducar began his Fermilab career as an engineer in the AD Controls Department on Sept. 3, 1968, the year the laboratory broke ground for the first stage of acceleration. He held badge number 259.

AD head Roger Dixon remembered Ducar from his early days in the Laboratory. Dixon said that Ducar "embodied the spirit of Fermilab. No problem was too difficult. Bob played a very significant role in the success of the Accelerator Division in recent times."

Ducar spent the last few years working with NuMI's electronics. He oversaw the NuMI Beam Permit System, an electronic checklist operated at beam start up and at each pulse.

"The system was one of his greatest accomplishments," said Craig Moore, head of the External Beamlines Department and Ducar's direct supervisor for the last few years. "Without the system, the high-power beam could easily damage the equipment."

Ducar worked his way up to senior engineer during his 40-year career, but colleagues said that Ducar never hesitated to pitch in or get his hands dirty.

"Dukes was involved in the installation of all electrical distribution equipment for the NuMI facilities from the planning stage through the actual installation," Andrews said. "And he filled in the gaps whenever something needed to be done."

Besides his engineering contributions, Ducar had a major involvement in electrical safety. He chaired the laboratory's Electrical Safety Subcommittee and trained more than 500 individuals in electrical workplace safety.

Ducar will also be remembered for his sense of humor. AD deputy head Paul Czarapata was a former high school classmate of Ducar's. "His sense of humor was legendary," Czarapata said. "He was always full of practical jokes."

A celebration of Bob Ducar's life will take place on Saturday, Jan. 26, from 2-4 p.m. at the Moss Family Funeral Home at 209 S. Batavia Ave., Batavia, (630) 879-9700.

Bob Ducar, at left, stands with the NuMI Prototype Horn and Crew in MI-8 in 2000.

-- Rhianna Wisniewski

Feature

International Services
is one-stop shop

Left to right: Melissa Clayton-Lang, Barb Book, Amanda Petersen and John Galvan are all part of the newly organized International Services, which now handles visa, user and assignment concerns.

Accessibility, availability and answers are the three ideas that drove the recent melding of the Users', Visa Offices and still-forming Assignment Services. In December, the groups formed International Services, a central hub located on the first floor, west side of Wilson Hall.

"As individuals come in with visa and badge issues, they can receive comprehensive advice," said International Services Supervisor Amanda Petersen. "As they travel back and forth, we are a one-stop shop."

Previously, users coming to Fermilab might need to see both Users' Office employee Barb Book on the first floor and Visa Office employee Melissa Clayton-Lang on the 15th floor separately to get badges and deal with J visa issues.

"Now they don't have to do that anymore," said Clayton-Lang.

"We have more time, which allows us to eliminate backlog and process requests faster," said Book. John Galvan now joins her at the User's Office, replacing Diane Snyder.

"We're always here to answer questions," Clayton-Lang said. "If we don't know the answer, we try to find it."

The office cannot answer questions about visas sponsored by other institutions, but they can provide information on many visa and other immigration issues. Petersen's background in immigration law also allows her to help answer some of the more challenging questions the office receives.

International Services employees can be reached at the following extensions: Amanda Petersen, x4203; Barb Book, x3111; Melissa Clayton-Lang, x3933; and John Galvan, x3811. The mail stop is MS 103 and the fax is x3688.

-- Rhianna Wisniewski

Director's Corner

Caring

Pier Oddone
Pier Oddone

There are so many things to be proud of at Fermilab. What Fermilab people have delivered over the many years of operation has put the laboratory as an institution high in the minds of our colleagues in the science community and made it much appreciated by the public. The recent outpouring of concern and support by mayors, legislators, members of the academic and business communities, neighbors and ordinary citizens who care about science and education has been enormous and dramatic. The people care. We will need their support from now on to make sure that we receive support from the Administration and the Congress as we move into the future, past the fiscal crisis of FY08. We need to express and demonstrate our appreciation for this support at every opportunity.

In the meantime, both as a laboratory and as individuals, the next couple of months will be full of stress as we cope with the present funding crisis and develop and articulate a future program. It is in times like this that the small gestures and kindnesses that we do for each other and the respect that we show each other ease the stress so that we can focus on the path forward. I know this first hand; many colleagues have offered to help, said encouraging words or inquired after my well-being during this time of crisis. They have strengthened my resolve. Knowing that friends and colleagues care and want to take care is immensely encouraging. I urge all of you to go the extra lengths to support your colleagues as we deal with this crisis, always maintaining as a guiding principle our devotion to Fermilab and the commitment to excellence that it represents.

We already know how effective caring for each other is. Our greatly improved performance in preventing injuries this fiscal year has demonstrated this beyond a doubt. Our injury rates are much below last year's, and we have not had an injury requiring days away from work since the one injury at the start of this fiscal year, nearly four months ago. You cannot perform like this if you do not take care of your colleagues and yourself. I want to congratulate every one of you for this achievement. It shows that when we set our minds to solving a problem, we succeed.

In the News

Flagging economy needs science investments

From San Francisco Chronicle, Jan. 20, 2008

Two years ago, the National Academies published the seminal study on U.S. competitiveness entitled "Rising Above the Gathering Storm." The study identified major shortcomings in U.S. investments in basic scientific research as well as in math and science education for our youngsters. The suggestions contained in this study were immediately picked up by the Democratic House Leadership as their competitiveness strategy and later by President Bush in his State of the Union message under his American Competitiveness Initiative. Legislation in the form of the America Competes Act was passed in the House and Senate in 2007, and it appeared the United States was finally going to move forward after years of neglect to increase investment in math, science and basic research. All parties agreed that our competitiveness in the 21st century was at stake and we needed to act.

So much for political will.

Read more

Read all related news stories here.

Accelerator Update
Jan. 16-18
- Two stores provided 41 hours and 50 minutes of luminosity
- Store 5852 made it to the 10th spot for highest luminosity with a luminosity of 275.4E30

Read the Current Accelerator Update
Read the Early Bird Report
View the Tevatron Luminosity Charts

Announcements

Employee Assistance Program
The January newsletters of the Employee Assistance Program are now available for employees and supervisors. The newsletters provide tips for the new year and information on the Employee Assistance Program, which is provided by VMC Behavioral Healthcare Services. Brian Malinowski, EAP counselor, is at Fermilab on Wednesdays and Fridays, x3591, brianm@fnal.gov. As an employee, you have 24-hour access to assistance, seven days a week by calling 1-800-843-1327.

Project X physics workshop Jan. 25-26
Fermilab will host a second users' workshop Jan. 25-26 to discuss the physics of Project X. The workshop will focus on the details of the experiments that might be proposed to take advantage of a high-intensity proton source, their physics impact and the development of the overall experimental strategy. Information about the workshop, working groups and ongoing efforts is available online.

New location for International Services
The Visa Office and Assignment Services have joined the User's Office to form International Services. The office has moved to the first floor of Wilson Hall on the west side. The contact information is as follows: Amanda Petersen, x4203; Barb Book, x3111; Melissa Clayton Lang, x3933; and John Galvan, x3811. The mail stop is MS 103, and the fax is x3688.

Scottish country dance Tuesday
Scottish country dancing will meet today, Jan. 22, at Kuhn Barn. Instruction begins at 7:30 p.m. and newcomers are always welcome. Most dances are fully taught and walked through, and you do not need to come with a partner. Call (630) 840-8194 or (630) 584-0825 or e-mail for more information.

Additional Activities

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