Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012
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Have a safe day!

Tuesday, Dec. 4

3 p.m.
LHC Physics Center Topic of the Week Seminar - WH11
Speaker: Alexander Paramonov, Argonne National Laboratory
Title: Study of Jets Produced in Association with a Vector Boson

3:30 p.m.
DIRECTOR'S COFFEE BREAK - 2nd Flr X-Over

THERE WILL BE NO ACCELERATOR PHYSICS AND TECHNOLOGY SEMINAR TODAY

Wednesday, Dec. 5

3:30 p.m.
DIRECTOR'S COFFEE BREAK - 2nd Flr X-Over

4 p.m.
Fermilab Colloquium - One West
Speaker: David Keith, Harvard University
Title: The Risks and Efficacy of Solar Geoengineering

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a weekly calendar with links to additional information.

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Weather Mostly sunny
55°/28°

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Current Security Status

Secon Level 3

Current Flag Status

Flags at full-staff

Wilson Hall Cafe

Tuesday, Dec. 4

- Breakfast: All-American breakfast
- Minnesota chicken and rice
- Chicken quesadilla
- Baja chicken enchilada casserole
- Smart cuisine: pork piccata
- California turkey panini
- Assorted pizza by the slice
- Taco salad

Wilson Hall Cafe Menu

Chez Leon

Wednesday, Dec. 5
Lunch
- Cajun jambalaya (shrimp, chicken and andouille sausage)
- Mixed-green salad
- Sour-cream lemon pie

Friday, Dec. 7
Dinner
- Mushroom soup with chorizo and scallions
- Pecan-crusted beef tenderloin
- Cauliflower gratin
- Brussels sprouts with lemon and bacon
- Chocolate mousse pie

Chez Leon Menu
Call x3524 to make your reservation.

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Feature

Handler encourages young scientists to make research accessible to government

Physics professor Thomas Handler delivered a Fermilab Colloquium talk on Wednesday on science and public policy. Photo: Jessica Orwig

Scientists have a responsibility not only to advance their research, but also to make it accessible to those who shape public policy, says Thomas Handler, who spoke at last week's Fermilab Colloquium. It requires an understanding of the language of government as much as that of science, he said, and more often than not, scientists aren't versed enough in policy-speak to communicate well with lawmakers.

"We have to be clear that we're all using the same dictionary," he said. "Our use of words is different from the way the public uses them."

Handler, a Fermilab user and professor of physics at the University of Tennessee, has made it part of his mission to teach future scientists and science policymakers to be fluent in both languages. Two years ago he started a class at the university for undergraduates and graduates on the interface between science and public policy.

"They learn that there's more than just science that goes into science legislation," he said. He teaches students about all the variables of science legislation, which are usually far more numerous than they think.

Handler, who currently works on the NOvA experiment, had spent most of his career studying meson and neutrino physics when, about eight years ago, he began making trips to Washington, D.C., as a member of the Fermilab Users' Executive Committee. His interests gradually shifted from science in the laboratory to science as understood on Capitol Hill.

"I started to recognize that what you see and hear in the media doesn't fully portray what goes on in Congress," he said. The portrayal of contentiousness is exaggerated, he said, and legislators can be very receptive to scientists' recommendations, especially when offered as respectful, researched advice. Too frequently, he said, these recommendations come across as decrees sent down from the halls of ivy to the halls of government.

It's a message he wants to bring to students early in their own careers, and at least one of his former students has made the switch from science scholarship to the public sector. This spring he will teach the public policy class for the third time.

By imparting what he's learned as a seasoned advocate of science to government, he hopes to influence the next generation of scientists to become excellent science advocates themselves—not just good researchers.

"It's been an interesting journey," he said. "If I'd known 30 years ago what I know now, I'd have made a change to working in public policy a long time ago."

Leah Hesla

Photo of the Day

Arrangement in gray

Fog blanketed Fermilab yesterday morning. Photo: Timothy Niemiec, BSS
From WDRS

Learn how to reduce clearance through customs from hours to minutes

If you travel overseas, then plan to attend a presentation by Fermilab International Services (in collaboration with the Users' Executive Committee) on Global Entry, a program that allows for expedited clearance through immigration and customs on return to the United States. Attendees will learn details about the program, the application procedure and other U.S. government programs that facilitate travel.

Enrollment in the Global Entry program can significantly reduce the customs process from hours to minutes. All U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents and certain nationals of Canada, Mexico, the Netherlands and South Korea are eligible to complete the application process, which consists of two steps: an online application and an interview with the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection.

The application process requires an interview that is usually conducted at O'Hare International Airport after preliminary security clearances have been completed. However, International Services has arranged for CBP security clearance officers to visit Fermilab on Feb. 28, 2013, to conduct all interviews with qualifying Fermilab employees and users who have registered with International Services for an interview.

In the News

New chairman for House Science, Space, and Technology Committee

From FYI: The AIP Bulletin of Science Policy News, Nov. 30, 2012

When the new Congress convenes in January, Representative Lamar Smith (R-TX) will chair the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. Smith will replace Ralph Hall (R-TX) who has chaired the committee since January 2011.

Read more
In the News

Higgs matters

From The New York Times, Nov. 30, 2012

Clear explanations of the Higgs boson, also dubbed the "God Particle," have been about as elusive as the particle itself, which was finally glimpsed in July. Despite major media coverage of the discovery, many people still don't understand its momentous meaning and significance.

Does it matter? Yes.

Read more
Director's Corner

Organizational changes

Fermilab Director
Pier Oddone

Several organizational changes went into effect this week at Fermilab and are now reflected in the organization chart for the laboratory. The changes are important but do not alter the fundamental structure of the laboratory. They are primarily in the supporting areas for laboratory planning, technology transfer, project management and international collaboration. The changes will help Fermilab to be more efficient and effective and will help to address the growing importance of international partnerships and the new programs at the Illinois Accelerator Research Center (IARC) with their associated need for managing technology transfer. They also help us with functions that we have been performing during the last few years in less than optimal ways.

Following is a brief overview of the reorganization; more detailed explanations of each change will be conveyed through Fermilab Today articles over the next couple of months.

The Office of Integrated Planning (previously under the Office of Program and Project Support) will become the Office of Integrated Planning & Performance Management and will remain in the Directorate. A search is currently under way for an office head, who will lead the planning efforts at the laboratory, connecting more effectively the technical areas and the financial areas of the laboratory.

To assist with our growing number of international partnerships, we have created an Office of International Programs. It will be led by Shekhar Mishra and reside in the Directorate. Laboratory scientists with connections in various regions of the world will contribute their expertise as we expand our international collaboration in the many projects in front of us.

IARC opens a new important aspect of the laboratory, working closely with industrial partners toward societal benefits and training a new generation in accelerator technology. Thus IARC is now listed as a major initiative for the laboratory along with LBNE and Project X. IARC will continue to be led by Bob Kephart.

An Office of Partnerships and Technology Transfer has been established to support the increased emphasis on the application of accelerators brought by IARC. This office will assist with the many issues that arise in managing intellectual property and partnerships with industry. This office resides in the Operations Sector, reporting directly to Jack Anderson. While its emphasis initially will be on the IARC programs, it will also provide support to other areas of the laboratory. We will recruit an expert in this area to head the office.

The Office of Project Management Oversight will become Project Support Services, which will be headed by Dean Hoffer, and will be relocated to the Operations Sector. It will continue to assist and train project personnel, help organize reviews and set standards for the management and control of projects. The function of project oversight will be carried out by the Project Oversight Group, constituted by the senior managers of the laboratory and meeting regularly to oversee all projects.

The Office of Quality and Best Practices will be moved under Nancy Grossman's area, ES&H, which will be renamed ESH&Q. The quality programs are more general than just ES&H but use much of the same methodology. They are closely linked to our emphasis on Human Performance Improvement now being implemented across the laboratory.

In upcoming issues of Fermilab Today you will learn more details about how these various changes will help us be more effective and streamline some of our operations. We are implementing these changes largely by redeploying existing resources, though there will be a few additional personnel required as the IARC and Technology Transfer functions grow in the laboratory.

Construction Update

PXIE cave construction begins

Construction for the Project X Injector Experiment has recently begun. Photo: Jerry Leibfritz, AD

Construction of the concrete shield cave for the Project X Injector Experiment recently began in the Cryomodule Test Facility building. PXIE is an R&D test accelerator that will replicate the front-end portion of Project X. It will be located at the CMTF building, inside a 150-foot-long concrete shielding cave. The first shield blocks arrived in November and were set in place to form the entry labyrinth of the test cave. Delivery of the blocks will continue over the next couple of months, with the goal of having the first half of the cave built by February 2013 to coincide with the installation of the PXIE ion source.

Announcements

Today's New Announcements

Clearance through customs - from hours to minutes - Dec. 13

Revised Procedures for Researchers document online

NALWO Holiday Tea - today

Wilson Hall super science stocking stuffer sale - today and tomorrow

C2ST screening of "A Beautiful Mind" - Dec. 6

Playgroup Holiday Party - Dec. 7

The Good Lovelies: Under the Mistletoe - Dec. 8

Fermilab Heartland Blood Drive - Dec. 10-11

AFS passwords to be discontinued - Dec. 11

Fermilab's Holiday Celebration - Dec. 13

Holiday stress relief massages - Dec. 20

An Honest Approach to Weight Management - register by Dec. 21

Professional development courses

International Folk Dancing every Thursday through December

Indoor soccer

Employee discount at Journey Cycle and BMX

Additional Fermilab employee discounts

Atrium work updates