Happy New Year, Ames Laboratory!
We Are Ames Lab: team profile project launches for 2022 Insider
In 2022, Insider will launch a feature that highlights an individual operations or research group each month. The feature, We Are Ames Lab, will include an overview of that team’s operations or research efforts, and a roster of team members with photos and their individual responsibilities. The feature will alternate between Operations and Research groups, beginning in January with Procurement. The project is expected to extend well into 2023.
“This is actually a reboot of an Insider feature that ran regularly several years ago, and was very popular at that time,” said Communications Manager Laura Millsaps. “With the expectation that we will all have an opportunity for more on-site and in-person work in the new year, we think it’s a great time to do a round of introductions for everyone, especially for those who joined Ames Lab during the pandemic.”
The feature will serve as the foundation for an internal photo-directory in ServiceNow, with more details to follow in January’s edition of Insider.
Green Dot training events held and action steps
Ames Laboratory D&I Council partnered with Ames Laboratory Learning and Development Manager, Erin Gibson to hold two one-hour virtual Green Dot training sessions in late November and mid-December 2021.
Thank you to the thirty-five participants for the meaningful training and dialogue. If you missed these events, then please join us in April or October in 2022!
This one-hour training aims to decrease harassment and power-based personal violence in the community through education, outreach, and development. A 'green dot' symbolizes a single moment in time that can be used to support victims of power-based personal violence. As a bystander you can intervene directly, delegate for help, or create a distraction to stop harassment. Those that attend training events are also encouraged to display proactive green dots such as stickers, posters, pins, and email signatures. These actions promote a safe, respectful and inclusive environment. In addition, Green Dot at ISU/Ames Laboratory aspires to do the following:
- Integrate into all aspects of campus life and community,
- Increase faculty, staff and student support,
- Demonstrate cultural humility to better serve diverse populations, and
- Implement best practices to enhance programs and initiatives.
Action Steps
- Contact training@ameslab.gov to schedule a training for your group.
- Promote future Green Dot training to your peers.
- Did you attend a Green Dot training session? Describe the experience in your annual performance appraisal.
- Display proactive Green Dot items after attending a training.
- Watch for future Green Dot training opportunities in the coming months.
For additional resources about Green Dot please visit: https://www.studentwellness.iastate.edu/greendot/
Omicron variant: What you need to know
The CDC is working with state and local public health officials to monitor the spread of Omicron. As of December 20, 2021, Omicron has been detected in most states and territories and is rapidly increasing the proportion of COVID-19 cases it is causing.
CDC has been collaborating with global public health and industry partners to learn about Omicron, as we
continue to monitor its course. We don’t yet know how easily it spreads, the severity of illness it causes, or how well available vaccines and medications work against it.
- Spread: The Omicron variant likely will spread more easily than the original SARS-CoV-2 virus. How easily Omicron spreads compared to Delta remains unknown. The CDC expects that anyone with an Omicron infection can spread the virus to others, even if they are vaccinated or don’t have symptoms.
- Severe Illness: More data are needed to know if Omicron infections, and especially reinfections and breakthrough infections in people who are fully vaccinated, cause more severe illness or death than infection with other variants.
- Vaccines: Current vaccines are expected to protect against severe illness, hospitalizations, and deaths due to infection with the Omicron variant. However, breakthrough infections in people who are fully vaccinated are likely to occur. With other variants, like Delta, vaccines have remained effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalizations, and death. The recent emergence of Omicron further emphasizes the importance of vaccination and boosters.
- Treatments: Scientists are working to determine how well existing treatments for COVID-19 work. Based on the changed genetic make-up of Omicron, some treatments are likely to remain effective while others may be less effective.
READ MORE from the CDC about the tools to fight Omicron.
New counterintelligence bulletin launched
The Argonne Regional Field Office (ARFO) of Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence (CI) is now publishing an unclassified quarterly CI Awareness Bulletin for distribution at the three labs under its responsibility-- Argonne, Fermilab, and Ames Laboratory. 
ARFO’s mission is to provide CI support to Argonne, Fermilab and Ames DOE facilities; to protect DOE and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) from foreign intelligence and terrorist activity; to provide leadership to the intelligence community and to investigate national security crimes and related incidents that impact DOE equities, its personnel, information, material, facilities, and activities.
ARFO’s Q1 bulletin includes an overview of the indictment of former University of Florida professor Lin Yang, and tips on how to recognize potential CI violations in the workplace. Read the attached Q1 Bulletin HERE.
Announcements and Events
2021 Skill Series - Final Article!
It's the end of the year and many of us take this time to reflect. Make sure to read the last Skill Series knowledge article on "Continuous Improvement - Process Mapping and Assessment". You can also review all previous articles by navigating to the Learning and Development Knowledge Base and filtering for '2021 Skill Series'.
Need help with student hiring?
Ames Laboratory Human Resources can assist with your student hiring needs. Please refer to the ServiceNow article Student Hiring Process to review the steps in the process. Reach out to our office for any questions or assistance in hiring a student (humanresources@ameslab.gov).
Adjusted Winter Break Hours
As we have in the past, Ames Laboratory operations offices will be open from 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. for adjusted Winter break hours, as detailed below.
- Adjusted Winter Break Hours: Monday Dec. 20, 2021 - Friday, January 14, 2022
- University Holiday: Friday, Dec. 31, 2021
Please remind your staff of the upcoming hours, and be sure to post the adjusted hours on your office suite door if you are working on-site.