Windus, Kaminski awarded top faculty honors from Iowa State University
Windus appointed chair of Iowa State’s Department of Chemistry
Congratulations to Ames National Laboratory Scientist Theresa Windus, who has been appointed the new chair of Iowa State University’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Department of Chemistry. Windus is a computational chemist who develops methods and algorithms for high performance computational chemistry. Her work at Iowa State and Ames National Laboratory involves collaboration with research in many
fields to speed innovation in basic and applied science. Read the announcement here.
Kaminski named to Harmon-Ye Professorship
Ames National Laboratory Scientist Adam Kaminski was recently named to the Harmon-Ye Professorship in the Iowa State University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Kaminski is being honored for his internationally-recognized expertise in experimental condensed matter physics, and his pioneering contributions to Angle Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy (ARPES). The Harmon-Ye Endowed Professorship was established in 2022 and supports the work of outstanding faculty members in science, technology, engineering, or math. It is named for Iowa State Alumnus Jun Ye, who gifted the endowment; and Bruce Harmon, who is a distinguished professor emeritus of condensed matter physics at Iowa State University, and a current research contributor at Ames National Laboratory. Congratulations, Adam!
Ames Lab hosts 21st annual Iowa Regional Middle School Science Bowl this weekend
Ames National Laboratory and Iowa State University will host 26 middle schools from all over the state for the Iowa
Regional Middle School School Science Bowl on Saturday, March 2. The competition is part of the Official National Science Bowl, a U.S. Department of Energy academic competition that tests students’ knowledge in all areas of science and mathematics. "Iowa Regional Science Bowl events offer the youth of the state of Iowa the opportunity to showcase their knowledge in the STEM fields, while experiencing a sense of community," said Kelly Bergman, an education and outreach program specialist at Ames Lab. Science Bowl is designed to encourage students to excel in mathematics and science and to pursue careers in these fields. More than 344,000 students have participated in the National Science Bowl® throughout its 34-year history, and it is one of the nation’s largest science competitions. READ MORE
Resources are available to help group leaders review and update their chemical inventories
We appreciate your patience as we all get used to our new chemical inventory system, SafetyStratus. Many of you
have started exploring the system and asked great questions since SafetyStratus launched a few weeks ago, so please keep those coming. We have updated this ServiceNow article based on your feedback. It also includes a downloadable PDF copy of the SafetyStratus user guide.
We are asking all group leaders to review their inventories in SafetyStratus and ensure they are up-to-date by the end of the day on Friday, March 15. Having current chemical inventory information is critical to help reduce risk and contribute to safety throughout the Lab. Group leaders, please watch your inboxes for messages from your SafetyStratus administrators and respond to the one-question survey inside.
We are here to help. Reach out any time to safetystratus@ameslab.gov.
Update: Construction in TASF
If you have been in TASF lately, you’ve probably noticed a buzz of activity as the Laboratory works on modernizing and enhancing site security. In addition to installing surveillance cameras, we are updating 105 TASF to become the future badging office. Both projects are possible because of direct funding from the Office of Science. Stay tuned for additional details! We appreciate everyone’s patience during these transitions, especially our colleagues in Information Technology and Education & Outreach. Education & Outreach will relocate to the third floor of TASF after the Science Bowl. Your cooperation and understanding are appreciated. Please direct any questions or concerns to Security and Emergency Services at security@ameslab.gov.
Retirement: Ross Van Marel
Ross Vanmarel will retire from the Laboratory April 2. He has worked as a facilities mechanic for 33 years. Please direct your good wishes for a happy retirement to Ross at rossvan@ameslab.gov. Happy retirement, Ross!
Plenty of professional development opportunities coming your way
Consider participating in one of the upcoming professional development offerings at the Laboratory:
Managing Change Learning Session: Join us on Tuesday, March 5 from 1:30 p.m.-2:45 p.m. in 205 TASF as Change Management Specialist, Emily Linroth, provides insights and advice for managing the inevitable change in your life, workplace, and beyond. Attendees will learn what change management is and how it can help lead to project success, hear examples of how we are applying change management tactics to individual projects and Lab-wide initiatives, and leave with immediately applicable skills for navigating any type of change. RSVP to receive a calendar invite and ensure seating.
Project Management Essentials: Do you want to learn more about completing projects on time, on budget, and with the highest quality? Franklin Covey’s Project Management for the Unofficial Project Manager covers techniques and tools with the foundational paradigm that “People + Process = Success.” This free course will be offered on Tuesday, March 26 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. in 205 TASF. Login to Workday Learning to secure your seat. Contact Nancy Turner with questions, nturner@ameslab.gov.
Green Dot Training: Consider joining our next interactive, virtual Green Dot Training session scheduled for April 10 from 11 a.m.-noon. Green Dot’s mission is to decrease power-based personal violence on campus by utilizing education, outreach, and development as mechanisms for increasing awareness and competency around bystander intervention skills. This presentation seeks to prepare participants with the connection, knowledge, and skills to increase proactive and reactive bystander behavior. If interested, you may register here.
Ombuds-led Courses
Additionally, employees are invited to consider the upcoming Ombuds-led courses below, open to up to 30 participants at the university. Click the course title link to register and see more information in Workday Learning:
Conflict Management: This workshop will explore the primary responses to conflict and in what contexts each makes the most sense. Participants will discuss how to engage with people who appear to be occupying an alternate reality and the many ways in which our brain can get us into trouble despite our best intentions. Taught by Laura Smythe, this course will be held March 26 from 9-11a.m.
Ethical Leadership: This workshop will focus on insights gleaned about what behaviors motivate others to do their very best and what behaviors become barriers to employees reaching their full potential and/or feeling appreciated and respected. Taught by Laura Smythe, this course will be offered April 26 from 9-10:30a.m.
February IDEAS: An Invited Speaker Event for Women’s History Month
In honor of Women’s History Month, the Women’s Departm
ent of Energy InterLaboratory Collaboration is hosting a virtual speaker event, open to everyone at all DOE sites. Microsoft General Manager Kate Maxwell will present “The Woman in the Arena” virtually at 1 p.m. CST, March 21. This event requires registration to attend and will be held virtually across the entire DOE enterprise. This event is open to everyone, but attendance is limited. If you plan to attend, register here.
If you cannot attend, please do not register, as it will prevent someone else from being able to do so.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Nomination period open for Director’s Excellence Awards
Nominations for the Laboratory Director's Excellence Awards are open now through April 17, 2024. All Laboratory employees – regardless of role – are eligible for this award. Please consider nominating a fellow employee who has positively impacted Ames Laboratory through their demonstration of our core values. See the Director's Excellence Award 2024 knowledge article for more information on criteria and the nomination process.
TASF 140 temporarily unavailable
TASF 140 will be unavailable to reserve or use from Monday, Jan. 22 - Tuesday, March 5. The room will be used by Education & Outreach to prepare and organize for the Science Bowl competitions. Education & Outreach will be relocating to the third floor TASF in the upcoming weeks, so this will prevent them from needing to relocate all of the Science Bowl materials and equipment mid-competition.