A cool technology started here at Ames National Laboratory
What if we could cool things down using magnets or other forces instead of harmful gases? Ames National Laboratory has been working on this technology—called calorics—since 1997, when scientists here discovered the giant magnetocaloric effect. These systems promise a cleaner, more efficient way to cool everything from electronics to homes, without relying on traditional refrigerants that can damage the environment. In a recently-published article from Advanced Materials Technologies, Agata Czernuszewicz, Yaroslav Mudryk, Jun Cui, Lucas Griffith, Duane D. Johnson, and Julie Slaughter provide an excellent review of the technology’s development from a researcher's point of view. They also pay tribute to two Ames Lab pioneers in the field, the late scientists Karl Gschneidner and Vitalij Pecharsky. You can read the journal article HERE.
Ames National Laboratory welcomes summer interns and visiting faculty
Ames National Laboratory is excited to welcome 31 summer participants to our internship and visiting faculty programs.
This summer's cohort includes participants from Office of Science’s WDTS (Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists) programs, which include SULI (Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships), CCI (Community College Internship), and VFP (Visiting Faculty Program). We also have participants from the NNSA’s MSIIP (Minority Serving Institution Internship Program) and the GEM Fellowship Program. Program participants represent 17 different states/territories and 23 different institutions.
All participants will be taking part in the Ames Lab Launch Experience, designed to support students and visiting faculty throughout their training as scientists and technical professionals during their time here. Students are guided by mentors with goals to help inform career options, support the future STEM workforce, and encourage students to pursue STEM careers. Additionally, students in these programs will have access to professional development learning opportunities and present a poster of their research at the end of the summer.
Thank you to the following mentors and co-PI’s for hosting a program participant this summer: Rana Biswas, Damien Culver, Mark Gordon, Lucas Griffith, Wenyu Huang, Thomas Koschny, Robert McQueeney, Gaoyuan Ouyang, Frederic Perras, Long Qi, Ryan Richard, Aaron Rossini, Aaron Sadow, Ajay Singh, Prashant Singh, Tyler Slade, Julie Slaughter, Xueyu Song, Jordan Tiarks, Alex Travesset, Javier Vela, Jigang Wang, and Peng Xu.
For more information on the internship and visiting faculty programs, contact kbergman@ameslab.gov.
Ames Lab Blood Drive – August 4
Help keep the blood supply afloat this summer!
Join us for our next American Red Cross Blood Drive:
- Where: Spedding Auditorium 301A-B
- Date: Monday, Aug. 4, 2025
- Time: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Schedule your appointment online at Red Cross Blood Drive, call 1-800-RED CROSS, or stop by G11 TASF.
Make sure to bring a photo ID, university ID, or donor card. Also, if you donate Aug. 1-28 you can receive a $15 e-gift card, plus free A1C testing!
New opportunity: A1C testing
A1C testing measures your average blood sugar levels over the past 2-3 months and offers valuable insight into your risk for diabetes. It is a simple, quick test that can help monitor your health, and is available to donors at no additional cost during the blood drive.
Thank you for helping save lives—your donation makes a difference!
Construction Updates
FES Projects: Activities underway and upcoming
Here are updates about the most visible impacts coming up for major construction projects:
Wilhelm Dock closure extended by one week: The frequent rain last week and more wet weather in the forecast has forced us to extend the Wilhelm Dock closure by one week. If the concrete dust created by grinding down the old dock surface gets wet and then dries, it solidifies and must be ground down again. Contractors are more than halfway through removing the dock’s surface and continue to work whenever it is not raining. We will notify everyone at the Lab before the dock reopens and if any other schedule changes occur.
Wilhelm Hall power outage scheduled for July 2: The whole-building electrical outage for normal power in Wilhelm Hall is scheduled for July 2 from 6:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. This outage is required to power the new rooftop air handling unit for the Wilhelm HVAC project. Emergency power will stay on during the outage.
Brief door card reader outages coming for SIF and TASF: Contractors will begin replacing outdated access control panels in buildings for the Access Control project. During panel replacement, exterior and interior doors with card readers that receive signals from these panels will lock automatically and can only be opened from the outside with a physical key, or physically pushed open from inside. Panel replacements take less than two hours, and work will start with the SIF and TASF this month. We will communicate guidance and expectations to each building in advance.
Date still TBD for parking lot closure for crane: The one-day closure of Parking Lot 26 (the lot between Spedding, TASF, and Wilhelm) and the sidewalks west and south of Wilhelm Hall will likely happen in July. This closure is required for a crane to set the new air handling unit on the roof of Wilhelm Hall for the Wilhelm HVAC project. We will send a Lab-wide message before the closure.
June included the arrival of the job site trailer for the AIM project, testing and balancing of new equipment and installing new ductwork for the Wilhelm HVAC project, the closure of the Wilhelm dock for repair and resurfacing, and contractor walk-throughs in Spedding Hall for multiple projects including Access Control, PIPES, and Hazardous and Flammable Gas Storage. Visit the FES Projects webpage for more details about these and other projects.
Human Resources
Purchasing power: Shop now, pay over time!
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Get started today through the Everyday Marketplace and enjoy flexible, budget-friendly shopping.
Learn more and enroll at https://everyday.aon.com/ISU/
Questions? Contact: hrshelp@iastate.edu or call: 515-294-4800
Professional Development
Real Resilience webinar through Iowa State
Resilience is crucial for personal and professional success in today’s fast-paced, unpredictable world. Real Resilience equips individuals with the skills and mindset to navigate uncertainty and adversity with strength and adaptability. This course offers a comprehensive framework and practical strategies to understand and build resilience.
Course Objectives:
- Develop Self-Awareness and Reflection: Gain insights into your thoughts and behaviors.
- Implement Actionable Self-Support Steps: Learn practical techniques to support yourself during challenging times.
- Discover Inner Meaning and Purpose: Uncover core values and purpose to stay motivated.
- Build Positive Relationships: Identify and cultivate relationships that provide support and growth.
Date: Wednesday, July 23, 2025
Time: 10 a.m - noon via Microsoft Teams
Registration: Register in Workday
Webinar: Leading people through change
Join the DOE Change Management Community of Practice for a one-hour webinar on guiding teams through change. Research shows that employees respond best to change when it’s communicated by their direct supervisors—highlighting the critical role managers play in the process.
A change management expert from Sandia National Laboratories will outline five key roles managers can play to support their teams effectively.
While especially relevant for DOE national lab managers, the insights are broadly applicable, and all are welcome.
Date: Tuesday, July 15, 2025
Time: 1 p.m – 2 p.m.
Registration: Free. RSVP at this link.
Questions? Contact Change Management Specialist Emily Linroth at elinroth@ameslab.gov or 515-294-2325.