Ames Lab science for a sustainable future: plastics upcycling
In honor of Earth Day (April 22), Ames Lab scientist Aaron Sadow talked about plastics upcycling research on Iowa Public Radio's River to River program (podcast linked HERE), and videographer Marlee Baldridge launched this Ames Lab 101 video explaining Sadow's work leading iCOUP, the Institute for the Cooperative Upcycling of Plastics.
Helium shortage intensifies: Lab urges careful use and practices
A global helium shortage, exacerbated by domestic plant shut-downs and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, could become a potential supply issue for Ames Laboratory. The situation could have consequences for
research at the Lab, and care is being urged.
“Proper Helium handling I believe is more crucial now than ever before,” said Nick Kriegel, Senior Research Technician for the Low Temperature Lab. “We need groups to be as careful as they can, prevent human error, and check their equipment for flaws.”
The Laboratory has an extensive recovery system, which enables it to capture reclaimed helium gas in a central storage area in Zaffarano so that it can be re-liquified for reuse. It’s an important feature for keeping liquid helium readily available for research activities, but it isn’t perfect -- the helium recovery rate is not 100%, necessitating the routine purchase of helium to replenish gas that is lost. Currently costs are rising, and delivery allocations are dropping. The amount of time and effort the system takes to recycle the helium, said Kriegel, is an added factor in making sure there are adequate supplies for research activities.
“We can do much better in our recovery rates,” said Kriegel, “and doing so will help manage costs and scarcity.” The Low Temperature Lab recommends:
- Monitor valves closely and frequently, making sure they are closed when work is complete. Open valves not only mean loss of helium from equipment, it also means helium is escaping the recovery system.
- Monitor closely and frequently for leaks in supply lines and transfer tubes, and for poorly fitting or broken O-rings. Replace brittle or cracked tubing.
- Research groups should plan and coordinate experiments and equipment operation for the most efficient use of available helium.
- Research groups should contact the Low Temp if there are questions or concerns, at Ltl@ameslab.gov or 294-1141.
75th Anniversary roundup: Ames Lab ice cream is on the way!
The winning Ames Lab ice cream flavor, Materials Masterpiece, came rolling off the production line at the ISU Creamery yesterday, and we were there for the photo op. The winning flavor and others from the Creamery’s ice cream line-up will be served at the 75th Anniversary picnic on Tuesday, May 17.
Sheet metal mechanic Mike Dotzler to retire in May
Mike Dotzler, Sheet Metal Mechanic III, with retire on May 16, completing 43 years at Ames Laboratory.
Mike’s work at Ames Laboratory began in 1979, during a period when the buildings were being decontaminated
of radioactive materials, asbestos, and beryllium left behind by the Manhattan Project. A good part of Mike’s career involved making the buildings safer for those who worked inside them.
“When I reported to work, I was surprised to learn that the Lab gave me several pair of pants, shirts, and socks to wear at work, so I didn't take any contamination home with me at night,” said Mike, “It seems like I’ve lived in a half-face respirator, Tyveks, gloves, and shoe covers.”
In addition to important decontamination duties, Mike’s job involved sheet metal work as part of building projects and ongoing maintenance of the Lab’s facilities.
“The first 20 years I worked here, I did nothing but sheet metal work, making sheet metal walls and room dividers, pipe chase filler panels, and shearing and bending 3/16th metal for chutes and hoppers for the coal plant project. Then we'd have to make new exhaust ductwork and fittings to replace the rusted parts of the exhaust hood systems as they rusted out. When we weren't busy in the sheet metal shop, we checked all the exhaust hoods at the lab, for proper air flow. That helped us find holes in the ductwork or broken parts in the exhaust blowers mounted on the roof.”
Mike’s sheet metal skills were a major contribution to renovations of Wilhelm Hall in the 1990s. “The building was built to exhaust all the dust from the rooms to keep the workers safe during the Manhattan project. In the process, all the exhaust ductwork was contaminated with uranium and thorium dust. Our job was to remove it and make room for a new air handling system. We spent months vacuuming and cleaning ductwork, so it could be removed or reused. We lived in coveralls, shoe covers, gloves and a half face respirator during the whole process. Finally, we built and installed the new system for heating and air conditioning the building.”
In addition to work for Ames Lab facilities, Mike and his colleagues lent their sheet metal skills to other projects, including shearing aluminum sheets for the DOT, notching raised floor panels for ISU's computer labs, and making special exhaust systems for the College of Veterinary Medicine.
While Mike remembers the hard work, he also remembers having fun with co-workers, including a Hard Hat Golf Tournament, playing slow-pitch softball in the Boone League, and an on-site basketball court.
“Dale Link came up with the idea of playing basketball during our lunch break, so Carl Spotts got a basketball hoop from State gym, Dale made a back board out of some plywood, and I made mounting brackets from some reclaimed angle iron. We mounted it on the east wall of the graphite room in the garage,” said Mike. “We spent many lunch breaks playing basketball after we ate our lunch. We had as many as 12 different people playing on that court. We had ours, engineers, electricians, brick layers, locksmiths, sheet metal workers, and storeroom workers!”
Mike’s job has changed over many years from working with sheet metal to becoming a safety worker, checking eye washes, safety showers, fire doors, sprinkler systems and the aerial and forklifts.
“The Lab has been a great place to work and I've met a lot of great people over the years.”
Send well wishes to Mike at mdotzler@ameslab.gov.
We Are Ames Lab: Solid State Synthesis Group
What is the research group’s name? The Solid State Synthesis Group
What research does the Solid State Synthesis Group do? We develop methods to forge atoms into crystal structures with desired characteristics, like selected types of chemical bonds and their patterns to achieve unique properties. We love to grow crystals, solve crystal structures, and place those crystals under some harsh conditions to see their response.
Why should people be interested in this group’s research? We do basic science which might impact many energy-related fields: telecommunications, energy generation, energy storage, and energy conversion. Basically, anywhere you use energy, even when lifting a mug of coffee reading this, we could potentially convert it to something useful.
What is unique, interesting, or special about your team? We strive for excellence.
Who is in charge around here? Principal Investigator Kirill Kovnir
Who’s a part of the Solid State Synthesis Group?
Georgiy Akopov, postdoctoral researcher
Philip Yox, graduate student
Eranga Gamage, graduate student
Arka Sarkar, graduate student
Gayatri Viswanathan, graduate student
Seongyoung Kong, graduate student
Ernesto Soto, graduate student
Yao Abusa, graduate student
Andrew Porter, graduate student
Muhammad Azhan, graduate student
Luke Lewandowski, graduate student
Nethmi Hewage, undergraduate student
Victoria Kyveryga, undergraduate student
Daniel Hollinger, undergraduate student
Samuel Hegland, undergraduate student
Weijian Liang, undergraduate student
Where can I find the Solid State Synthesis Group?
Department email: kovnir@iastate.edu
Office or Lab location: HACH 3122 and 3252
Group Research Page: Kovnir Research Group
April IDEAs: ISU Aspire, Leadership Academy, & ISCORE debrief
Ames Lab joins ISU Aspire, focusing attention on MSI relationships
Katie Augustus and Kelly Bergman were recently invited to join ISU’s Aspire team after meeting with Tera Jordan, Assistant Provost for Faculty Development and ISU Aspire team lead. Iowa State University joined a national network of universities which are committed to recruiting, hiring, and retaining diverse faculty and staff at their respective institutions. The end goal is to also attract more underrepresented students (women, members of minority groups, and persons with disabilities and those from low socioeconomic backgrounds) into STEM college programs, help them graduate and succeed in the workforce.
The ISU Aspire team’s current objective is building effective two-way relationships with minority-serving institutions (MSIs), and specifically learning more about the relationships that already exist. This is directly applicable to the DOE’s engagements and surveys to the national laboratories in order to better understand current MSI relationships.
This aligns with the DOE’s priority to better understand current MSI relationships and increase engagement between DOE labs and MSIs. It also increases the visibility of Ames Laboratory’s presence and allows for additional resource sharing and partnerships across the university. Both Katie and Kelly will continue to leverage resources from the Aspire team and are planning to communicate what they learn in the future.
IAspire Leadership Academy applications now open
IAspire Leadership Academy is a program sponsored by Aspire, the National Alliance for Inclusive and Diverse Stem Faculty, and is designed to develop and train the next generation of underrepresented leaders in STEM higher education. It is a structured development experience over the course of two years; the first year focuses on core curriculum and the second year is an in-residence action project experience utilizing the new knowledge and skills gained. The application deadline for the next cohort is May 20, 2022. Ames Laboratory is willing to provide resources for interested applicants. Please contact the Diversity and Inclusion Council at idea@ameslab.gov for more information.
ISCORE debrief and reflection held
On Monday, April 11, a small group of Ames Laboratory employees gathered virtually for a facilitated discussion to reflect on their Iowa State Conference on Race and Ethnicity (ISCORE) experience. The discussion was open to anyone that participated in ISCORE. The small group exchanged takeaways and identified possible opportunities to inform IDEA at Ames Laboratory, including:
- Being intentional and willing to make a difference in the lives of others. Work in concert with others and make a difference together.
- Exploring history from the non-majority perspective. For example, the Native American viewpoint on the land-grant university movement in the United States.
- Building awareness of different life experiences through scenario-based role play to gain a deeper understanding.
- Using the Design Sprint method to capture diverse group ideas and work on a problem quickly.
Several Ames Laboratory employees have attended ISCORE more than once and have gained new experiences each year. We can all benefit from attending these no-cost events hosted by ISU and sharing our insights with our colleagues.
Want to learn more?
- LinkedIn Learning: Oprah on acting with intention
- LinkedIn Learning: Creating Conditions for Others to Thrive
- “Sprint” by Jake Knapp – Book Summary
- LinkedIn Learning: Learning Design Sprints
Add an audio pronunciation link to your email with NameCoach
Our names are central to our unique identities, and saying them correctly is the first step in connecting with, respecting, and appreciating one another. NameCoach was started to help schools, students, and families; and has since expanded to businesses and beyond. The service is free, and only takes a few minutes to set up. Once your name is recorded, you will be able to copy a button link to add to your email signature. Go HERE for instructions on how to set up your own audio pronunciation.
Got questions, comments, or ideas?
Do you have questions, comments, concerns, or ideas about Diversity and Inclusion topics? Share your thoughts with us at idea@ameslab.gov.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
LIVE UNITED Food Drive runs now through May 5
Hunger is real. Close to one in four children in Story County continue to be eligible to receive free/reduced lunch. Once summer break starts, these children won’t have access to school-provided meals. As a result, the need for food at local food pantries is typically even greater during the summer months. To combat the need, United Way of Story County (UWSC) will hold the annual LIVE UNITED Food Drive through May 5. Be sure to check the food drive’s wishlist at this link. You can drop off your donations at Ames Laboratory ESH in G40 TASF. In addition, you can provide monetary donations online or via Venmo @unitedwaystoryco. Be sure to specify your monetary donation is for the food drive + Ames Laboratory in the comments. We look forward to achieving our goal of raising $750 and donating 75 pounds of food as a team in honor of Ames Laboratory’s 75th anniversary!
Cardinal Women: applications being accepted for next cohort
Applications are being accepted through Wednesday, June 15, 2022 for Cardinal Women*, a growth opportunity specifically for women* who are Iowa State University Faculty and Staff. Participants will engage in discussions designed to foster leadership development, goal orientation and purpose in their personal and professional spheres. Participants can expect to be challenged to reflect on their own experiences and to listen to the experiences of others. An explanation of topics and time commitment is here. An application form is available here. You will be asked to provide demographic information and a brief statement of interest and commitment.
Applications Due: June 15, 2022
Selection announcements: July 1, 2022
Questions: Tera Lawson (tjlawson@iastate.edu) or Denise Williams-Klotz (dnwill@iastate.edu)
Cardinal Women* Website: https://www.cardinalwomen.iastate.edu/
Job opportunities at Ames Lab
Did you know you can find a current list of employment opportunities at Ames Laboratory on the Job Opportunities page at www.ameslab.gov? Share with friends and colleagues, or apply yourself! You can also find the page linked on the Employee Dashboard.