STRIVE 75: October Wellness Challenge
As we continue to celebrate Ames National Laboratory’s 75th anniversary, we encourage you to take part in Strive
75, our October Wellness Challenge. For Ames Lab to thrive, our people need to thrive! As you choose your own activities, we hope you’ll consider many facets of your well-being including mental, physical, spiritual, emotional, financial, and community as you challenge yourself to focus on taking care of yourself this month.
Each week has a theme, and you will credit yourself 75 points for taking part in 75 minutes of activities related to that week’s theme, as well as opportunities for bonus points. The weekly challenge themes are as follows:
Week 1 (Oct. 3): Savor Nature - Get outdoors to enhance your well-being
Week 2 (Oct. 10): Way to Play - Add some fun to your routine
Week 3 (Oct. 17): Better Together - Take part in activities with a buddy
Week 4 (Oct. 24): New Adventure - Step out of your comfort zone and try something new
Each week, please enter your points on the Wellness Challenge Tracking Sheet. To earn the 75 weekly points, you’ll need to spend at least 75 cumulative minutes throughout the week (Monday - Sunday) engaged in that week’s activities. You can mix and match activities to earn the 75 points, as long as your activities relate to that week’s theme. There is no partial credit for the 75 weekly points! Each week the number of bonus points will vary, however.
For a little extra incentive, everyone who submits points will have the opportunity to earn prizes. The more points you earn, the greater the likelihood your name will be randomly drawn to earn one of the prizes listed below:.
Big Acai Bowl Group Lunch delivered
Executive Parking Space for a month x 4
Exercise Ball Chair with Back Support
Pain Massage Gun
Reiman Gardens General Admission tickets x 2
Gift certificate for 60 and 90-Minute Massages (TBD)
ISU Recreation Services 1-month membership
Charlie Brown Christmas at Stephens Auditorium x 4
Iowa State sends a big thank-you to fair volunteers
Iowa State University dropped a video thank you note to all volunteers who helped make "Innovation Revolution" at the Iowa State Fair a success!
We Are Ames Lab: Rare Earth Magnetism and Quantum Phenomena Group
What is the Research Group’s title? Rare Earth Magnetism and Quantum Phenomena Group (REMQP), or “Rare Earth Theory (RET)” Group
What research does the REMQP Group do? The REMQP Group advances the magnetic and quantum sciences of rare earth-based materials through advanced theoretical (quantum-mechanical), computational, and machine learning approaches. The group has a high-performance computing cluster and several workstations to perform high quality quantum mechanical and machine learning computations to predict, control, and tailor new rare earth-based materials for optimal chemical, physical, and quantum properties applicable in permanent magnets, energy conversion, and quantum technologies.
Our theoretical and computational work embodies both basic science and applied research and development by discovering transformative materials from the bottom up, atom-by-atom and structure-by-structure, where each atom in the structure and in its symmetry environment plays a prescribed role targeting the overall behavior of the material. Our team works on all aspects of theory and computation, including ab-initio, quantum dynamics, finite temperature analyses, and micromagnetic and microstructure modeling for energy and quantum technologies.
Why should people be interested in this group’s research? Who wouldn’t be interested in super-strong permanent magnets using abundant rare earth elements, magnetic cooling technologies for energy-efficient refrigerators, and new materials for quantum computers and telecommunications to exploit the mysterious power of quantum entanglement. We are now preparing the second revolution of quantum mechanics for quantum technologies!
What is unique, interesting, or special about your team? Two of us come from Nepal. One of us learnt quantum mechanics from Paul Dirac, one of the founders of quantum mechanics and quantum electrodynamics. And one of us started Ames Lab as a Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI) student. We love engaging in science discussions while having lunch or coffee together.
Who is in charge around here? Durga Paudyal is the group leader and Principal Investigator.
Who’s a part of the Rare Earth Magnetism and Quantum Phenomena Group (REMQP), or “Rare Earth Theory (RET)” Group?
Durga Paudyal, group leader and Principal Investigator
Jonathan Smith, Professor of Mathematics and Ames Lab contributor
Churna Bhandari, Post-Doctoral Research Associate
Gavin Nop, Ph.D. student
In addition, the group directs Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI) students each semester, and has been hosting Huseyin Ucar (California State Polytechnic University-Pomona) and Santosh KC (San José State University) for the last couple of years through the DOE’s Visiting Faculty program. Currently, six senior Electrical and Computer Engineering ISU undergraduates are working with the group on ytterbium ion trap quantum computing for their Senior Design Project.
Where can I find the REMQP or RET Group?
Department email: Durga Paudyal at durga@ameslab.gov
Lab location: 223 MD (Durga); 485-486 MD (Churna and Gavin)
Fall Family Picnic 2022
Call for volunteers: Iowa Regional High School and Middle School Science Bowl
The Iowa Regional High School Science and Middle School Science Bowl is an opportunity for students to excel in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math while experiencing a sense of community with other STEM-focused students. Students compete in a question-and-answer format that tests student's knowledge in a range of science disciplines including biology, chemistry, Earth and space science, physics, energy, and math. Iowa's Regional competition is hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Ames National Laboratory and Iowa State University.
After two years as a virtual event due to the pandemic, Science Bowl will return in 2023 as on-site, in-person events on Jan. 28 and Feb. 18 at the Iowa State University Campus. The Lab's Education and Outreach team is seeking volunteers to serve as judges, moderators, timers, scorekeepers, and runners during the competition. Volunteers receive training, a t-shirt, and lunch the day of the event. For more information, please visit the Volunteer Information page on the Lab's website, HERE. Indicate your interest by completing this FORM.
The call for volunteers is open to the public. Please share this FORM with your network.
7th annual DOE Mile Run/Walk Oct. 4
The 7th annual DOE Mile is set to begin Tuesday Oct. 4, 2022 at 11 a.m., with check-in located just east of the Ground level entrance to TASF before race time. The DOE Mile Run/Walk event is a friendly competition among all
17 National Laboratories to promote personal health and fitness, and we encourage everyone to participate! Here are the steps to sign-up:
- Sign up HERE
- Fill out and return this WAIVER to om@ameslab.gov
- Lace up those running shoes and start training!
- Keep your eyes on your email inbox for more communication when the race date draws near.
The route this year begins at the Lab and ends at State Gym, so that participants may opt to visit the flu clinic if they wish.
If you are working off-site, have a hybrid schedule or you are not available for the Oct. 4 in-person race, you can still participate! The DOE mile can either be in-person or virtual. Follow these steps to participate virtually:
- Pick a 1-mile route by your home.
- Time yourself as you walk/run your mile
- Send us your time by filling THIS out in the virtual tab no later than Wednesday October 12th.
If you are unable to do the virtual or in-person event, there are still ways to participate. We need a number of volunteers to help us run this event smoothly. If this is something you are interested in, please fill out the volunteer form attached HERE.
October IDEAs: Green Dot bystander training available
Green Dot is a bystander training program intended to shift social and cultural norms to reduce incidents of harassment. Ames National Laboratory D&I Council is partnering with Laboratory Learning and Development Manager Erin Gibson to offer an interactive Green Dot virtual training session.
Interested participant should consider participating in the session listed below. You can contact training@ameslab.gov for a calendar reminder.
Wednesday, Oct. 12th from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
The Green Dot training sessions are interactive and designed to prepare us with the connection, knowledge, and skill to increase proactive and reactive bystander behaviors. Dr. Adam Schwartz has previously attended Green Dot training and provided the following comment. “I attended one of the first Green Dot Bystander Training sessions and am very happy that I invested the time that afternoon. The main takeaway is that if you foresee a situation that may result in interpersonal violence, or come across interpersonal violence in real time, you have a responsibility, and a range of options to intervene.”
Together we can continue to promote a safe, respectful and inclusive environment, and build relationships with our peers. Please join us!
FREE electronics recycling Oct. 3-7
Got old electronics cluttering up your house? Then bring them by the Lab's warehouse dock Oct. 3 - 7 for free recycling!
Where: Ames Lab warehouse dock
When: Oct. 3-7, 8 a.m - 2 p.m.
Check out this flyer for full details on items accepted and other information. For questions, contact Brandon Kester at bkester@ameslab.gov, or Don Fortmann at fortmann@ameslab.gov.
Salaried Effort Certification in Workday
The effort certification process for the period of Jan. 1, 2022 – June 30, 2022 will be sent out in Workday for your review and approval in the coming weeks.
The effort certification process, owned by Sponsored Programs Accounting (SPA) at the university-level, helps maintain compliance with federal regulations that stipulate institutions must have a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that salary charges are accurate, allowable and properly allocated to federal awards.
The salaried effort certification for the period of Jan. 1, 2022 – June 30, 2022 will be performed in Workday. Individuals paid by Ames National Laboratory will receive an effort certification action in Workday which is asking you to verify that your effort and pay was cost appropriately to the Ames National Laboratory or other Federally funded sources you may have been paid from. Please review this Workday action and reach out to Jake Irving (irving@ameslab.gov) if you have any questions.
A job aid for salaried effort certification is available. For more information about effort reporting, please consult the Handbook for Effort Reporting.
Announcements & Events
Scientists, staff and students needed for WISE outreach
Ames National Laboratory Education and Outreach will be taking part in the WISE (Program for Women in Science and Engineering) Go Further STEM Conference. We are looking for scientists who would like to spend a few hours sharing information on what it’s like being a scientist and assisting with hands-on activities. The Go Further STEM Conference is an opportunity for female-identifying students (this includes those who are cisgender, trans, nonbinary) in grades 8-10 to learn about various STEM fields, STEM opportunities at Iowa State and Ames Lab, and to interact with female-identifying STEM role models. Ames Lab sessions are October 27 at 12 – 2 p.m. and November 1 at 1 – 2 p.m. If you can help at one or both days, please contact kbergman@ameslab.gov for more information. Student helpers are welcome!
Liquid helium requests now available in ServiceNow
Effective Monday, Sept. 16, 2022, the Liquid Helium Dewar Request is available in ServiceNow for employees to order helium dewars from Low Temp Lab. Phone calls, emails, and drop-ins will be redirected to the request because the helium chargeback process is dependent on the request being used. Please see the Liquid Helium Dewar Checkout Request Instructions.
Professional development opportunity: ADVANCE Midwest Partnership & Programming
A workshop, Speaking Up: How Department Leaders Can Change the Conversation in the Academic Workplace, promoting inclusive and respectful workplaces for department chairs, associate deans and other program leaders, will be offered twice Oct. 4: 9 a.m.-noon and 2-5 p.m., via Zoom. To learn more and register click here.
Learn the essentials of project management in one day!
We have only two offerings of Franklin Covey’s Project Management for the Unofficial Project Manager® remaining this year. Go to Learn@ISU to attend this in-person training for Ames National Laboratory.
Register in Learn@ISU for this course here.
Project Management Essentials – Oct. 27 or Nov. 9.
Safety dates to mark on the calendar
Oct. 13, 10 a.m.: Accountability Drill. A reminder and instructions will be distributed to all personnel in advance of the drill.
Oct. 19: Annual evacuation drill. More information will follow as the date approaches.
Socialize during lunch: organized lunches at the Tearoom
Have you ever had lunch at the Joan Bice Underwood Tearoom at MacKay Hall on campus? Would you like to join a group of Ames National Laboratory employees for lunch? If so, please fill out this form at least one week before the lunch you would like to attend so that we can place group reservations.
We will meet at 11:30 a.m. on the 1st Floor Lobby of TASF and walk over together. Each employee will pay for their own meal separately.
Questions about this activity can be sent to Erin Gibson at egibson@ameslab.gov.
Difficult Conversations Workshops with ISU Ombuds at Ames National Laboratory
Is there a conversation that you know you should be having but can't seem to find the right words? Is it difficult to converse with a coworker because you're concerned about how they will react? Is an issue becoming too big to ignore and now you need to get the issue on the table for discussion? We all have these times in our lives; either at work or at home.
The Laboratory will host three 2-hour in-person workshop sessions where ISU Ombuds Laura Smythe will discuss how to approach a conversation with real issues that employees submit anonymously. If not enough scenarios are shared, then sample situations will be covered. Please send in your scenario here. Names and items that identify individuals should be omitted.
Space is limited at these events to 20 employees. Register here within Learn@ISU to secure your seat. There is no requirement to attend. Each workshop is independent of the other offerings. Questions about these events can be sent to Learning & Development Manager Erin Gibson (egibson@ameslab.gov).
Scheduled Workshop Dates & Times
- Tuesday, Nov. 8, 9 - 11 a.m.
- Friday, Nov. 11, 10 a.m. - Noon
- Thursday, Nov. 17, 9 - 11 a.m.