Thursday, Oct. 15, 1998
UC professor awarded Nobel Prize in chemistry
Walter Kohn of the University of California at Santa Barbara and
John Pople of Northwestern University are winners of the 1998 Nobel Prize
in chemistry. They will share $978,000.
"The laureates have each made pioneering contributions in developing methods that can be used for theoretical studies of the properties of molecules and the chemical processes in which they are involved," said the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences on making the announcement Tuesday.
Kohn, a physicist, was cited for his development of density-functional theory -- the basis of many aspects of computational chemistry, in which the geometrical structure of molecules can be mapped and reactions predicted. Pople, a mathematician, received the award for his development of computational methods in quantum chemistry. His 1970 computer program, Gaussian, allows chemists to apply quantum calculations in making rapid, reasonably accurate estimates of molecular behavior. Improvements in the Gaussian program, the Nobel committee said, have been so dramatic that it "is now used by thousands of chemists in universities and commercial companies the world over."
Kohn was the second UC professor this week to receive a Nobel Prize -- Louis Ignarro, a professor in the department of molecular and medical pharmacology at UCLA's School of Medicine, was co-recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. The number of UC faculty who have received the Nobel Prize now stands at 34. No other public university system worldwide has won more Nobel prizes than the University of California.
Following is a list of UC Nobel Prize winners as of October 1998:
Berkeley
Irvine
Los Angeles
San Diego
San Francisco
Santa Barbara
The Diversity Office and Occupational Medicine sponsoring disabilities awareness day
Getting up to walk or drive to work seems like a simple thing to
do. But if you're disabled, seemingly simple tasks that non-disabled people
take for granted, like picking up the morning cup of coffee, climbing a
flight of stairs or reading electronic mail, isn't so simple.
On Oct. 19, the Diversity (DV) Office and Occupational Medicine (ESH-2) are sponsoring DisABILITIES Awareness Day at the Laboratory. The activity is intended to raise awareness of the experiences disabled employees deal with every day.
"The reason we're drawing attention to this is so the Lab can see that it is important to accommodate people," said Sheila Brandt of ESH-2. "It's important for the Lab to see that people with disabilities are just people and that if we can accommodate a productive employee, we've been able to perpetuate that production.
"Good faith efforts on the part of the Lab contribute to a really productive workforce," said Brandt. "I think DisABILITIES Awareness Day will be helpful in terms of helping the Lab look past the disability and at the human being."
"Non-disabled employees don't experience the difficulties that disabled employees face in their workplace. We hope DisABILITIES Awareness Day will help all Lab employees gain a greater appreciation for and understanding of disabled employees at Los Alamos," added Debbi Wersonick of the Diversity Office.
Wersonick noted that October is Disabled Employment Awareness Month and that a Lab employee suggested to the Diversity Office that the Lab develop activities to raise awareness of issues pertaining to the disabled.
The highlight of DisABILITIES Awareness Day is a talk by nationally recognized speaker Richard Pimentel. His talk, "Emotional Ergonomics: The Price of Making a Living Should Not be your Life," is from 1:30 to 3 p.m., in the Jemez and Cochiti rooms on the second floor of the J. Robert Oppenheimer Study Center. It is open to employees and subcontract personnel.
Pimentel, who is hearing impaired as a result of an injury suffered in Vietnam, is a senior partner for Milt Wright and Associates in California. As a consultant, keynote speaker, professional trainer and author of numerous curricula and training guides, he travels around the country to talk about disability management, worker's compensation cost containment, rehabilitation and interpersonal relationships in the workplace.
Also on DisABILITIES Awareness Day, several government and private agencies will have informational booths in the lobby of the Otowi Building cafeteria, said Wersonick. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., employees can visit with staff members from and pick up informational literature about the New Mexico Commission for the Blind, the state Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Career Services for People with Disabilities and the Southwest Center for the Hearing Impaired. Wersonick said the Lab also will hang a 12-foot-by-12-foot AIDS panels quilt near the informational booths in the Otowi Building. And several Lab senior managers have spent part of a day working with disabled employees to observe how the employees work and what the Lab can do to better assist them (see accompanying stories). Brandt knows first hand the difficulties disabled employees face in the workplace. Before joining the Laboratory, Brandt worked for the state Division of Vocational Rehabilitation for 9 years. Brandt also occasionally works with Anthony Lucero, a hearing impaired employee in ESH-2. Co-workers communicate with Lucero through sign language, writing and a telecommunications device for the deaf (TTY) machine. Lucero also has a pager for notification when the Lab is closed or has a shortened workday because of inclement weather. "He's been accommodated by a team of people who are willing to speak his language. And he's reciprocated that accommodation by being a very productive employee," Brandt said. For more information about DisABILITIES Awareness Day, call Wersonick at 7-7870, Brandt at 5-2667, or Deanne Phillips, also of ESH-2, at 5-2669. --Steve Sandoval Managers spend time with disabled employees
Karen Edwards of Compensation and Benefits (HR-1) reads braille as Laboratory Director John Browne watches in Edwards' office. Edwards runs the Lab's Dependent Care Resource and Referral program. She has other equipment such as voice output software and a braille printer to assist her in her job. Photo by Fred Rick Karen Edwards of Compensation and Benefits (HR-1) is blind. To assist her in her job -- she runs HR-1's Dependent Care Resource and Referral program -- Edwards has a Braille writer, a scanner that scans documents into a computer and "reads" the document to Edwards using voice output software. It also can print out documents in Braille. Edwards recently walked from her office on the second floor of the Otowi Building to meet Laboratory Director John Browne on the fourth floor of the Administration Building. They walked back to her office. "I wanted him to see me using my canetravel skills, and so I started discussing it openly right away," said Edwards. "That launched a discussion on what the skills are. He asked me 'how can you find the door coming up? How can you find the stairs?' " said Edwards. The two spent several hours talking about how Edwards does her job. Edwards also answered a number of questions from Browne, she said. "He really seemed to understand and feel comfortable with it," she said. The reason Browne and several other Lab managers have spent mornings or afternoons in recent weeks with disabled employees -- the exercise was called "Partnering -- Sharing ABILITIES" -- is to learn first hand what they encounter every day. The Diversity (DV) Office and Occupational Medicine (ESH-2) are sponsoring Disabilities Awareness Day to raise awareness among non-disabled employees of the experiences disabled employees deal with every day (see accompanying story). |
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Bill Wadt, special assistant to Tom Garcia, the Lab's acting deputy director for business, administration and outreach spent half a day with Anthony Lucero of Occupational Medicine (ESH-2), who is hearing impaired.
"I think that the idea of spending time with our disabled employees is a wonderful way to see how much value they add and how the Lab can and needs to accommodate their talents," he said.
Wadt noted that Lucero taught his co-workers in ESH-2 sign language to improve their communication with Lucero. He also has a vibrating pager to receive messages and notifications, including when the Laboratory is closed or has a shortened workday because of inclement weather.
"I was excited and proud to see how Anthony and his co-workers in medical records had built such a strong team and how they had learned so much from each other," said Wadt. "I felt proud to be associated with an organization that can recognize the special perspective and talents that someone like Anthony can bring to work."
Lucero did note that the Lab needs greater access to sign language interpreters to participate more fully in meetings and presentations. The Diversity (DV) Office and Occupational Medicine (ESH-2) is working to hire a full-time contractor to provide sign language, according to Mick Trujillo, the acting DV director. ESH-2 will be taking over these services from DV in the near future.
Edwards of HR-1 enthusiastically supports the Lab's Disabilities Awareness Day initiative. "Most of us who are disabled generally consider themselves to be educators for the public on disabilities," said Edwards. "Usually they welcome the opportunity to discuss openly disabilities. Open discussion promotes greater understanding," she said.
"Often times people are so uncomfortable even talking to people with disabilities. They have lots of questions but they don't know what to say. Most people who have disabilities find that to be the biggest barrier," said Edwards.
"I think he [John Browne] understood that one of the biggest barriers that people with disabilities must surmount is the low expectations of other people," said Edwards. "The best thing we can do to help is to have high expectations. We have to expect that they can do real jobs and do them well. Even if it's hard for that person . . . Living up to that challenge is what really makes you feel like you're part of the gang."
Garcia traveled to Steven Hidebrand's home in Los Alamos. "I had volunteered to participate in the Disabilities Awareness Day program with great interest and with equal anxiety and anticipation for what I might encounter," said Garcia.
Hildebrand of Geoengineering (EES-4) has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease. The disease is a progressively fatal illness that eventually leaves victims unable to speak, swallow or move. The disease has left Hildebrand a quadriplegic.
Hildebrand, who must work at home because of the disease, was working on mastering a new device, which allows him to communicate via computer with his colleagues at work, conduct research, and record his thoughts and findings. Hildebrand also has other computer equipment and a full array of enabling apparatus in his home.
His mechanized wheelchairs serves as his primary means of support for his body, and as a platform for several life support apparatus, essential to his breathing and other biological functions.
Garcia said he was impressed with how Hildebrand continues to do "great science" for the Lab. "What allows Steven to contribute to great science, is not only the fascinating and highly effective technical apparatus that has kept pace with his needs as his disease has progressed, but also, and more importantly, his own drive, his own intellect, his own passion for the work that he does so, so well," said Garcia.
"I will always cherish the opportunity to visit the Hildebrand household and to have met Steven and Mary," said Garcia. "But most of all, I will always value and insist on the institution's commitment to not only meet the letter of the Americans with Disabilities Act, but that we become best in class at enabling our not disabled but differently-abled work colleagues."
Like Lucero of ESH-2, Richard Pearson of Fire Protection (FE-21) is deaf. Pearson was instrumental in the formation of the Deaf Awareness Group at the Lab in 1990. The group supports the efforts and advocates for issues of concern to deaf and hard-of-hearing employees.
A 17-year employee of the Lab, Pearson said Los Alamos can continue to assist deaf and hard-of-hearing employees by keeping current with technologies to assist these employees. That includes hiring a full-time sign language interpreter.
Pearson said American sign language is his native language and he sometimes struggles with English because it is a second language to him.
And despite the occasional difficulties Pearson faces, he thinks a disabilities awareness day at the Lab is a good idea. "I believe that Disabilities Awareness Day is a very good opportunity to educate [employees] to increase understanding and advocate for all people with disabilities as well as in our children everywhere in our world."
Pam French of the Director's Office worked with Connie Rivera of Business Planning and Analysis (BUS-3). Rivera suffers from repetitive motion trauma and has a voice activated computer system to help her perform her job.
"I've never realized that a potential consequence is the inability to use one's upper body at all," said French. "Connie could not move her arms for six months."
French said voice recognition software is helpful, but can be improved. In Rivera's case, when her computer crashes, she has to reteach the software her voice and voice commands. "She must be very patient to get the software to work for her so that she can continue to work. I felt some of the frustration and disappointment she deals with every day, yet she was cheerful and persevering," said French.
Like Wadt and Garcia, French said the experience of spending time and working with a disabled co-worker is "an excellent idea and that more people should take advantage of."
Edwards of HR-1 also likes the fact that her co-workers and other Lab employees don't treat her differently. "That's the best part about working at the Laboratory. I feel surrounded by people who challenge me and continue to feed me messages that say 'you can do it,' " she said. "They don't go easy on me because I'm disabled."
Edwards also said the Lab has done a good job of accommodating disabled employees. "I feel that the Lab is an employer of choice when it comes to providing needed accommodations for a disabled employee to perform his or her work," said Edwards. "The Lab's commitment has been exceptional when it comes to this service."
--Steve Sandoval
Anthony Lucero, center, of Occupational Medicine (ESH-2) talks with Rachel Valdez, also of ESH-2, using sign language at Lucero's office. Observing is Bill Wadt, left, of the Director's Office. Wadt met with Lucero as part of the Lab's effort to help non-disabled employees learn more about the experiences of disabled employees at the Lab. Photo by LeRoy N. Sanchez
Procurement goals for BUS
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Fidelity Investments at Lab Monday
Representatives from Fidelity Investments will be at the Laboratory Monday to give two presentations on Fidelity investment options.
Roland Jacobson, a vice president with Fidelity Investments will speak from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in the Physics Building Auditorium and from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in the Administration Building Auditorium. The presentations are open to all University of California Lab employees.
Jacobson will give an overview of the economy, followed by a current perspective on investment markets and a review of Fidelity's mutual funds, said Jackie Valdez of Compensation and Benefits (HR-1), which is co-sponsoring the presentations with Fidelity Investments.
Jacobson is a liaison between clients and Fidelity's investment managers. Among other things, Jacobson also produces quarterly reviews of Fidelity's retail and institutional mutual funds.
Jacobson has a bachelor of science degree in applied mathematics from California Polytechnica College and a master's degree in business economics from Claremont Graduate College.
The presentation will be videotaped and employees can check out a copy of the presentation by writing to benefits@lanl.gov by electronic mail.
To arrange for a sign language interpreter to be present at one of the presentations, write to benefits@lanl.gov by electronic mail.
For more information, call 7-1806.
--Steve Sandoval
Special Projects Office again issues phone scam warning
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Last week was National Mental Health Awareness Week. In recognition of this event, Tom Locke, director of the Lab's Employee Assistance Program in Occupational Medicine (ESH-2), has provided some thoughts on mental health and depression. Go to |
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L O S A L A M O S
N A T I O N A L L A B O R A T O R Y
Operated by the University of California
for the US Department of Energy
Laboratory
Director John Browne, right, listens as Tom Garcia, center, the Lab's acting
deputy director for business, administration and outreach, talks about some
of the procurement goals the Business Operations (BUS) Division met during
the recently completed 1998 fiscal year. At left is Bill Barr of Procurement
(BUS-5). BUS held an awards celebration last Friday in the Otowi Building
Cafeteria to mark its procurement goals. Several managers received framed
certificates for their part in helping the Lab exceed by 41 percent its
goal for expenditures in Northern New Mexico last year. The Lab purchased
$315.8 million in goods and services from Northern New Mexico businesses.
Two years ago, the Lab purchased $223.2 million from Northern New Mexico
businesses. Photo by LeRoy N. Sanchez
The Special Projects Office (S-SPO) warns employees of a phone scam
currently going on nationwide, in which a person claiming to be an AT&T
service technician calls customers and tells them he is running a test on
their telephone lines. He asks customers to press 9, then 0, then the pound
sign to complete the test. What this actually does is give the caller access
to their telephone lines to place long distance calls, with the charge appearing
on the customers' telephone bills. This scam has been originating from inmate
pay phones at jails and prisons around the country. If anyone should call
you claiming to be an AT&T service technician, refuse any requests to
dial any numbers and ask for that person's callback number and supervisor's
name. Report immediately any suspicious calls to S-SPO at 5-3505.
Mental health and depression