Wednesday - April 30, 2008

SAFE '08 Success Story:
Power to the LCLS

by Matt Cunningham

Working with over 12,000 volts of electricity—especially in the limited space of a manhole—is by no means a simple or inherently safe task. But for a recent Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) project, which combined the talents of Facilities Project Managers, University Technical Representatives, Engineering and Operations Electricians, the Electrical Safety Officer Department, the Mechanics Group and two groups of subcontractors, the melding of experience and detailed planning ensured the project's safe and successful completion.

The work was performed to feed power to a new substation for the LCLS project. Bringing power to the substation required cable splicing inside manholes, switching lines and conducting thorough inspections and tests along the way.

"With qualified people backing you and proper planning, a lot can be done," said LCLS Facilities Electrical Engineer and Project Manager Lori Shewchuk. "Our objective is for everyone to go home safe."  Read more...

Outside the Lens, Inside the Shoes of Harvey Lynch

by Matt Cunningham

Assistant Director of Particle Physics and Astrophysics Harvey Lynch is known for his distinct brand of humor and his penchant for abstract thought.

One of the greatest compliments he has ever received, he says, took place during a discussion about how to proceed with BaBar's construction. "After a comment I made, a colleague called me an intellectual terrorist. It sounds strange, but he meant it as a compliment."

Lynch is a proverbial outside-of-the-box kind of guy; the type to stand back and take a fresh look at things. It should come as no surprise that his hobbies match his colorful personality. Part of his adroitness with solving problems comes from his eye for detail—an eye that's grown sharp from decades of photography.

The earliest pictures Lynch still has are from Yellowstone National Park, where his family stopped on a road trip. He still remembers the exact make of the camera, a Kodak Baby Brownie, which he first used as a six-year-old.

When SLAC hosts events, Lynch often roams through the crowds, camera in hand. However, his real fascination with photography lies in "inanimate nature photography," which he always shoots in black and white.

"Color is seductive," he says. "If the color is wrong that is all you'll ever see, whereas black and white photos force the viewer to concentrate on the subject."

Lynch modeled his approach to photography after his hero, Edward Weston. A photographer overshadowed in the public eye by his successor, Ansel Adams, Weston was famous for capturing nature in a way that resonates slowly.

"There's more subtlety to Weston," Lynch said. "In terms of pure subject matter, Weston is the photographer of all time, really."

Lynch finds meaning and joy in life's subtleties. A fan of classical music, he travels to the annual Carmel Bach Festival nearly every year. There he spends his days shooting photos at places like Point Lobos, Big Sur and Garrapata Beach and his evenings attending concerts.

"It's a spectacular week," he said. "Few things can compare to the combination of great music and California's beautiful landscape."

New Requisition Priority System for Purchasing

by Bob Todaro

Effective May 1, requestors will be able to prioritize purchase requisitions entered into PeopleSoft as either routine (normal lead time), priority (needs special attention), or emergency (mission critical). Normal lead times don't apply to emergencies.

Emergencies will be expedited by the buyer as much as possible. This new system is the result of a SLAC Improvement Initiative Customer Process Improvement Team recommendation and should provide for a more efficient method of requisition processing.

If you have any questions, please contact Alan Kong (x4138) or Bob Todaro (x2425).

Conservation Tip
of the Week

by John Steward

We've had some exceptional spring weather recently, and many of you are preparing your boats for the upcoming season. I'd like to offer some helpful hints to keep our scenic waterways, wildlife and natural resources free of plastics, litter and potential harmful effects.

Every boat should have a centralized trash bag or receptacle with a secure lid attached to the boat. Boat captains must enforce its use and keep debris from flying out of the boat. In addition, try to use washable items such as plates and utensils to help minimize the amount of plastic waste generated on your trip, and properly dispose of all excess fishing line you produce to help protect wildlife from entanglement. Fishing line can be lethal to fish, turtles, birds and other marine animals. After picnicking on shore, remember to leave the area as you found it, removing any and all trash, plastics and/or debris that might blow into the water. Use your on-board trash receptacle to haul your waste back to the marina. Cut or break all of your six-pack beverage rings, just in case they accidentally get blown overboard or accidentally lost while on your excursion. Six-pack rings are known to be harmful to wildlife.

Finally, always observe boating safety laws and always drive defensively, as some are not as observant of safety as others. Remember, the object is to take pleasure in recreation while we benefit from our environment and protect it for future use.

Events

• April 30: (12:30 p.m.) SASS: GLAST and the search for dark matter, Y. Edmonds
• April 30: (1:30 p.m.) AIS: Mike Pivovaroff presents X-ray optics for FEL and Astrophysics
• May 1: (10:00 a.m.) Stanford Wellness Fair
• May 1-2: Stanford Community Partnership Program 2008

Access (see all)

• Alpine Gate & PEP Ring Road closed
• Gates 17 & 30 open 24-7
• Research Yard bisected

Announcements
(see all | submit)

 Lab Announcements

• L&D's Spring Quarter Courses

Community Bulletin Board

• Help Center Workshop: Anger Management Groups
• Stanford Wellness Fair - May 1
• Stanford Community Partnership Program 2008 - May 1-2
• World Music Festival at Stanford, May 2-3
• Jamie Davis Concert - May 3
• Second Annual Classic Rides Show and BBQ - May 9
• Faculty Staff Help Center Workshop - May 15
• New Weight Management Program to start at SLAC - STAP

News (see all | submit)

• Has U.S. Science Lost Its Competitive Edge? ScienceNOW
• High-flying Electrons may Provide New Test of Quantum Theory EurekAlert

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• Linear Café Menu
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