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In this issue:
Kids Day 2009 Makes a Big Splash
Energy Summer School Public Lecture Tonight
Petty Cash Phase-out

SLAC Today

Tuesday - August 18, 2009

Kids Day 2009 Makes a Big Splash

(Photo)
A Kid's Day participant launches a soda bottle water rocket. (Photo by Nicholas Bock.)

It's not every day that you see SLAC vacuum assembly employees turning from their serious-minded work to blow up marshmallow men in evacuated bell jars, but not everyday is Kid's Day. Last Friday, SLAC played host to more than 250 kids ages 9 to 16, who spent the day as honorary SLACers to learn about the world of science and engineering.

(Photo)
Particle Physics and Astrophysics engineer Wesley Craddock prepares liquid nitrogen ice cream at the Kid's Day cryogenics workshop. (Photo by Nicholas Bock.)

Participants took part in 18 workshops hosted by different lab departments, launching water rockets in the main quad, making liquid nitrogen ice cream at the cryogenics station and performing feats of seemingly extraordinary strength at the heavy fabrication shop. The event, which ran from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., also included presentations by SLAC and Stanford scientists at Panofsky Auditorium, Kavli Auditorium and the Redwood Conference Rooms, as well as lunch and an ice-cream social. All participants received a Kid's Day T-shirt featuring a design by Kid's Day art contest winner Hélène Cristini.

(Photo)
Participants make their badges levitate at the Kid's Day magnets workshop. (Photo by Nicholas Bock.)

To take part in the Kid's Day events, participants had to be sponsored by a member of the SLAC community and pay a $20 registration fee. Coordinators enlisted the help of more than 50 volunteers from around the lab to lead workshops and escort groups.

For Program Coordinator Stephanie Carlson, the event is about the kids, but also about the lab.

"Kid's day really showcases what SLAC is all about," Carlson said. "It's really something that the whole lab is involved in, and that everyone's really proud of."

For information on how to participate in next year's event, contact Michelle Steger (x3011).

 

Energy Summer School Public Lecture Tonight

(Image - public lecture poster)

All are invited to Panofsky Auditorium tonight at 7 p.m. to hear Stanford Professor of Biology and Environmental Earth System Science Chris Field present "Climate Change and Its Implications for Our Energy Future."

The scientific information on climate change is increasingly sophisticated, with a stronger and stronger body of evidence on observed trends, underlying mechanisms and possible futures. Recently published papers help reduce the uncertainty associated with important feedback mechanisms related to clouds, sea ice and the land surface. The emerging picture is one of a climate system pushed by recent human activity at the upper end of recent projections, and with a sensitivity to this pushing that covers a range of possible outcomes, including some at or above the high end of recent projections. High levels of inertia in the climate and in the global energy system both point to a brief period for aggressive action for a reasonable level of confidence in holding long-term, global-average warming to less than 2 degrees Celsius or other widely-discussed targets.

This evening's talk is free and open to all.

Petty Cash Phase-out

The Department of Energy Petty Cash Fund will be discontinued effective September 1. Best practices in the accounting and procurement areas led to DOE's recommendation to discontinue this reimbursement method. Low-dollar purchases previously paid through DOE Petty Cash will be processed through the established Procurement processes, either as purchase orders or as transactions on purchase cards.

Please note that out-of-pocket purchases will no longer be reimbursed for items that should be processed through Procurement.

A few specific items such as safety shoes, safety glasses and local travel will be processed as check reimbursements, using the Special Check Request Form. Please see the Budget Office Web site for full guidelines. The cutoff date for DOE Petty Cash reimbursement is August 31. Qualifying items purchased by August 31 but submitted after September 1 will be reimbursed by check.

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