From the Director of Photon Science: Transitions

by Keith Hodgson

In today's director's column, I would like to inform you that I have decided to step down as associate laboratory director for the Photon Science Directorate at SLAC.

The directorate has been successfully reorganized over the past six months into two divisions: Chemical Sciences and Materials Sciences Divisions. We have initiated the SUN-CAT center, and the joint SLAC-Stanford institutes PULSE and SIMES are integrated into the divisional structure. The stage is now set for scientific growth in strategically selected research areas, aligned with SLAC and Department of Energy Basic Energy Sciences mission needs. Much of the research couples to and helps drive the experimental capabilities of the Linac Coherent Light Source and Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource. There are also new initiatives in areas that are not directly coupled to the lightsources. Plans are underway to add a third division (biosciences) in the coming year. We have developed a long-range space plan to augment the existing and soon-to-be renovated laboratory and office space in Building 40, to provide the needed infrastructure to achieve our vision for future growth. I am very pleased to have played a leadership role in helping create the Photon Science Directorate three years ago and positioning it to contribute strongly to SLAC's transition to a true multi-program laboratory. Read more...

Paper Timesheets:
Going, Going, Soon to Be Gone!

by Tana Hutchison

In his August 13 SLAC Today column, Sandy Merola gave a preview of the top-rated Operation Division goals for fiscal year 2011, one of which was to "implement online time reporting." SLAC's paper-based system ensures that people are correctly paid, tracks leave use and allocates labor costs to the right charge numbers—a lot of functionality to replace. But many will agree the lab really needs to move out of the paper past and into the online future.

A core team with members from Human Resources Department and the Offices of the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Information Officer has been working behind the scenes to bring about this change, which is expected to launch in the spring of 2011. The core team has developed the requirements for an online time tracking system, issued a Request for Proposals from vendors, reviewed responses, participated in vendor demos and checked references. The Procurement Department is now negotiating the contract.

Seen around SLAC: Deer

by Shawne Workman

Alan Altmann, a former SLACer who worked on the PEP-I control system in the 1970s, was driving by SLAC recently on Sand Hill Road when he spotted three deer enjoying grass at the lab. He pulled off the road to catch some photos, including this shot of a doe near the Stanford Guest House.

Word of the Week: Spherical Cow

(Image - spherical cow. Copyright 2010 Gary W. Shockley.)

One of SLAC's neighboring Belted Galloways, "simplified" by Gary Shockley. (Image by permission.)

by Lori Ann White

A strength of not only physics, but many scientific fields, is an ability to use a simplified model of an object, phenomenon or process to demonstrate fundamental truths. Any beginning physics student who has worked on problems featuring massless ropes, frictionless pulleys and projectiles not subject to air resistance has benefited from such simplifying models.

To outside observers, though, these simple models may seem too simple. Thus the origin of the unofficial mascot of theoretical physicists, the spherical cow, in a joke about a dairy farmer asking a physicist for help determining why his cows aren't giving much milk.

In variations on the punch line, the physicist's proposed solution sometimes posits the poor cow to be of of radius r, sometimes of uniform density, sometimes in a vacuum. Never does the joke include a model that successfully explains why a dairy farmer would ask a physicist for help, but maybe some things just can't be modeled.

Events

Today (12:30 p.m.) Theory Seminar: The Race for Supersymmetry

Access (see all)

Announcements
(see all | submit)

Lab Announcements

Community Bulletin Board

Training (see all | register)

Lab Training

Calendar
Registration

Today (8:00 a.m.) Electrical Equipment Inspection Training
Today (9:00 a.m.) Project Mgmt. Training I, Session Two

Upcoming Workshops & Classes

Online Tech Training Opportunities

News (submit)

Light Trapped on Curved Surfaces New Scientist
Two Legs Faster than Four in the Quantum World Physicsworld
Black Holes: Win Some, Lose Some The Economist

<% Response.AddHeader "Last-modified", getArticleDate() 'Response.AddHeader "Last-modified","Mon, 01 Sep 1997 01:03:33 GMT" 'Monday, December 06, 2010 %>

View online at http://today.slac.stanford.edu/.

From the Director of Photon Science: Transitions by Keith Hodgson In today's director's column, I would like to inform you that I have decided to step down as associate laboratory director for the Photon Science Directorate at SLAC. The directorate has been successfully reorganized over the past six months into two divisions: Chemical Sciences and Materials Sciences Divisions. We have initiated the SUN-CAT center, and the joint SLAC-Stanford institutes PULSE and SIMES are integrated into the divisional structure. The stage is now set for scientific growth in strategically selected research areas, aligned with SLAC and Department of Energy Basic Energy Sciences mission needs. Much of the research couples to and helps drive the experimental capabilities of the Linac Coherent Light Source and Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource. There are also new initiatives in areas that are not directly coupled to the lightsources. Plans are underway to add a third division (biosciences) in the coming year. We have developed a long-range space plan to augment the existing and soon-to-be renovated laboratory and office space in Building 40, to provide the needed infrastructure to achieve our vision for future growth. I am very pleased to have played a leadership role in helping create the Photon Science Directorate three years ago and positioning it to contribute strongly to SLAC's transition to a true multi-program laboratory. Read more... Paper Timesheets: Going, Going, Soon to Be Gone! by Tana Hutchison In his August 13 SLAC Today column, Sandy Merola gave a preview of the top-rated Operation Division goals for fiscal year 2011, one of which was to "implement online time reporting." SLAC's paper-based system ensures that people are correctly paid, tracks leave use and allocates labor costs to the right charge numbers—a lot of functionality to replace. But many will agree the lab really needs to move out of the paper past and into the online future. A core team with members from Human Resources Department and the Offices of the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Information Officer has been working behind the scenes to bring about this change, which is expected to launch in the spring of 2011. The core team has developed the requirements for an online time tracking system, issued a Request for Proposals from vendors, reviewed responses, participated in vendor demos and checked references. The Procurement Department is now negotiating the contract. Read more... (Photo by Alan Altmann.) Seen around SLAC: Deer by Shawne Workman Alan Altmann, a former SLACer who worked on the PEP-I control system in the 1970s, was driving by SLAC recently on Sand Hill Road when he spotted three deer enjoying grass at the lab. He pulled off the road to catch some photos, including this shot of a doe near the Stanford Guest House. Word of the Week: Spherical Cow One of SLAC's neighboring Belted Galloways, "simplified" by Gary Shockley. (Image by permission.) by Lori Ann White A strength of not only physics, but many scientific fields, is an ability to use a simplified model of an object, phenomenon or process to demonstrate fundamental truths. Any beginning physics student who has worked on problems featuring massless ropes, frictionless pulleys and projectiles not subject to air resistance has benefited from such simplifying models. To outside observers, though, these simple models may seem too simple. Thus the origin of the unofficial mascot of theoretical physicists, the spherical cow, in a joke about a dairy farmer asking a physicist for help determining why his cows aren't giving much milk. In variations on the punch line, the physicist's proposed solution sometimes posits the poor cow to be of of radius r, sometimes of uniform density, sometimes in a vacuum. Never does the joke include a model that successfully explains why a dairy farmer would ask a physicist for help, but maybe some things just can't be modeled.	Events Today (12:30 p.m.) Theory Seminar: The Race for Supersymmetry Access (see all) Limited Parking in Lot A Piping Work on the Green SSRL Seismic Upgrade Work No Storage in Former RV Area RSB Project Info and Updates Announcements (see all \| submit) Lab Announcements SLAC Vehicle Orders Centralized Temp. Staffing to Use Kelly Services Community Bulletin Board NOW Newsletter Sep/Oct 2010 Call for Applications: FEL Fellowship SLAC Holiday Party: Volunteers Needed Training (see all \| register) Lab Training Calendar Registration Today (8:00 a.m.) Electrical Equipment Inspection Training Today (9:00 a.m.) Project Mgmt. Training I, Session Two Upcoming Workshops & Classes Online Tech Training Opportunities News (submit) Light Trapped on Curved Surfaces New Scientist Two Legs Faster than Four in the Quantum World Physicsworld Black Holes: Win Some, Lose Some The Economist
	Flea Market Linear Café Menu Employee Milestones Search the Archives Subscribe non-SLAC e-mail Send Us Your Feedback

<% Response.AddHeader "Last-modified", getArticleDate() 'Response.AddHeader "Last-modified","Mon, 01 Sep 1997 01:03:33 GMT" 'Monday, December 06, 2010 %> View online at http://today.slac.stanford.edu/.


	Friday - September 17, 2010