OSA NEWS
May 17, 2004
OSA Member Art Guenther Completes Work on National Academy Panel
UNM Research Professor Art Guenther has just completed his work on a National Academy panel to put together management criteria for Los Alamos and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories. The panel’s report is expected to be released within the next few weeks. The National Academies are chartered by Congress as a private, nonprofit, non-governmental organization to advise the government and the nation on scientific and technological matters.
The panel was asked to identify key management principles to ensure high scientific quality in programs and activities at the two laboratories. A special issue of concern is how to assure the two laboratories, which have primary responsibility for the U.S. nuclear weapons programs, can preserve a strong research capability.
“We are particularly interested in ways the laboratories can maintain the most competitive work force possible,” says Guenther. “This is an important issue to people in northern New Mexico where the Los Alamos National Laboratory is constantly searching for qualified scientists.”
Guenther is a research professor in optics with the Center for High Technology Materials. He has served as Chief Scientist of the Air Force Research Laboratory at Kirtland Air Force Base, Chief Scientist for Advanced Defense Technology at Los Alamos National Laboratory, as Scientific Adviser for Laboratory Development at Sandia National Laboratories, and has been a science adviser to three governors.
One of the criteria listed in the scope of work for the panel is a mandate to look at the trends in management of scientific activities at other relevant federal research and development organizations.
Every five years the U.S. Department of Energy is required to review the management of each major research facility. The department is expected to release a Request for Proposals for management of Los Alamos National Laboratory later this year.
Contact:
Karen Wentworth
505.277.5627
Advancing the Science and Technology of Light
