Communications Group
Introduction/BackgroundPoint of Contact: Nina Adelman StolarPhone No.: (650) 926-2282 Email: nina@slac.stanford.edu Performance Objective: 1 Communicate the Mission of the Laboratory both Internally and Externally The SLAC Office of Communications will maintain and continue to improve the systems in place to effectively communicate the mission of the laboratory both internally and externally; and, to support its scientific programs and achievements. (Total Weight: 100%) Performance Criterion: 1.1 The Office of Communications will maintain SLAC’s position as a constructive participant with the general public and media representatives. Provide information to the public on the laboratory’s scientific programs and achievements. Continue effective internal information dissemination to the laboratory community. Facilitate participation by members of the laboratory community in communication and outreach activities. Performance Measure 1.1.a Communication; Educational and Community Outreach; and, Diversity Evaluate management’s approach and effectiveness for external and internal communications, educational outreach, and diversity awareness and planning. (Weight: 100%) Performance Gradient: Outstanding: Results demonstrate improvements have occurred and more effective processes are in place to systematically achieve the performance measure. Excellent: Results demonstrate some improvements have occurred and effective processes are in place towards more consistently achieving the performance measure. Good: Results fall short of expectations for the Excellent gradient; however, some improvements have occurred and some processes are in place towards achieving the performance measure. Marginal: Results fall short of expectations for the Good gradient; however, some effort has been made towards achieving the performance measure. Unsatisfactory: No demonstrated improvements and little or no effort expended to develop effective processes towards achievement of the performance measure. Findings: The communications group has had a very productive year. Listed below are some of the major events and changes. National and International Collaboration International collaboration efforts by the Communications group in High Energy Physics and Synchrotron Radiation include the following initiatives:
Symmetry Magazine SLAC and Fermilab jointly published nine issues of "symmetry" magazine between October 2004 and September 2005, on target for the planned 10 issues per year. The magazine is sent to approximately 15,000 readers in the U.S. and abroad, with many thousands of additional readers coming to the magazine online each month. Feedback from all targeted audiences, including the physics community, policy makers, teachers, and the science-interested general public, has been overwhelmingly positive. In February, the “symmetry” team met with representatives of DOE, NSF and OSTP to solicit detailed feedback on progress. The strong overall message from those meetings was that the magazine should continue essentially unchanged but very useful input has helped us, along with other reader feedback, to continually improve the quality of “symmetry”. DOE Relations We worked closely with the DOE Stanford Site Office (SSO) and the Office of Science to keep them informed of relevant activities. SLAC participated in weekly conference calls with the Field Office and with Headquarters for topical sessions. Communications’ staff members are active participants in the DOE-SC Laboratory Communications Council Meetings and represented the laboratory at appropriate events. Media Activity The quality and quantity of media coverage of SLAC scientific achievements have been excellent in FY 2004. To ensure that the value of SLAC science is recognized by all its stakeholders, excellent relationships with the world’s scientific press have been maintained. Examples include CNN, BBC, Nature, New Scientist, Scientific American, Science and Physics World. A successful effort was made to continue increased coverage of the laboratory’s activities in the local press. In FY 2004, major newspapers carried features on SLAC including the San Francisco Chronicle, San Jose Mercury News and Palo Alto Daily. Regional television stations and radio stations also covered SLAC extensively. Communication Channels The following Communications highlights facilitate a systemic approach using web-based channels to inform various communities on upcoming events and documenting them along with crediting the participants for their efforts. These information channels include:
New SLAC Web Home Site The Communications group launched a completely new Web home site that highlights our varied scientific initiatives as well as important information for staff, users and the public. The effort involved creating new content and imagery, as well as organizing existing pages around the various audiences that use the website. The new site also incorporates updated versions for many of the public information and visitors’ pages, and a host of other pages around the site. The redesign also added new navigational tools and reorganized how information is presented on the homepage. The new site will also provide new and better information on SLAC events, the public lecture and tour programs, site access, directions and other critical information. Communications supported a number of significant laboratory events. Communications provided excellent customer service to support major scientific conferences, meetings and seminars throughout the year. Community Outreach Generating trust and support in the local community is the highest priority of the SLAC Communications group. Involvement and support of the local community is an essential foundation for the continued success of the laboratory. We continue to offer facilities use to local community groups. SLAC’s Communications group participates in local community activities such as chamber of commerce events. SLAC also participates in the Stanford University Walk to Cure Diabetes. SLAC Communications played a significant role in Stanford Community Day with scientific demonstrations, literature and exhibits. SLAC hosted tours during Stanford University Commencement with 450 attendees. The Communications group involves a broad range of the laboratory community in these efforts. We have focused on involving young graduate students and post doctoral students in the Tour Program. Tour Program The Communications group has increased the pool of tour guides and is responsive to the high demand for laboratory visits. The group continues to facilitate lab visits by all area high schools, especially science classes. Science Education Programs Graduate students from Stanford University, national and international universities and institutes participate in our research as a component of their graduate degree work. The annual two-week Summer Institute on Particle Physics offered continuing education for 287 international participants. The communications group has played a much greater role in the organization of the 8-week long DOE Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI) program that runs from June 20 to August 20. SULI brought 26 undergraduate students from around the country for a summer research experience in the laboratory. The interns populated all of the research facilities at SLAC, conducting research with a mentor and preparing a formal report. With the goal of promoting diversity, the selection committee looked specifically for applicants under-represented in the physics community — such as minorities, women, and students from little-known colleges. In February the first DOE Science Bowl held at SLAC was a tremendous success due to strong volunteer participation by the SLAC community. A warm SLAC welcome greeted the 23 teams (one coach/five students) from 14 area high schools. Public Lectures The SLAC Public Lectures continue to be very successful. The series opens the doors to the inner workings of SLAC for the local nonscientific community to find out what SLAC is all about: the research, the facilities, and the people that make this a world-class research institute. The SLAC Public Lecture Series has been very well attended by the public. The average attendance has been 300. SLAC physicists are available after the lecture to answer any questions. Public Lecture Series:
Selected Press Clipping Highlights A story on an Archimedes manuscript being read for the first time at SSRL gained world wide coverage. May 21 – CNN: Eureka! Unlocking Archimedes’ ancient text – Causing invisible ink to glow. http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/science/05/21/archimedes.manuscript.ap/index.html May 25 – NBC article by Susan Siravo with headline Eureka! Stanford Scientists Reveal Ancient Texts with Laser. http://www.nbc11.com/news/4532852/detail.html May 23 – Keay Davidson, San Francisco Chronicle article, Stanford lab reveals hidden writing on ancient parchment – Scientists analyze Archimedes text at accelerator center. SFGate.com:http://www.sfgate.com/cgiin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/05/23/MNGQ2CSVND1.DTL&type=science May 23 – Chicago Sun–Times, Uncloaking Ancient Secrets by Alex Dominguez. http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst–nws–arch23.html NOVA productions visited the SLAC in early May to film a major documentary. Three SLAC physicists are featured in NOVA documentary on Einstein's famous equation. Film includes background on SLAC science projects. The episode is aired on October 11 on public television. http://news–service.stanford.edu/news/2005/may25/emcpr–052505.html The Quantum Diaries website has been extremely successful. The SLAC participants have received the highest number of hits out of all the 31 international physicists. http://chronicle.com/temp/email.php?id=8b7pbn1yyewju8hv0q5qu4huix9fxmtg SULI Program Participation DOE’s Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI) program brought 26 students from around the country to SLAC for a summer research experience. The program coordinator was Robert Vega, visiting Theory Group Visitor. Participants and their mentors are listed below. PARTICIPANTS MENTORS Apte, Zach Hiro Tajima, Tsunefumi Mizuno Armenta, Rebecca Harold Morales Cevallos, Marissa Philip Marshall, Marusa Bradac Gan, Yu M. Convery, C. Young, and S. Swain George, Matthew G. Madejski, Steve Allen Griffin, Isabella Uwe Bergmann Hall, Jessica Seth Digel, G. Madejski Kirkby, Lowry Philip Marshall, Masao Sako Lang, Mary C. Young, M. Convery, and S. Swain Lettsome, Annette Yemi Adesanya Parikh, Harshil C. Young, M. Convery, and S. Swain Rivers, Elizabeth Masao Sako, Philip Marshall Wendlandt, Johanna Anders Nilsson Selected Images: Public Lecture series posters and covers from Symmetry magazine
TIP Issue Log – October 2004 to September 2005 Safety articles in The Interaction Point (TIP) in reverse chronological order. Back issues of The Interaction Point are on-line, see: http://www2.slac.stanford.edu/tip/tiparchives.htm 2005 Power Outage: Lessons Learned Annual Safety and Security Briefing & Expo on Tuesday, September 20 Safety All Hands Video Available ISSM Expo Hazardous Waste Loop Road Closure, Klystron Road, Stop Sign Chemical Management System Director’s Corner – Best Practices Safety Hotline number Safety Service Line Chemical Management System Orbach Visit/Speech Hazardous Communication – on hold for verification DOE SSO Safety Officers EMS Article SLAC Emergency Hotline Safety Tip: JHAM In the Dark - Power Outage Payroll during outage Safety Tip: Using Ladders Safely Safety Reminder: Construction Areas Electrical Equipment Inspection Grads B Factory Startup HEP Tech Safety Forum Safety Violation Corrective Actions Safety Tip: Safety and Teen Workers Electrical Safety Meeting Safety Tip: Safety Culture PEP-II Approved for Restart Safety Training Update Safety Tip: Slips, Trips, Falls Safety Tip: Group Lifting Safety Shoe Vendor on site Handling Radioactive Waste Safety Tip: bicycle safety Safety TIP: running safety 17 + 8 The Numbers & Meaning, Director’s Corner Safety Tip: Lifting/Backs OSC Listens@SLAC Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program Electrical Safety Tip Safety Values & Expectations Safety Values Document 2004 Portable Space Heater Safety – Question re current policy Holiday Safety Gifts Holiday Tree Safety Safety Update, Director's Corner Voluntary Contributions to Simons Family Electrical Safety Trainer Important Safety Contacts Safety Resources Announce Accident Shutdown, Director’s Corner |
