Anonymously contributed:
And Sometimes, There is Good News!
While most of the time we moan and groan about the decline of the lab, every once in a while, something really good happens:
"Combatting antibiotic resistant bacteria: it's all in the genes
Researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) have discovered a new way to combat antibiotic resistant bacteria by using the bacteria's own genes."
Somehow in spite of Bechtel's oversight and NNSA's oppressive rules, someone (a fellow named Paul Jackson & his co-workers) makes what might be a significant discovery that may make a huge positive change to the landscape. I can only hope that this would be the rule rather than the exception.
18 comments:
That name sounds familiar. Didn't Paul Jackson used to work on biology programs at Los Alamos? When did he leave for LLNL and why? Anyone know?
Good job!
However Congress can spin anything in a bad way.
Congressman A
(1) Sounds great but why should this kind research be funded at a weapons lab?
Congressman B
(2) This same research could have been done faster and much cheaper elsewhere.
Congressman C
(3) The bible did not say anything about germs so they do not exist!
Paul left LANL at least 4 years ago. His reputation there was stellar, and he cared deeply about his job and the people he worked with. He has been missed greatly.
Sounds like researcher Paul Jackson deserves a raise for his excellent work.
Oh, wait. I forgot. The NNSA labs don't give out raises any longer. Perhaps he'll get a nice, big "atta boy" from Director Miller and Dr. Chu.
This is the sort of work that somehow gets done at the weapon labs through the hard work and dedication of a small number of smart scientists who must work against a badly broken lab system but some people still manage to do it. Kudos, Paul!
Paul Jackson married a wonderful woman who used to work for me at LLNL. LLNL worked hard to attract him and it was probably a good move for him, even with the LLC's.
Retired from LLNL and loving it!
And then, sometimes there is bad news.
If you work in the areas of fuel cells, hydrogen or fossil fuels research, get ready for a huge shock come Monday morning. Those researech programs are about to be eliminated by DOE at Dr. Chu's request.
This is just the start of the government's massive budget cutting process so you can expect additional facilities and programs to be shut down in the future.
~~~~~
Energy budget calls for cuts in several programs
AP News, Feb 11, 2011
WASHINGTON – The Obama administration will propose significantly cutting fossil fuel research and closing two facilities, Energy Secretary Steven Chu said Friday.
"Fiscal responsibility demands shared sacrifice — it means cutting programs we would not cut in better fiscal times," he wrote in a blog post Friday outlining the cuts, as well as a big increase for clean energy, that will be proposed in next year's budget.
Chu said that the budget proposal, which will be released Monday, would cut the Office of Fossil Energy by 45 percent, or $418 million. That includes eliminating the Fuels Program, the Fuel Cells Program, the Oil and Gas Research and Development Program and the Unconventional Fossil Technology Program.
The budget would also save $70 million by reducing funding for the hydrogen technology program in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
The administration would also end operations at the Tevatron facility at Fermi National Laboratory in Illinois, saving $35 million, and close the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee, saving $10.3 million. The department made the decision to close that facility in January.
~~~~~
As the budget crunch worsens over the next few years, it will inevitable touch all the DOE labs.
Forget all the glorious rhetoric politicians spout about "valuing science" or "protecting the nuclear stockpile". Huge cuts are coming. As a nation, we cannot continue to borrow at the rate of $1.5 trillion per year. It's not sustainable.
Very hard choices will now be made. You can assume that entitlement programs (Social Security, Medicare, etc) won't be touched because that would result in a massive loss of support for most politicians.
What will be cut and then cut again will be the discretionary budgets (i.e., funding for federal agencies and cabinet departments). The cuts will be huge and the final result will likely be layoffs.
But wait, there's more:
Rockets, doughnuts could face ax in US budget cuts
AFP News, Feb 11, 2011
WASHINGTON (AFP) – Hundreds of millions of US taxpayer dollars have been wasted on everything from doughnuts to rockets, auditors told Congress Thursday as budget-minded lawmakers prepared to slash science funding.
...The National Science Foundation, a 6.9 billion dollar federal agency that disperses grants to researchers, also came under the microscope as the House of Representatives held hearings on how to get rid of waste and fraud.
NSF is spending 500,000 dollars per year on refreshments at meetings, even though attendees are already compensated for food and other expenses, Inspector General Allison Lerner said.
Other problems include the way the agency spends half of its budget for contracts, or 204 million dollars, on pay-in-advance schemes in which contractors get paid ahead of time whether the work is finished or not.
"The risk of fraud, waste and abuse by NSF contractors will continue to be high until NSF implements fully adequate cost surveillance procedures," she told the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Science, State, Justice and Commerce.
A recent audit of large construction projects undertaken by NSF revealed more than 169 million dollars in "unallowable contingency costs," because "no barriers existed to prevent the funds from being drawn down in advance," she said.
"I am beginning to think it is a very sloppy operation out there," said Congressman Frank Wolf, the Republican chair of the subcommittee.
I'll bet those NSF dead-beat scientists even get treated to lead-free bottled water at their work places. How deplorable! Have they no shame?
The conservative Republicans' mis-guided invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan are costing America about $10 million PER HOUR in money we don't have.
Meanwhile, they spend their time beating-up on the NSF for ordering a couple of dozen donuts.
Go figure?
I guess you conveniently forgot that most liberal democrats voted for both wars. Obama called Afghanistan "the right war."
"...NSF is spending 500,000 dollars per year on refreshments at meetings,.."
Better than having those propeller heads loose on the streets
"...NSF is spending 500,000 dollars per year on refreshments at meetings,.."
There nothing like an accountant with a rut on.
"...NSF is spending 500,000 dollars per year on refreshments at meetings,.."
They're pikers compared to BLM. Those guys go to Oil conventions... where all rigs are serviced for free.
"...NSF is spending 500,000 dollars per year on refreshments at meetings,.."
Bet George Bush wished he was at that meeting instead of barking "mission accomplished'
"...NSF is spending 500,000 dollars per year on refreshments at meetings,.."
Hey. We collaborate with the French. They throw great parties. Don't want those Frenchies to out compete the old US of A do you?
...NSF is spending 500,000 dollars per year on refreshments at meetings,.."
That's only 40 cases of Lafite for all of us.
Bet George Bush wished he was at that meeting instead of barking "mission accomplished'
February 19, 2011 8:31 PM
Sigh... Look, it has been acknowledged by everyone still breathing that Bush said no such thing. It was on a banner on the ship he landed on and was put up by the Navy Brass to congratulate (rightfully) their troops on a mission (the air war in Iraq) as accomplished. Everyone except you apparently already has recognized and accepted that fact. Get over yourself. History re-writing gets old.
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