Actual post from Dec. 15 from one of the streams. This is a real topic. As far as promoting women and minorities even if their qualifications are not as good as the white male scientists, I am all for it. We need diversity at the lab and if that is what it takes, so be it. Quit your whining. Look around the lab, what do you see? White male geezers. How many African Americans do you see at the lab? Virtually none. LLNL is one of the MOST undiverse places you will see. Face it folks, LLNL is an institution of white male privilege and they don't want to give up their privileged positions. California, a state of majority Hispanics has the "crown jewel" LLNL nestled in the middle of it with very FEW Hispanics at all!
Comments
The Post
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
White House Requests Study of National Lab Governance
http://llnlthetruestory.blogspot.com/2012/04/white-house-requests-study-of-national.html
"
In a recent study of the NNSA’s nuclear weapons laboratories, the National Academy of Sciences called the agency’s relationship with its labs “dysfunctional” and “broken.” Koonin was notably outspoken about the state of the science at the NNSA’s weapons laboratories during the NAS study, suggesting that the switch to private management of the labs had taken its toll on science. “It’s been a challenge to maintain a vibrant scientific enterprise,” Koonin said at the time. “That’s not to say there isn’t some great stuff going on, but if you look at the totality of the effort, I don’t think it matches what we had decades ago in the basic research area.” Koonin left the Department in the fall for a post at IDA. "
21 comments:
Anonymous said...
LLNS/LANS is going to put and END to this study by offering Koonin a lucrative Management position. Mark my words. Betchel can buy anything or anyone they want. NNSA created this "monster" and THEY can't even stop it.
April 4, 2012 5:47 PM
Ok that is kind of creepy.
And could it have possibly been UC's idea to name a scientist to the board?
Is that still too hard to accept given the massive amount of evidence over the last few years at the NNSA weapon labs?
Bechtel has the political power and the cash to arrange the table just like they like it.
It's great that LLNL is keeping their workforce but the science situation at LANL is becoming dire:
* IBM supercomputer overtakes Fujitsu as world's fastest *
BBC News, Jun 18
IBM's Sequoia has taken the top spot on the list of the world's fastest supercomputers for the US.
...Sequoia will be used to carry out simulations to help extend the life of aging nuclear weapons, avoiding the need for real-world underground tests.
It is installed at the US Department of Energy's Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California.
------
Meanwhile, back at Livermore's sister lab, LANL (aka "Rocky Flats II"), the supercomputer capability has been rapidly deteriorating. LANL is losing much of it's former prestige in this area.
Heck, LANL doesn't even have enough money these days to replace aging desktop PC, much less big computers!
Parny used to work for IDA, wonder if he can help explain?
June 17, 2012 7:10 PM
riggggght. Just like it was UC's idea to name a Lab Director that "had the right sets of relationships".
How's that working out for you, LANL?
Always a bridesmaid, but never a bride!
Would look at the facts before dumping all over Koonin. He had a great run at caltech, was elected to NAS and was Provost. Then made a few million at BP and was a political in DC. Looks like he has had success in several different environments. Compared to someone that has spent their entire career in one narrow field, he likely would have made a superb Lab Director.
Alas, he was deemed unworthy of serious consideration since he had experience outside WP.
People like Dr. Koonin will be of little help in reversing the trend. America needs some serious medicine across the board to save this "patient". So far, all we have been doing is medicating the "patient" with morphine for pain.
Koonin has probably been recruited to apply on multiple occasions. My understanding was he could not be considered for the recent LLNL opening because he had so recently been a DOE executive.