Education

Los Alamos Girl Scout Aids Sea Turtles In Panama

Jennifer Necker of Los Alamos completed the NAUI Open Water Certification training while volunteering for conservation work this summer in Panama. Courtesy photo

Jennifer Necker of Los Alamos spent 14 days volunteering in Panama in conservation efforts to protect endangered sea turtles. Courtesy photo

COMMUNITY News:

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica – Jennifer Necker of Los Alamos spent 14 days volunteering in Panama in conservation efforts to protect endangered sea turtles and exploring new depths while learning to scuba dive coral reefs.

During the last week of June and first week Read More

Monthly PEEC Wildflower Walk July 13

Native wildflower Scarlet Penstemon. Photo by Chick Keller

PEEC News:

With the continued rain in Los Alamos County, beautiful wildflowers abound. Join PEEC’s Jemez Mountain Herbarium Curator Chick Keller for a Wildflower Walk at 5:30 p.m. Monday, July 13 to discover what some of them are and where they can be found.

This will be an easy walk to identify some of the wildflowers that can be found in and around Los Alamos. The group will meet at the Nature Center, 2600 Canyon Road, and carpool to the trail that Keller will select based on what is blooming at the time. The walk is free and there is Read More

Udall: Stakes High As Senate Works To Reform No Child Left Behind

U.S. Sen. Tom Udall

U.S. SENATE News:

Thursday, as the Senate debated reform of the nation’s controversial No Child Left Behind education law, Sen. Tom Udall highlighted the impact the Senate’s bill, called the Every Child Achieves Act, and could have on New Mexico students.

In a speech on the Senate floor, Udall urged the Senate to improve the law and ensure it supports New Mexico students and teachers, as well as all students across the country that deserve a fair shot at success. See Udall’s speech at https://youtu.be/e8Fmd-LT5zY.

Udall has already worked to include several Read More

PEEC Laser Light Shows Are Canceled

PEEC News:

The Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) is very sad to announce that the laser light show machine arrived damaged, and all shows are cancelled.

PEEC will be issuing refunds during normal open hours at the Los Alamos Nature Center. Prismatic Magic apologizes to the people of Los Alamos, and have promised to deliver to PEEC a fixed and working machine for the first few weeks of August, so check PEEC’s website at that time to find out the new schedule. www.peecnature.org. Read More

SFI: Understanding Genius – The Neuroscience Of Extraordinary Creativity

Nancy C. Andreasen
 
SFI News:
 
The Santa Fe Institute (SFI) presents community lecture “Understanding Genius: The Neuroscience of Extraordinary Creativity” at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 15, at James A. Little Theater, 1060 Cerrillos Road.
 
How does one define extraordinary creativity? Is creative genius a product of nature or nurture? And can those of us who are less creative enhance the creative capacity in ourselves and others?
 
Andreasen uses neuroscience to analyze the connections between extraordinary creativity, intelligence, the social
Read More

Explore Mesa De Cuba Badlands With PEEC

Mesa de Cuba Badlands. Photo by Rod McCrady

PEEC News:

Traveling to Cuba along N.M. 550 is certainly a visual treat. This rugged, multi-colored landscape is home to the relatively new San Juan Basin Badlands Recreation Area.

Created in the last few years to offer protection to this sometimes haunting, but always breathtaking scenery, the Badlands have no real trail system, food or potable water. To help visitors navigate this exceptional terrain, join geologist Patrick Rowe Saturday, July 18 to explore one of the five badlands in the Recreation Area, the Mesa de Cuba Badlands.

This hike offers Read More

Northern’s RN-BSN Program Recognized For Excellence In Holistic Nursing

Northern RN-BSN alumnus Christine Woolsey, Assistant Program Director Darlene Hess and holistic nursing educator Barbara Dossey. Courtesy photo
 
 
AHNA News:
 
ESPANOLA  Northern New Mexico College’s RN-BSN Nursing Program was awarded the Excellence in Holistic Nursing Award by the American Holistic Nurse Association this June.
 
The award was accepted by assistant program director Dr. Darlene Hess and alumnus Christine Woolsey at the 35th Annual AHNA Conference in Branson, Missouri. More than 400 holistic nurses from across the country
Read More

‘Zoo To You’ Comes To Mesa Public Library July 16

Kids check out a lizard at a previous ‘Zoo to You’ visit to Mesa Public Library. Courtesy/MPL
 
LIBRARY News:

Albuquerque BioPark’s “Zoo to You” program is coming to Mesa Public Library at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 16. They will set up their program in the upper parking lot, following the Farmer’s Market.

“Get eye to eye with beautiful birds, small mammals, amazing amphibians and reptiles,” Program Director Jo Pelhan said. “Docents guide you through this traveling exhibit of animals and hands-on biofacts — including bones, pelts, feathers, shells and other interesting animal Read More

‘Fantastic Fractals’ Screens At Nature Center July 18

Fractal created by Wolfgang Beyer. Courtesy/Wikimedia Commons

PEEC News:

To get in the spirit of ScienceFest, PEEC is screening Fantastic Fractals.

Join host and Fractal Foundation Executive Director Jonathan Wolfe as he presents a full-dome planetarium show that explores infinitely complex mathematical fractals in nature. This award-winning program features original music, and is educational, entertaining, and amazing.

This planetarium show is $5, and will screen at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, July 18 at the Los Alamos Nature Center. Seating is limited. It is suitable for ages three Read More

Family Night Campfire Fun At Nature Center Tuesday

Enjoy campfire fun during Family Night at the Nature Center. Courtesy photo

PEEC News:

Tuesday, July 14 is Family Night at the Los Alamos Nature Center.

The center will be open for exploring the exhibits until 8 p.m., and there will be games, activities, experiments, crafts and more for families to enjoy. Family Nights at the Nature Center are sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos. They are free to attend.

In July and August, there will be extra special family campfire fun! Join Melissa Mackey for songs, stories and a little science 5:30-6:30 p.m.

For more information about this and other PEEC Read More

School Board Meets At 2101 Trinity Dr. Tuesday

LAPS News:

The Los Alamos School Board will hold a Regular School Board Meeting and Executive Session at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 14 in the School Board Room of the LAPS Administration Building, 2101 Trinity Dr.

The Executive Session will be held first Session to discuss the purchase, acquisition or disposal of real property, per Section 10-15-1 (H)(8) as allowed in the Open Meetings Act NMSA1978. The purpose for the discussion in closed session will be limited to the item stated on the agenda. No action will be taken.

School Board President Jim Hall will then reconvene the Regular Meeting, which Read More

PEEC Class Teaches How To Identify Wildflowers

Local wildflower, dusky penstemon. Courtesy/PEEC

PEEC News:

What a difference a little rain makes. The roadsides and hillsides are green, and yellow, red, pink and purple flowers dot the landscape.

“How to Identify Wildflowers” is the name of a five-week class offered 5:30-7:30 p.m. beginning Tuesday, July 14 at the Los Alamos Nature Center.

This is an opportunity to get outside, to be curious, and learn more about the area and the flora. Longtime residents and experts Craig Martin and Teralene (Terry) Foxx will teach the class.

Foxx is a plant ecologist, writer and artist. She taught plant Read More

Rattlesnake Museum Talk At Nature Center July 15

Rattlesnake. Photo by Bob Myers

PEEC News:

Living in New Mexico means sharing the outdoors with many different kinds of reptiles.

To help explain how humans can cohabitate with these scaly neighbors, join Bob Myers, director of the International Rattlesnake Museum at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday July 15 at the Los Alamos Nature Center.

Discover what snakes and other reptiles live in New Mexico, how to identify them, what to do if you find a dangerous species in your backyard, some stories and legends about snakes, and snakebite prevention and treatment. Come to learn more about these fascinating creatures Read More

Save Money Watering Your Lawn Workshop July 17

NMSU News:
 
Having a water-conserving landscape doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t include grass.
 
New Mexico State University turfgrass specialist Bernd Leinauer has developed a subsurface drip irrigation system that reduces water usage by watering grass at its roots. He will host a hands-on workshop Friday, July 17 at the Los Alamos Demonstration Garden.
 
Participants will learn irrigation basics and help install a subsurface drip irrigation system during the  9 a.m. to noon workshop. Subsurface drip can reduce water used for irrigation by 20 to 30 percent,”
Read More

New Research On Human Ability To Smell Odors

Courtesy/ASU

ASU News:

  • ASU Researcher Disputes Claim that Humans can Distinguish One Trillion Odors

Assistant Research Professor Rick Gerkin

TEMPE, Ariz.—An Arizona State University researcher is calling into question recent findings that the human nose is capable of distinguishing at least 1 trillion odors.

Rick Gerkin, an assistant research professor with ASU School of Life Sciences, says the data used in a study made public last year does not support this claim.

According to Gerkin, this is important because findings from the 2014 study published in the journal Science are already Read More

Ten Standout Students Choose Educator of Distinction

LAPSF News:

The Los Alamos Public School (LAPS) Foundation’s Scholarship Committee asks its scholarship winners to choose an Educator of Distinction.

This is a teacher that has had a lasting impact on the recipient during their time in the Los Alamos Public Schools. This year’s winners all chose Los Alamos High School teachers. A school without teachers is just brick and mortar; the teachers make the difference. This year’s 10 outstanding winners were selected for their demonstrated balance of academic excellence, extracurricular participation and community service.

Catherine Read More

Board President Jim Hall On LAPS Reserve Funds

By JIM HALL, President
LAPS Board of Education

This is intended to answer some questions about Los Alamos Public School (LAPS) reserve funds. It represents my opinion as a member of the LAPS Board and does not represent an official position of the Board or the Administration.

First, some basics. LAPS receives operational funding from four major sources. The State of New Mexico formula-based funding–normally referred to as School Equalization Guarantee or SEG funding–is about $26.3M for the upcoming school year. We receive $8 million a year from the DOE and about $3 million in Read More

Global Synthesis Of Large Wildland Fires Shows Ecological Benefit

Natural fire mosaic, southwest Oregon, 10 years post-fire. Courtesy/Geos Institute
 
SCIENCE News:
 
ASHLAND, Ore.  Twenty-five leading fire scientists from around the world released a new synthesis “The Ecological Importance of Mixed-Severity Fires: Nature’s Phoenix” published by Elsevier, a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services. 
 
For the first time extensive documentation from around the world reveals that forests and other plant communities need a variety of
Read More

USDA Rural Development Seeks Grant Applications

USDA Rural Development State Director Terry Brunner

USDA News:

  • Up to $200,000 available for each grant to assist individuals and businesses in the development of rural cooperatives and other mutually-owned businesses

ALBUQUERQUE – USDA Rural Development State Director Terry Brunner announces that USDA-Rural Development is accepting applications for grants to help rural cooperative develop. The grants are being made available to non-profit corporations and institutions of higher education through the Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) program.

In making the announcement Read More

LAHS Graduate Chloe Keilers Represents New Mexico At National Youth Science Camp

Chloe Keilers gives remarks in May after receiving the Rotary Club of Los Alamos Service Award. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

EDUCATION News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Chloe Madsen Keilers, a 2015 Los Alamos High School graduate, is representing New Mexico as a delegate to the 2015 National Youth Science Camp®.

She joins top science students June 10 to 17 July from across the nation and around the world for this acclaimed honors science leadership program, which ends with a highlight trip to Washington, D.C.

NYSC delegates will meet science policy makers and senators for a luncheon hosted Read More

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