Jan 6, 2009

Carol Burns Selected 2008 AAAS Fellow

This Just In: Another Woman Chemist Does Good at LANL

Chemistry Division's Carol Burns has been selected as a 2008 Fellow in the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Carol is the Group Leader for the Nuclear and Radiochemistry Group. She is being honored for her contributions to the field of actinide science and to the understanding of actinide metal-ligand multiple bonds. Selection as Fellow in the AAAS is a high honor, and only one other scientist was chosen in 2008 from Los Alamos.

Carol has long been recognized as a national and international leader in actinide chemistry, one whose research is followed and respected by the actinide chemistry community. According to colleagues, she is largely responsible for the current understanding of organoactinide complexes containing metal-ligand multiple bonds. They also state that her work has changed the way the scientific community thinks about the chemistry of the light actinides. The breadth and depth of her accomplishments can be seen by her numerous professional publications, invitations to contribute to prestigious monographs and review articles, and plenary lectures at international conferences in the field.

Her scientific achievements have been paralleled by her dedication to the Laboratory. She has worked to further Laboratory programs in a wide variety of areas, and she has mentored many young researchers who have themselves gone on to significant scientific achievements. She served time as a Senior Policy Analyst in the Office of Science and Technology Policy working in the area of national security, and has also testified before Congress on the potential national impact of the decreasing number of American young people who are choosing radiochemistry as a career. Her work as mentor, educator, and advocate has made her a nationally recognized expert in science education as well. In recent years she has emerged as a spokesperson for the Laboratory's nuclear forensics mission, in particular the challenges that mission faces in a time of diminished funding in the nuclear arena.

On being selected as an AAAS Fellow, Carol says, “I am extremely honored that my colleagues chose to nominate me and that the Society selected me. I think the Society has a very important role to play at the cusp of science and politics; it champions science in the political dialog and informs science policy. This involvement is important at a time when we must communicate the broader value of the national laboratories within a changing national security framework.” She has been a society member for over ten years.

In the words of one of her colleagues, “Carol's scientific accomplishments have won international recognition for her and LANL...she is one of our best, brightest, and most productive.”

For more on the American Society for the Advancement of Science, see http://www.aaas.org/

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yeah, this is the third female chemist to win an award in the past 3 months. As a retired female who faught the battles, I am proud, the women's diversity working group, and LANL management should be proud too! Way to go gals!

(I just hope you all are equally compensated as the men who have NOT gotten these distinctions...I am sure your managers and HR reps are all making sure this happens asap, right guys?)

Anonymous said...

Congrats to Dr Carol Burns. LANL still has some great people!

Anonymous said...

and you sign anonymous, a real fighter

Anonymous said...

"As a retired female who faught the battles..."

Were you faughting the battles to be paid as well as males who could spell?

Anonymous said...

Anonymous 1/7/09 5:03 AM said...

"and you sign anonymous, a real fighter"

I think that the (perceived) need for anonymity on this blog is an indication of the fearfull atmosphere at LANL.

Frank Young said...

Almost everyone comments anonymously on this blog, including you 5:03 AM (and me for the first year I ran it). Think about it for a minute and you'll understand why.

Anonymous said...

Yea, if you do not think that LANS will come after you for your private thoughts, just try signing your full name. he, he, see what happens, in fact just sign a fake name and watch LANS spent an a whle lot of time and effort tracking down the culprit.

Anonymous said...

Let's be clear about this blog. LANS (Bechtel) does not like it and would love to shut it down if they could. It's an embarrassment to them and to the NNSA.

Since they can't shut it down, they pretend that it is of no real consequence. However, this blog is read by many people, including some decision makers in Washington DC. The posts frequently have a very low signal to noise ratio, but there are some kernels of truth in much of what is posted.

Pre LANS, posting with your real name might have been possible. The academic freedoms of UC were in place. With Bechtel running LANL, any employee who uses their real name with posts on this blog and then makes harsh criticism of LANS or NNSA is risking their job in this one company town. LANS (Bechtel) would dearly love to squash their many critics who work at the lab.

Unknown said...

OK, I'm happy to say Congrats to Carol Burns in a non-anonymous way. She's a great person and I enjoyed getting to know her in my time at LANL.

Ron

Anonymous said...

Well, Ron, Great. I am glad you have had full confession, but what about Mary Neu and all of her accomplishements?

Anonymous said...

THen someone needs to nominate Mary. Quit your bitching and don't blame Carol because she won.

Anonymous said...

Yes, LANL has some great political people who have spent more time in Washington than in Los Alamos over the course of their careers. While it is great to see good scientists get the praise they deserve, Carol among them, AAAS fellowships and appointments at OSTP are based on one's connections and significant political support, not on merit. AAAS is a political organization itself, and one of the most inept and corrupt non-profits in DC.

Anonymous said...

wow! "only one other scientist from LANL". do you know who that "other scientist" is? P. Jeffrey Hay. where's the article for Jeff? I guess it doesn't count if you're retired.

Anonymous said...

I liked that picture of a perky looking Jen Martinez much better.

Anonymous said...

I heard Neu is forcing Burns to step down as group leader ... any truth to this?

Anonymous said...

Not sure, 9:30, but they have hated each other for a long time.

Anonymous said...

"I heard Neu is forcing Burns to step down as group leader ... any truth to this?" - 9:30 AM

It's called smothering the better qualified competition while you still can.

Both Neu and Terry Wallace have become experts at this game. It's one of the reasons that Neu is so disliked by most of her staff.

Anonymous said...

9:30,

Burns is taking a rotation in ADTR but is not stepping down. (Neu is stupid, but not THAT stupid.)

Anonymous said...

Meh. Sharp knees.