Lamont Weekly Report – September 10, 2004

OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
P.O. Box 1000, 61 Route 9W Palisades, New York 10964

<> REPORT SUMMARY <>

– Letter from the Director –
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<> LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR

Tomorrow is the 11th of September. We should all find a few moments to remember that. And think about what it means to us as individuals. It seems that three years has done little to mend the deep conflicts that led to this tragedy - in fact, quite the opposite!!!

Following such somber thoughts I have little other than good news. Our new ship, the Western Legend, is in mid Atlantic on passage to Rhode Island, where she will be laid up awaiting transfer to a shipyard to refit with all her new scientific gear. We will be holding a small event in the Monell Auditorium at 4pm on Monday 20th September, to mark the transfer of ownership of the vessel from Western Geco to Columbia University. Representatives of WesternGeco and NSF will be there - there will be a couple of very short speeches, a presentation or two, and then a reception. Everyone is invited - so please join us to mark this historic event - the beginning of a new era in Lamont ship operations.

Another issue of similar significance is the substantial progress that we have made in recent months in the planning for a new Geochemistry laboratory Building. A small planning group has been established (Wally Broecker, Bob Anderson, Taro Takahashi, Peter Schlosser and myself) to bring new focus to this project that has been talked about for substantially more than a decade. At a meeting with Provost Brinkley earlier this week, it was clear to us that there is a new level of commitment from the University to help us make this vision a reality at last. We are moving forward with a detailed planning and design activity in the coming months - and this time, it may actually happen!!!

I am in Washington DC again today - meetings at NSF on a variety of topics, but will be home tonight (US Air shuttle permitting).

The lesson that the impact of new technologies is vastly increased when they are combined in creative ways was brought home to me with new emphasis this past Labor Day weekend. I finally got around to installing a wireless network (with a printer hooked in) in my house. Combining this new capability with a full size leather Laz-Y-Boy recliner is a life-changing experience!!!

Have a great weekend,

– Mike
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