Lamont Weekly Report, June 19, 2009

The happiest news of the week is that the April issue of "Deep Sea Research" has been dedicated to Taro Takahashi. Taro, in his typically modest way, insists that "Since my ocean study was (and is) conducted entirely at Lamont with Lamont colleagues, I would like to share this honor and recognition with the entire Observatory."

There is a wonderful citation in the journal that states in part:

"Taro is an outstanding scientist, colleague, and mentor, with a graciousness and humility that has been an inspiration to us all throughout his entire career"

Congratulations Taro for this thoroughly appropriate and well-deserved recognition.

We received the great news on Monday that we have been given the one slot available to CU for submission of a proposal to NSF's Buildings and Infrastructure RFP issued as part of the Stimulus funding program (formally known as the American Reinvestment and recovery Act (ARRA).  We are preparing a plan for a major renovation of the labs in the New Core Lab with the goal of bringing all the researchers in the BP&E Division together in a single building for the first time.
Deadline is in mid-August so there is a lot to do in a very short time.

I had a day trip to DC on Wednesday - to attend a Members meeting of IODP Management International, the corporation that runs the ocean drilling program.  I was heartened by the very positive atmosphere - the program for the first time has all three of its drilling assets operating at the same time - JOIDES Resolution in the tropical Pacific, the Japanese riser vessel Chikyu off Nankai, and the European jackup rig off New Jersey. Also notably IODP-MI has its first member from China - Tongji University in Shanghai was voted in as a member and the representative - Professor Pinxian Wang - captured everyone's attention with his description of China's plans for the development of new ocean research infrastructure (including their own drill ship with a sea-floor mud circulation system and a deep-diving manned
submersible).

The first of the regular Research Life Panel series was held today - thanks to Mingfang Ting, Kim Kastens and Robin Bell for their presentations to a good audience of post docs and junior staff on the topic of Career Advancement.

This morning was the deadline for the internal CU competition for the forthcoming NSF MRI competition.  I am glad to report that LDEO submitted four exceptionally strong pre-proposals, competing with the other schools of the University for one of the three slots available to us.  CU Research Admin will be organizing the review of these pre-proposals and we should know the outcome within a week or so.  If we can't get all three of CU's slots, I hope we can at least get two!
Keep dry over the weekend,

- Mike