Popular Science Magazine Honors BNL Inventions
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Vol. 50 - No. 45 November 15, 1996 BROOKHAVEN NATIONAL LABORATORY Popular Science Magazine Honors BNL Inventions James Veligdan, Department of Advanced Technology (DAT), is seated In a laboratory in Bldg. 815, John Lucido of Environmental Solutions in back of a 10-inch prototype of his invention, the Polyplanar Optics Corporation (second from left) discusses the EnSoL System (shown in the Display (POD). His associates from DAT are: (from left) Lenny DeSanto, right foreground) with Department of Applied Science researchers (from Cyrus Biscardi, Marcy Chaloupka and Cal Brewster. In the background left) Jeffrey Yablon, Eugene Premuzic, Mow Lin and Lucy Shelenkova, is a 40-inch prototype of the POD. — Photos on this page by Roger Stoutenburgh who developed the system with help from the Nesconset company. A grease-eating apparatus and a To make their selections for the At a luncheon and exhibition on System, and to Senior Research Engi- novel video screen, both developed by magazine’s annual “Best of What’s November 12 at Tavern on the Green neer James Veligdan, from BNL’s De- BNL with funding from the U.S. De- New” edition, the editors of Popular in Manhattan, Popular Science pre- partment of Advanced Technology partment of Energy’s Office of Energy Science reviewed thousands of new sented awards to Scientist Eugene (DAT), for inventing the Polyplanar Research Technology Research Pro- products, technologies and scientific Premuzic from BNL’s Department of Optics Display, a flat-panel video gram, have been picked by Popular achievements. The December issue Applied Science, along with John screen. Dorry Tooker, Outreach Coor- Science magazine as two of the 100 contains a 24-page special editorial Lucido and Daniel Keenan, Environ- dinator from the Lab’s Office of Tech- most significant products and achieve- section highlighting the magazine’s mental Solutions Corporation, for de- nology Transfer (OTT), also attended ments of 1996. selections. velopment of the grease-eating EnSoL the event. (continued on page 2) BNL Lecture: Investigating McLane Wins Outstanding The Stratospheric Ozone Hole — Woman Scientist Award On the Trail of Chemical Clues Victoria McLane, a senior physics haven Women in Science (BWIS), and A noxious form associate in the Department of Ad- she has since been an active member of oxygen, ozone vanced Technology (DAT), has won and officer of this nonprofit advocacy can form in smog, this year’s Outstanding Woman Sci- group at BNL. In 1981, she founded impairing people’s entist Award from the Metropolitan the Renate W. Chasman Scholarship vision and breath- New York Chapter of the Association for Women, an award given by BWIS ing. Yet, some 12 for Women in Science. annually to a Long Island woman who to 30 kilometers Along with three other recipients, has returned to college to study sci- above the ground McLane was honored ence after her school- in the upper atmo- for her scientific contri- ing was interrupted. sphere, ozone is a butions, and especially McLane was also boon — it protects for her support and en- BNL’s Women’s Pro- life on Earth from couragement of women gram Coordinator such effects as skin in the sciences, at a cer- from 1993-96, and she cancer by absorb- emony held in Manhat- served on the commit- ing the damaging tan on November 13. tee for the BNL Point- ultraviolet radia- Louise Hanson, of of-Contact to the U.S. tion from the sun. Dan Imre (left), Department of Applied Science, and BNL’s Department of Department of En- Also, by con- Jun Xu, a graduate student from the State University of Applied Science and ergy (DOE) for Review verting the ab- New York at Stony Brook, study aerosol particles and Office of Educational of Laboratory Pro- sorbed energy into how their behavior can affect ozone depletion over Programs, introduced grams for Women, heat, ozone warms the South Pole. McLane at the event. 1992-96. She was co- the stratosphere. McLane joins the chair of that group’s Damage to the ozone layer would im- Department of Applied Science (DAS) ranks of Gertrude executive committee, ply not only increased cancer rates, will address this question in the 321st Scharff-Goldhaber, 1994-96, and, 1995- but also a change in global climate. Brookhaven Lecture, on Wednesday, BNL’s first woman Victoria McLane 96, she was chair of Alarmingly, scientists have found November 20. Imre will talk on “Is the Ph.D. physicist, and the BNL Planning that, each year since 1978, the ozone Ozone (W)hole? From Ozone Deple- Jane Setlow of BNL’s Biology Depart- Committee for the Fifth Review of layer over the south pole has started tion to Global Warming,” beginning at ment, who both received this award in Laboratory Programs for Women, held thinning in spring, at some altitudes 4 p.m. in Berkner Hall. He will be previous years. at BNL in May. losing all of its ozone by October and introduced by DAS Chairman James McLane earned a B.A. in physics “The goal of these annual meet- forming what is known as the “ozone Davenport. from Adelphi University in 1961. She ings is to provide DOE with up-to-date hole.” Since 1974, scientists had recog- In his talk, Imre will describe the joined BNL in 1962 as a physics asso- information on effective strategies and nized the potential for some ozone in chain of events that forges the ozone ciate in the then Department of programs to improve women’s access the upper equatorial and midlatitude hole: how icy temperatures within the Nuclear Energy (now DAT). Currently, to careers in science and related fields, ozone layer to be destroyed by chlorine vortex of winter winds cause polar McLane oversees the compilation and so that DOE can ensure that the na- from chlorofluorocarbons, man-made stratospheric clouds to form, and how evaluation activities of neutron reac- tional labs are exemplary places of chemicals used in aerosols. But what the clouds transform nonreactive, chlo- tion data at DAT’s National Nuclear employment for women,” said McLane. caused the much more serious ozone rine-carrying molecules into potential Data Center, which publishes refer- McLane is particularly proud of depletion over Antarctica? ozone destroyers, which, activated by ence books and maintains an on-line playing a part in setting up the Career Chemist Daniel Imre of the Envi- spring sunlight, consume all the ozone database for 2,000 users. Development Mentoring Pilot Pro- ronmental Chemistry Division in the by October’s end. (continued on page 2) In 1979, McLane cofounded Brook- (continued on page 2) Brookhaven Bulletin November 15, 1996 *What Kind of Neighbor Are You? Be a Blood Donor — Alisha Would! Rate Yourself! Alisha Sussman is 12 soccer.” A sixth-grader at years old, and some of North Country Junior *Simple, General Warning: This is the credit for that goes to High School in Miller a “message.” You may damage your BNLers who donated Place, Alisha lives in self-image if you read to the end and their blood to her. Sound Beach with her then don’t bother to act on it . Alisha, who is the parents, Mitch and 1. Your pleasant colleague at daughter of Mitchell Leslieann Sussman, and work is not handling an impor- Sussman, Safety & En- her brother, seven-year- tant project well. You: dollars a week to keep the Long Island vironmental Protection old Aaron. • take no notice. safety net as secure as possible. Division, was diagnosed Brookhaven’s upcom- • unobtrusively make helpful sugges- Got the message? Please pledge a with Acute Lytoblastic ing Blood Drive — Tues- tions, but make sure that your name donation to the United Way on the Leukemia when she was day and Wednesday, De- pops up by accident as the initiator of forms that will be mailed to you today five years old. In the dif- cember 3 & 4, from 10 the improvements. to kick off BNL’s annual United Way ficult years that fol- Alisha Sussman a.m. to 3 p.m., at the • unobtrusively make suggestions that campaign. This year’s BNL goal is lowed, Alisha had to un- Brookhaven Center — is you know will help, but keep your $90,000 by December 20, but even the dergo extensive chemotherapy your next chance to help other chil- name out of it. smallest amount you can afford will treatments, which destroyed not only dren who are still in need of blood. 2. You won $100,000 in the lot- help you or your neighbors in time of the rampant leukemia cells but also Alisha today is a healthy, happy and tery. Your close neighbor is hav- need. her healthy blood cells. active child. But, whether it be from ing a hard time out of work — but To get a feel for the wide range of Thus, Alisha needed many blood leukemia, hemophilia, accidents or you have two kids in college and a services supported by the United Way transfusions, and BNL employees and other causes, many other children are very old car. You: to help Long Islanders, come to their families made sure she had still in desperate need of blood. You • use the whole sum for you and your Berkner Hall lobby next Tuesday, enough. Though four years have can make sure the blood is there when family. November 19, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., to see elapsed since her last chemotherapy they need it by pledging to give blood. • consider offering your neighbor part representatives from 10 agencies con- session, Alisha still undergoes sched- Despite painful medical memories, of the windfall as an interest-free loan. cerning, for example, retarded chil- uled blood testing at Long Island Jew- Alisha confided that when she gets •actually succeed in getting your dren, domestic violence, or foster ish Hospital.