Army veteran honored by National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation (NSF) recognized 11 United States military veterans for their contributions to the science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields in Washington D.C., on Nov. 5. United States Army veteran and Notre Dame physics graduate student Luis Morales and 10 others were honored with NSF-funded Graduate Research Fellowships.“The ceremony in Washington was a Veteran’s Day event,” Morales said. “The NSF has never done anything like this before. They honored the veterans while also showing how they had contributed to—and made the transition from—the military to the STEM fields.”Morales said his trip to D.C. included a tour of the NSF headquarters and a poster session to present and discuss his personal research. The NSF expressed interest in helping veterans overcome any obstacles that may prevent them from pursuing a civilian career in STEM, Morales said.“Throughout the day, we [talked] about the relationship between veterans and the sciences,” he said. “We’re not traditional students. Many of us start schooling with families. It can be a struggle to manage this financially and time wise.”Morales said that he and the other NSF Fellows honored in D.C. were asked what could be done for veterans to help with the transition from the military to undergraduate or graduate education.“I wasn’t in a science field when I was in the military,” Morales said. “I just had this drive to do it. I followed my heart. I took all the opportunities that were given to me.”According to a press release from the College of Science, “the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship program provides three years of support for the graduate education of students who have demonstrated the potential for significant achievements in science and engineering research.”After more than five years of service in the Army, Morales moved to Elkhart, Indiana to pursue an undergraduate degree in physics and applied mathematics at Indiana University – South Bend in 2011. There, Morales collaborated with a group in the Nuclear Science Lab at Notre Dame to design a new detection system for the St. GEORGE Recoil Separator (Strong Gradient Electro-magnet Online Recoil separator for capture Gamma ray Experiments).“During my time as an undergrad, I spent about three summers on the St. GEORGE,” Morales said. “We ended up simulating and designing a new detection system, constructing this system and testing it to make sure it worked properly.”Morales said the coming stages of his research will work with the St. GEORGE accelerator to test chemical reactions and elements in stars.“We want to study the sun,” Morales said. “This system will help us study particular reactions in the sun. Right now, I’m working on putting all of the different parts of the system together and making sure they work right.”Morales said the financial support the NSF offers helps veterans integrate in civilian life on many levels.“The event in Washington was a pleasant experience overall,” Morales said. “It made me happy to see the NSF trying to reach out to veterans and relate to our struggles. It made me feel like they were genuinely interested in helping future veterans with interests in science pursue them.”Tags: National Science Foundation, NSF, Physics, St. GEORGE Recoil Separator, STEM, Veterans Day
SHARE Email Facebook Twitter Gov. Wolf Issues Statement in Support of Allegheny County COVID-19 Mitigation Efforts Announced Today Press Release, Public Health Governor Tom Wolf today commended the Allegheny County Executive and Health Department for the additional mitigations the county is putting in place in response to significant COVID-19 case increases over the past few days, emphasizing that the situation in Allegheny County is a reminder for the entire state to follow mask-wearing and other mitigation requirements. The majority of new cases in Allegheny County are in people age 19-49 with an average age of 27.“I commend Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and Health Department Director Dr. Debra Bogen for the decision to shut down bars and restaurants for on-premises alcohol sales in Allegheny County effective June 30. This was the right move to work to stop the recent spike of COVID-19 cases in its tracks and to remind all residents and businesses that the best defense we have in preventing the spread of COVID-19 and keeping Pennsylvanians safe is to continue to follow the mask-wearing requirement, practice social distancing, and follow safety guidelines even and especially during the green phase of reopening. We cannot become complacent in practicing the measures we know can protect everyone from the spread of this very contagious virus.“It is my hope that swift action on the part of the county results in swift containment and the return to an increased commitment to protect all residents, especially those most vulnerable to COVID-19, and that this action sets an example for the rest of the state to continue to follow mitigation efforts put in place to protect lives and livelihoods.“Mitigation efforts statewide include the requirement to wear a mask when in businesses, following occupancy limits in all businesses and gatherings, practicing social distancing, hand washing and sanitizing surfaces – these simple practices can make a huge difference in protecting ourselves, our seniors, our neighbors and our communities. Even if you believe you will not get sick, you can, and you can spread the virus to someone who may not be able to recover as easily.”Ver esta página en español.
June 28, 2020
The death toll from the Mali hotel attack has now climbed to 20 – in addition to the two attackers.But were it not for the actions of one man, many more people could have died.Tambara Diara is head waiter at the Blu Radisson hotel who is now a national hero.Three days on, Tambara Diara returns to the scene to recount those horrific moments. He’d been serving breakfast when the gunmen stormed in.“We were attacked, so I took all the clients and waiters and sent them to the back exit, then i returned i called my colleague to warn him, then i looked from the 1st floor and i saw the terrorist.” Said TambaraThe gunmen ran through the corridors, firing and many guests and staff were trapped. So when troops stormed the hotel, Diara guided the army, helping them find many guests and leading them to safety.But for some, there was no escape, the bullet holes and the pools of dried blood are grim testimony to a massacre. Three Chinese railway executives were among the dead, they were in Mali. China is extremely important to Mali. It recently signed deals worth 11 billion dollars. Many here fear the attack may put off investors but some businessmen says they will not be chased away since ‘Terrorism is everywhere, what happened here may slow down things but it won’t withhold china’s ambitions in Mali’Many people in Mali say Tambara Diara is a national hero but he says it was his duty to help. Now he hopes there can be peace or some kind of normality, so he can get back to his normal job.
Hearn added: “Anthony wants the fight and I’m very confident it will happen.”Wilder’s fellow American Jarrell Miller had been mentioned as another potential opponent for Joshua’s American debut, but the enforcement of Povetkin’s mandatory appears to have ruled out the New Yorker.Share this:FacebookRedditTwitterPrintPinterestEmailWhatsAppSkypeLinkedInTumblrPocketTelegram Anthony Joshua’s next fight is ‘very likely’ to be against Deontay Wilder or Alexander Povetkin, says his promoter Eddie Hearn.Negotiations have started for a world title fight between unified champion Joshua and WBC king Wilder, but the WBA have now ordered the British star to negotiate a mandatory title defence against Povetkin within the next 30 days.Povetkin stayed in line for a shot at Joshua’s WBA ‘super’ belt with a knockout win over David Price and Hearn admits his fighter’s shortlist of next opponents appears to have shortened to just two.He told Sky Sports: “The WBA called the mandatory yesterday for AJ to face Povetkin next.“We have a 30 day window to negotiate – at this stage it means it’s very likely Anthony’s next fight will be between Wilder or Povetkin.”Povetkin’s promoters World of Boxing posted on Twitter: “Povetkin is now a mandatory contender of Anthony Joshua. He was appointed by WBA.“Now there are 150 days to arrange the fight, it must take place. Before the fight with Sasha, Joshua has no right to fight with anybody else. We have 30 days to negotiate.”Vadim Kornilov, who heads Povetkin’s promotional team, believes a fight could be staged in Russia.“It would, depending on the timing, fill up the new [81,000 seater] Luzhniki Stadium – a football stadium,” he said. “That’s a location with enough magnitude for this type of fight.”Joshua’s ultimate goal is to unify all four major belts with Deontay Wilder, an occasion that would take precedence over his mandatory obligations.Wilder’s representative Shelley Finkel told Sky Sports: “The deal was 50-50 [between Joshua and Wladimir] Klitschko. The [Wilder] fight should be bigger than Klitschko.“We already said we would accept less than Klitschko. The fight with Parker was 33 [per cent to Parker].“This is way bigger and Deontay is way bigger than Parker. We said we would take 40.“Hopefully [Friday], we’ll have an offer from them, because that’s what he’s said he’s doing.”