Welcome to the winter 2010 issue of FLC Northeast News. You'll find this issue informative, as our laboratories are more involved than ever in activities that not only fulfill their mission, but advance the transfer of technology. The past year was a successful one for the Northeast Region on several fronts. Read more

Seminal Work for 2009 Nobel Prize in Chemistry Conducted at Brookhaven Lab

Two of this year's three recipients of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry conducted a substantial part of their award-winning research at the National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS) at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Read more

New Director Robert Johns Greets Volpe Center

Robert C. Johns, the new director of the Volpe Center, introduced himself to the staff in October 2009 with an address that expressed his commitment to furthering Volpe's organizational excellence and expert performance in transportation research, development, and systems deployment. Read more

SAVE THE DATE: March 1-2, 2010, FLC Northeast Regional Meeting, West Point, N.Y.

The Northeast Region 2010 spring meeting is a one-day "working" meeting preceded by an evening welcome reception. This is your opportunity to discuss areas of technology transfer interest with colleagues from our cadre of active laboratory ORTAs. The meeting is strategically located in the central part of the region and will conclude by mid-afternoon March 2. Read more

Picatinny to Construct $18 Million Engineering Complex

During a ceremony November 13 at the U.S. Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) at Picatinny Arsenal, N.J., officials kicked off the first of six renovation and construction projects that will collectively create Picatinny's Fuze Engineering Complex. Read more

NEFSC, NY Town, and Oyster Grower Collaborate to Understand Potential Impact of Floating Nursery on Local Environment

With demand for seafood growing, shellfish farmers often use a floating nursery called a FLUPSY, or Floating Upwelling System, to improve the growth of very young shellfish known as seed and increase their chances of surviving until they are harvested. Little has been known about the possible impact of these floating systems on the local environment. Read more

Popping the Cork on Biofuel Agriculture

Scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory have identified a novel enzyme responsible for the formation of suberin—the woody, waxy, cell-wall substance found in cork. While effective at keeping wine inside a bottle, suberin's most important function in plants is to control water and nutrient transportation and keep pathogens out. Adjusting the permeability of plant tissues by genetically manipulating the expression of this enzyme could lead to easier agricultural production of crops used for biofuels. Read more

Registration for the 2010 FLC National Meeting is Now Open

Be sure to register for the 2010 FLC national meeting, which will take place April 26-29 in Albuquerque, N.M. Themed "The Sky's the Limit," this meeting will be filled with informative sessions on technology transfer practices, training, and social networking receptions. The presentation of the 2010 FLC awards will bring the meeting to a festive close. For additional meeting information and online registration, go to http://www.federallabs.org/meeting/.