Can you volunteer a little of your time to help support our community? The EAC is sponsoring NCAR’s First Annual Volunteer Fair on April 24 at the CG1-Auditorium. Please stop by any time 12pm-6pm to learn about volunteer opportunities. Representatives from 25 local non-profit or not-for-profit agencies will be there!
For more information, contact Jo Zoetewey at ext. 2709, Zoetewey@ucar.edu
Through the years, the EAC has planned company wide events that have contributed to the rich culture of this organization. This committee is looking for folks in every division, lab, and program to help with planning these events. This fun group meets monthly over lunch for less than an hour. The following events and traditions need planning, and we are looking for new energy and fresh ideas. Please consider helping with one or more of these events:
Discounts
Employees receive a number of discounts and this involves coordinating with vendors, keeping the site up-to-date, and communicating through announcements to staff. We are in real need of a team to help with this.
Up The Hill Race
Friday, August 8
Mesa Lab
NCAR's Up the Hill Race typically features bicycle, running, and sometimes relay races up the Mesa Lab hill. This event needs a planning team.
Craft Market
Friday, November 14
The UCAR-NCAR Annual Craft Market is held from 10am - 2pm in the Center Green auditorium. Staff members display and sell their arts and crafts, and this is a great place to find unique holiday presents! This event needs a planning team.
Children's Holiday Party
Saturday, December 6
Center Green Auditorium
This occurs in early December at the Center Green auditorium and lobby. Children enjoy games, crafts, decorating cookies, and holiday snacks. Santa is there to take pictures with your child. This event needs a planning team.
Awards Ceremony & Holiday Party
Friday, December 12
Center Green Auditorium
This is the final EAC event of the calendar year, and it is held in the Center Green auditorium and lobby. NCAR, UCAR, and UOP Outstanding Accomplishment Awards are presented, and the ceremony is followed by holiday music, food, and drinks. This event needs two people to help plan.
Other events include the Volunteer Fair on Thursday, April 24 and the UCAR FACs in the summer on June 13 at FL, and July 18 at CG.
Please consider helping, and or chairing one or more of these events. The EAC meeting schedule is located at https://www2.fin.ucar.edu/eac/eac-meetings
Most meetings are held in the Foothills Lab, and call-ins are welcome. If you have questions, and want to help, please contact Kristen Alipit, kalipit@ucar.edu, x1661.
For more information, contact Kristen Alipit at ext. 1661, kalipit@ucar.edu
The President's Council is hosting the first of two staff town halls this year on Friday, April 18 at 9:00 am in the CG1 auditorium. Town meetings are an opportunity for you to hear from the President's Council about organization-wide initiatives and highlights. We encourage staff to attend in person so you can ask questions.
For staff unable to be present, there will be a live webcast. The link can be found here: http://www.fin.ucar.edu/it/mms/cg-live.htm (inactive until a few moments before the event begins). The URL for the archived version will be made available after the event.
We look forward to seeing you on Friday.
President's Council
Tom Bogdan, Emily CoBabe-Ammann, Jim Hurrell, Katy Schmoll, Michael Thompson
For more information, contact Tom Bogdan at ext. 1652, bogdan@ucar.edu
UCAR has been notified by NSF that NSF will have a full financial system shutdown in September 2014 to perform a major system upgrade. As a result, the timeline for processing of interagency awards (IAs) will be directly affected. NSF has requested that all interagency awards be received at NSF no later than Friday, July 25, 2014 for processing this fiscal year.
NSF’s due date of July 25th is approximately three (3) weeks earlier than past years. NSF staff that process IA awards will not be able to make exceptions as in past years to accommodate late awards due to the hard shutdown of their systems.
If your laboratory, division, or program is anticipating an award to be received through an NSF Cooperative Agreement, please notify your agency points of contact regarding this critical schedule.
Questions about this announcement? Contact Stacy Litwin, x8542For more information, contact Stacy Litwin at ext. 8542, stacyl@ucar.edu
Tuesday's FL2 Paladina Health Town Hall Meeting was recorded. Please take a look if you have not been able to attend a meeting:
Paladina Health Town Hall Meeting video
The enrollment site for Paladina Health is open and ready to accept registrations.
Current Cigna HDHP participants received an email from Paladina Health on Monday, April 14 inviting them to enroll.
To enroll, access: http://www.paladinahealth.com/ucar-boulder
Once the site is accessed, click "Enroll" in the upper right corner and the enrollment process begins. It takes about 10-15 minutes to complete the registration.
Please view the schedule of remaining meetings and one-on-one sessions below. These meetings are open to all family members!
Wednesday, April 16 1:00-2:30 p.m., RAF Conference Room
Tuesday, April 29 10:00 - 11:30 a.m., CG1 North Auditorium
Wednesday, April 30 1:00 - 2:30 p.m., FL2 Auditorium
Monday, May 5 1:00 - 2:30 p.m., ML Main Seminar Room
Personalized 15-minute one-on-one “Meet the physician” sessions with the Paladina doctors have been arranged. This is your opportunity to meet the Boulder and Broomfield physicians. Registration for the one-on-one sessions is requested. Instructions for
scheduling a one-on-one session are below.
One-on-one meetings:
April 16 2:30 - 3:30 p.m., RAF Conference Room (Dr. Lisa Brone and Dr. David Malfese)
April 24 1:00 - 4:00 p.m., FLA 3205 (Dr. David Malfese)
April 25 9:00 – 12:00 p.m., CG1 2126 (Dr. David Malfese)
April 29 1:00 - 4:00 p.m., CG1 2503 (Dr. David Malfese)
April 29 1:00 - 4:00 p.m., CG1 2126 (Dr. Lisa Brone)
April 30 3:00 - 5:00 p.m., FL2 1003 (Dr. David Malfese)
May 5 3:00 - 5:00 p.m., ML Chapman Room (Dr. David Malfese)
May 5 3:00 - 5:00 p.m., ML Damon Room (Dr. Lisa Brone)
How to schedule a one-on-one “Meet the physician” session
To register for a 15-minute one-on-one session with a physician, please contact Irena Haimsky, irena@ucar.edu, x8706 or Cyd Perrone, cperrone@ucar.edu, x8710. You may read about both physicians on the Paladina Health site (“Meet Your Doctors” tab): www.paladinahealth.com/ucar-boulder. Please contact either Irena or Cyd directly to schedule a one-on-one session.
For more information, contact Laurie Carr at ext. 8702, lcarr@ucar.edu
Come to the Paladina Health Town Hall meeting today at RAF!
Wednesday, April 16 1:00-2:30 p.m., RAF Conference Room
Please view the schedule of meetings and one-on-one sessions below. These meetings are open to all family members!
Tuesday, April 29 10:00 - 11:30 a.m., CG1 North Auditorium
Wednesday, April 30 1:00 - 2:30 p.m., FL2 Auditorium
Monday, May 5 1:00 - 2:30 p.m., ML Main Seminar Room
Personalized 15-minute one-on-one “Meet the physician” sessions with the Paladina doctors have been arranged. This is your opportunity to meet the Boulder and Broomfield physicians. Registration for the one-on-one sessions is requested. Instructions for
scheduling a one-on-one session are below.
One-on-one meetings:
April 16 2:30 - 3:30 p.m., RAF Conference Room (Dr. Lisa Brone and Dr. David Malfese)
April 24 1:00 - 4:00 p.m., FLA 3205 (Dr. David Malfese)
April 25 9:00 – 12:00 p.m., CG1 2126 (Dr. David Malfese)
April 29 1:00 - 4:00 p.m., CG1 2503 (Dr. David Malfese)
April 29 1:00 - 4:00 p.m., CG1 2126 (Dr. Lisa Brone)
April 30 3:00 - 5:00 p.m., FL2 1003 (Dr. David Malfese)
May 5 3:00 - 5:00 p.m., ML Chapman Room (Dr. David Malfese)
May 5 3:00 - 5:00 p.m., ML Damon Room (Dr. Lisa Brone)
How to schedule a one-on-one “Meet the physician” session
To register for a 15-minute one-on-one session with a physician, please contact Irena Haimsky, irena@ucar.edu, x8706 or Cyd Perrone, cperrone@ucar.edu, x8710. You may read about both physicians on the Paladina Health site (“Meet Your Doctors” tab): www.paladinahealth.com/ucar-boulder. Please contact either Irena or Cyd directly to schedule a one-on-one session.
For more information, contact Laurie Carr at ext. 8702, lcarr@ucar.edu
To all supervisors, managers, and directors:
During this period when you are completing employee performance appraisals, please also be thinking about nominations for the annual UCAR awards. Excellent work is being done all over this organization. It is important to recognize outstanding efforts in many ways, including the annual UCAR awards.
Nominations this year will be due on Friday, October 17th. This deadline will be here before we know it.
Although anyone can initiate a nomination, all nominations must be submitted through the director of one of the entities listed within the awards procedures.
The winners will be announced at the December 12th annual holiday party. For past years' recipients, see the Honors & Awards website.
Thank you for keeping possible nominations for these awards in mind as you complete the annual performance appraisals.
Tom Bogdan
For more information, contact Tom Bogdan at ext. 1652, bogdan@ucar.edu
UCAR Washington Update keeps the atmospheric and Earth system science community informed about federal budget and policy news affecting science. The latest articles in the March/April edition include:
These and previous Washington Update stories are available on our website, and interested readers can sign up to receive the monthly e-newsletter. Washington Update is a service of UCAR Government Relations.
For more information, contact Mike Henry at ext. 2102, mhenry@ucar.edu
These new acquisitions will be displayed at each NCAR Library location for one week, first at FL Library and then at ML Library. If you have questions regarding the items or want to suggest additions to the library collection, please contact the NCAR Library at ncarref@ucar.edu or ext. 8505.
Snow and Climate : Physical Processes, Surface Energy Exchange and Modeling
Authors: Richard L. Armstrong, Eric Brun, editors
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Call Number: QC926.32 .S66 2008
Location: FL Library
Radar Handbook, 3rd Edition
Author: Merrill I. Skolnik, editor in chief
Publisher: McGraw-Hill
Call Number: TK6575 .R262 2008
Location: ML Library
Basic GIS Coordinates, 2nd Edition
Author: Jan van Sickle
Publisher: CRC Press
Call Number: GA116 .V36 2010
Location: FL Library
Wind Energy Resource Assessment : Information Production, Uses, and Value - Survey Report
Authors: Katherine Dickinson, Luca Delle Monache, Kristien McCormack, Pierre Magontier
Publisher: National Center for Atmospheric Research
Call Number: 03708
Location: ML Reports
For more information, contact NCAR Library at ext. 8505, ncarref@ucar.edu
The enrollment site for Paladina Health is open and ready to accept regisrations.
Current Cigna HDHP participants received an email from Paladina Health on Monday, April 14 inviting them to enroll. The enrollment site is listed below. Once the site is accessed, click "Enroll" in the upper right corner and the enrollment process begins. It takes about 10-15 minutes to complete the registration.
Please attend one of the Paladina Health Town Hall meetings to learn more.
Tuesday, April 15 10:00-11:30 a.m., FL2 Auditorium
1:00-2:30 p.m., CG1 North Auditorium
5:30-7:00 p.m., FL2 Auditorium - please invite working spouses to attend
Please view the full schedule of meetings and one-on-one sessions below. These meetings are open to all family members!
Wednesday, April 16 1:00-2:30 p.m., RAF Conference Room
Tuesday, April 29 10:00 - 11:30 a.m., CG1 North Auditorium
Wednesday, April 30 1:00 - 2:30 p.m., FL2 Auditorium
Monday, May 5 1:00 - 2:30 p.m., ML Main Seminar Room
Personalized 15-minute one-on-one “Meet the physician” sessions with the Paladina doctors have been arranged. This is your opportunity to meet the Boulder and Broomfield physicians. Registration for the one-on-one sessions is requested. Instructions for scheduling a one-on-one session are below.
One-on-one meetings:
April 15 7:00 - 8:00 p.m., FL2 Auditorium (Dr. Lisa Brone and Dr. David Malfese)
April 16 2:30 - 3:30 p.m., RAF Conference Room (Dr. Lisa Brone and Dr. David Malfese)
April 24 1:00 - 4:00 p.m., FLA 3205 (Dr. David Malfese)
April 25 9:00 – 12:00 p.m., CG1 2126 (Dr. David Malfese)
April 29 1:00 - 4:00 p.m., CG1 2503 (Dr. David Malfese)
April 29 1:00 - 4:00 p.m., CG1 2126 (Dr. Lisa Brone)
April 30 3:00 - 5:00 p.m., FL2 1003 (Dr. David Malfese)
May 5 3:00 - 5:00 p.m., ML Chapman Room (Dr. David Malfese)
May 5 3:00 - 5:00 p.m., ML Damon Room (Dr. Lisa Brone)
How to schedule a one-on-one “Meet the physician” session
To register for a 15-minute one-on-one session with a physician, please contact Irena Haimsky, irena@ucar.edu, x8706 or Cyd Perrone, cperrone@ucar.edu, x8710. You may read about both physicians on the Paladina Health site (“Meet Your Doctors” tab): www.paladinahealth.com/ucar-boulder. Please contact either Irena or Cyd directly to schedule a one-on-one session.
For more information, contact Laurie Carr at ext. 8702, lcarr@ucar.edu
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
NCAR Mesa Lab Main Seminar Room
Program Synthesis for Network Updates
Abstract:
We first give a brief overview of the new field of program synthesis. We describe the role that declarative, logical specifications can play in making programmers more efficient. Second, we describe an application of this approach: synthesis of programs that update network configurations.
Configuration updates are a leading cause of instability in networks. A key factor that makes updates difficult to implement is that networks are distributed systems with hundreds or thousands of nodes all interacting with each other. Even if the initial and final configurations are correct, naively updating individual nodes can easily cause the network to exhibit incorrect behaviors such as forwarding loops, black holes, and security vulnerabilities. This paper presents a new approach to the network update problem: we automatically generate updates that are guaranteed to preserve important correctness properties, given in a temporal logic. Our system is based on counterexample-guided search and incorporates heuristics that quickly identify correct updates in many situations. We exploit the fact that the search algorithm asks a series of related model checking questions, and develop an efficient incremental LTL model checking algorithm. We present experimental results showing that it efficiently generates updates for real-world topologies with thousands of nodes.
For more information, contact Jennifer Williamson at ext. 1224, jnif@ucar.edu
All benefit-eligible UCAR employees currently contribute 5% of their salary to the TIAA-CREF Retirement Plan. And you are eligible to contribute more.
Employees under age 50 may contribute up to the 2014 annual limit of $17,500. Employees over age 50 may contribute an additional catch-up amount of $5,500 for a total 2014 annual maximum of $23,000. Please note that these amounts do not include the contributions made into your Mandatory Retirement Annuity (RA) account, your current 5% contribution.
To contribute additional funds to your retirement account, you may open a Group Supplemental Retirement Annuity account (GSRA) and contribute up to the annual limits described above. Access “http://www1.tiaa-cref.org/tcm/ucar“, click “Enroll Now” and then click "Supplemental/Optional Retirement Plan." If you already have an online profile with TIAA-CREF, enter your user ID, click "Login" and follow the prompts to open an account. If you do not have an online profile, please click "Register with TIAA-CREF" and follow the prompts.
After completing the enrollment on the website, please complete the TIAA-CREF Election Change Form with your requested per pay period contribution and forward to Irena Haimsky in Human Resources.
For more information about your TIAA-CREF benefits, contact Cyd Perrone, x8710, or Irena Haimsky, x8706. If you need investment advice, please contact TIAA-CREF directly at 1-800-842-2776.
For more information, contact Irena Haimsky at ext. 8706, irena@ucar.edu
Water: too much, too little
Climate change will reduce water availability during dry seasons and increase it during wet seasons around the globe, new research from NCAR suggests. The study, using an index that combines evaporation and evapotranspiration, also finds there will be large regional variations in water-related impacts. more>
For more information, contact David Hosansky at ext. 8611, hosansky@ucar.edu
Grade K-2: 8:45 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Grade 3-5 10:30 a.m. to 12:15 a.m.
School-aged students from kindergarten through fifth grade are invited to celebrate Take Your Child to Work Day with members of Spark, UCAR Science Education
at the Mesa Lab on Thursday, April 24!
To register your child, please fill out the enrollment form available on Spark's Take-Your-Child-to-Work Day web page.
For more information, contact Eileen Carpenter at ext. 2401, ecarpent@ucar.edu
The Google Apps project sponsors, Shawn Winkelman and Anke Kamrath, announced the dates for our organization–wide move to Google Apps for Government. Beginning on our target date, Monday, June 9, you will have access to an innovative suite of Google applications include Mail, Calendar and Drive.
Your email address will remain yourusername@ucar.edu
You will have access the entire Google Appssuite securely from any device, anytime, anywhere.
You will receive regular email updates from “GoogleNews” about what to expect.
You can participate in a variety of webinar and class trainings options including a variety of resource materials to help you get comfortable with using the Google Apps tools.
You will have access to UCAR’s Google Apps user website with training videos, user guides, answers to your questions, and a forum to provide feedback to help ensure a smooth transition.
You can access ongoing additional support from the Google Apps project team, Tempus Nova staff, and a cadre of peer Google coaches throughout the transition.
Lab and Program Contacts
Each group has designated at least one User Representative and one Technical Point of Contact. These are your “go-to” people for news and information about Google Apps. Visit the project website at https://www2.fin.ucar.edu/google and click on the People tab for a list of contacts.
Early Adopters
We are targeting Monday, May 19 as our early adopter Go-Live date. The early adopters will be trained and work with the project team to try out and test the new system before the rest of staff. More information about early adopters and what they can expect is coming soon.
If you have any questions, please reach out to your User Representative or send an email to GoogleNews [at] ucar.
For more information, contact Rebecca Swisher at ext. 8609, rebeccas@ucar.edu
Art, science, and education meet at NCAR
As the Shared Skies art exhibit was being installed at the Mesa Lab for its April 1 opening, Staff News spent a little time learning about the project and getting to know Lisa Gardiner, the staff person behind it. more>
For more information, contact Rebecca Swisher at ext. 8609, rebeccas@ucar.edu
UCAR Human Resources recently introduced an improved procedure for verifying employment and income with lenders, landlords, and others authorized by employees to receive such information.
We have seen a significant increase in the number of requests from outside lending organizations for this type of information. In the past, when an employee applied for a loan or mortgage, to rent an apartment, or a similar activity, Human Resources or Payroll provided the necessary information via hard copy and/or fax. We have looked at ways to make this process more efficient and faster for employees and as a result have contracted with InVerify, a third party service that specializes in employment and income verifications.
All requests for verifications of employment will be processed by InVerify (see https://www2.fin.ucar.edu/hr/inverify-introduction). InVerify provides secure, fast, accurate and up-to-date access to employment and income information 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Employees will be able to provide the lender, landlord, or other agency with authorization to contact InVerify directly. And any request received by Human Resources will be forwarded to the employee so that she or he can authorize release of the information through InVerify.
Questions regarding this service may be directed to Betty Singleton, x2005, bettys@ucar.edu or Laurie Carr, x8702, lcarr@ucar.edu, or InVerify Customer Service, 1-866-295-7363.
For more information, contact Laurie Carr at ext. 8702, lcarr@ucar.edu
IMAGe is hosting and co-hosting the events below. Please visit their respective websites for information and registration:
PDEs, The Workshop on Partial Differential Equations on the Sphere, April 7 - 11, 2014
Pattern Scaling, Climate Model Emulators and their Application to the New Scenario Process, April 23 - 25, 2014
4th Workshop on Understanding Climate Change from Data, June 30 - July 2, 2014
SAMSI/IMAGe Summer Program: The International Surface Temperature Initiative, July 8 - 16, 2014
Uncertainty in climate change research: An integrated approach, July 21 - August 6, 2014
First Annual Graduate Workshop on Environmental Data Analytics, July 28 - August 1, 2014
The 4th International Workshop on Climate Informatics, September 25 - 26, 2014
For more information, contact D Nychka at ext. 1711, nychka@ucar.edu
Dates: June 30 - July 2
Location: Mesa Laboratory
This workshop will bring together researchers who are advancing computational and data analysis methods necessary for addressing the key challenges in climate change science. A major focus of the workshop is on computational data science tools that can extract the achievable predictive insights from climate data and capture the complex dependence structures among climate variables.
The program will include invited talks by leading experts in the field, panel discussions, and a poster session.
To download the workshop poster, please click HERE
For more information, contact Doug Nychka at ext. 1711, nychka@ucar.edu
July 28 - August 1
NCAR Mesa Laboratory, Main Seminar Room
The workshop will consist of computing and modeling tutorials, presentations from graduate student participants, and several invited talks from established leaders in environmental data modeling. Tutorials and invited talks will address useful ideas and tools directly applicable to student participants' current and future research. To facilitate the exchange of information and shared learning, student talks should focus on modeling or computing challenges faced in their research.
Download the workshop poster here
For more information, contact D Nychka at ext. 1711, nychka@ucar.edu
NCAR Community Art Program proudly presents two artists:
TRUE NATURE: A SELF PORTRAIT, PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATE ZARI ROBERTS
Kate Zari Roberts has been a fine art and commercial photographer for over thirty years. She has exhibited in museums and galleries throughout the US, England and South Africa and her commercial work has been published in books and magazines worldwide.
Kate considers herself to be a nature photographer/artist because her landscape work has evolved into a more abstract and mystical representation of the natural world. She approaches the wilderness with a reverence and stillness that allows a more intimate experience with it. She intuits the reciprocal meaning of nature and her images become nature unveiled/self unveiled. Roberts work will be on exhibit in Gallery l of the NCAR Mesa Lab April 1, 2014 to May 31, 2014.
PASTEL ORIGINALS & DIGITAL ART BY TERRI HAMNER
Colorful landscapes and cultures of the Southwest captivated and brought out a passion in Terri that had been quiet for most of her life. The rich style and beauty inspired and ignited her creative spirit, encouraged her imagination, and motivated her to find ways of sharing that beauty with others through art. The vibrancy and versatility of soft pastels is the perfect medium to create lively and refreshing pieces that she hopes will inspire joy in you. Hamner's work will be on exhibit in Gallery ll of the NCAR Mesa Lab April 1, 2014 to May 31, 2014.
Come and be inspired by their beautiful artwork!
For more information, contact Audrey Lewis at ext. 2570, alewis@ucar.edu
Employees may use UCAR Shipping and Receiving for reasonable and limited amounts of personal use. Personal shipments that are received by our staff must have the name of the recipient clearly labeled on the outside of the package and be marked “personal and confidential.” Generally, all packages will be opened, unless they are marked “personal and confidential.” UCAR does not accept liability for damage to personal shipments. Any package that contains illegal contents or materials or that violates UCAR policy or has a suspicious purpose may be held for further investigation. Violation of the law or UCAR policies may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination.
For more information, contact Melissa Miller at ext. 8551, melissa@ucar.edu
Take your child to work day will be on April 24th this year.
Starring in this special event will be our star, AKA THE SUN!
This event is open to children of all UCAR/NCAR/UCP staff.
Children currently enrolled in Kindergarten-5th grade are welcome to join SPARK for a special visit to the NCAR MESA LAB.
K-2nd 8:45-10:30
3-5th 10:30-12:15
More details on enrollment will be coming soon. For other information, email or call Eileen Carpenter at 303-497-2401
For more information, contact Eileen Carpenter at ext. 2401, ecarpent@ucar.edu
This workshop will be held on April 23-25 at the National Center for Atmospheric Research and will bring together statistical, climate, integrated assessment and impact modeling communities.
This workshop will have three main goals:
Interested in participating?
Due to space limitations we are asking people to request participation and/or submit an abstract.
The submission deadline is January 15, 2014.
For more information, contact Claudia Tebaldi at ext. 1710, tebaldi@ucar.edu
The NCAR Command Language (NCL) is a scripting language designed specifically for scientific data processing and visualization. NCL workshops are free and tailored to students and researchers in the Earth sciences who are interested in learning how to use the language to analyze their data. Workshops last 3.5 days, with a mix of lectures and hands-on computer labs. The emphasis during the labs is on helping students use NCL to analyze their own datasets of interest, rather than using canned datasets. Classes are limited to 16 students. The summer workshop fills up early, so be sure to register soon.
There are two workshops scheduled for 2014:
To register, fill out the pre-workshop survey at https://survey.ucar.edu/s?s=9402
For more information about the workshops: http://www.ncl.ucar.edu/Training/Workshops/
For more information, contact Mary Haley at ext. 1254, haley@ucar.edu
