Next week is the last week of classes. Then there is just finals week and a summer off looming in my future! Of course, between now and summer vacation, I must write 10 final exams, grade 7 of the aforementioned 10 exams, grade 4 sections worth of labs and 4 sections worth of term projects. I'll be glad when it's over.

Last night was the Physical Science's department first Honors Colloquium and Banquet. Seven students presented their projects on geology, physics, chemistry, astronomy, and engineering. My student, whose project was "Designing a Homemade Telescope," did an excellent job. This is the first semester that we tried this format, and it had the feeling of a scientific conference, which was just the vibe I was hoping for.

Speaking of scientific vibes, it looks like Los Alamos may lose their good vibes in 2005. The University of California system has been managing Los Alamos since the Manhatten project (as far as I know) and science has thrived there largely due to the academic atmosphere. However, the UC's current managing contract runs out in 2005 and the Department of Energy will seek competing bids. A DOE report (according to APS's "What's New") states that Los Alamos culture, which "exalted science and devalued business practice," must be changed. That's one way to lose good scientists. It also reminds me that the majority of cases of proven scientific misconduct occur in the medical fields, where research is primarily driven by large corporations seeking only results that will be financially successful. Sure, let's have that mentality run our largest nuclear research facility. Sounds good to me.