Having managed the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory since its inception more than 50 years ago, the University of California and its team of partners was awarded a new management contract for the prominent nuclear laboratory Tuesday.
Despite the university having faced problems with its managed laboratories in the past ““ such as last year’s security breach in the Los Alamos National Laboratory ““ the Department of Energy granted a seven-year contract to the team, which partners the UC with other institutions such as Texas A&M and Bechtel National.
UC officials and administrators expressed excitement in the research accomplishments the laboratory has seen in the past and the opportunities and innovations the university hopes to continue in the future.
“For more than 50 years, the University of California has managed Livermore Laboratory, and we are delighted at the opportunity to continue playing a role in supporting the laboratory’s mission of scientific achievement in the interests of national security and global cooperation,” UC President Robert Dynes said in a statement.
But some student leaders still question whether a higher education institution such as the university should be involved with a nuclear laboratory.
Tina Park, a board member of the UC Students Association and the Undergraduate Students Association Council external vice president, said though the access to research is a benefit to the university, she believes administrators should take priority on more research pertaining to student issues, such as fee increases.
“(The UC Office of the President) needs to focus on shifting back to the students. They should be asking, “˜How do we work toward the best education for students?'” Park said.
With an annual budget of $1.6 billion, the lab conducts research on the environment, energy and other projects, as well as ensuring that the stockpile of nuclear weapons remains safe and secure. It has also been assigned high-profile and controversial projects in regards to nuclear weapons research.
In March, the Bush administration chose Livermore to head a new weapons program for the reliable replacement warhead, which would consist of research and production for the first new warhead in two decades.
But the UC has also been in the national limelight due to security breaches and other modes of mismanagement at Los Alamos, drawing criticism of whether the UC, in light of this history, should be managing the labs.
“It is ridiculous that after years of security breaches and safety debacles DOE would decide that the best way to fix these problems is by hiring the same incompetent contractors,” said Peter Stockton, senior investigator for the Project On Government Oversight.
But university spokesman Chris Harrington emphasized that the university is doing its best to ensure that the transition between management teams goes as smoothly as possible, adding that the UC is identifying the difficulties that occurred in Los Alamos to guarantee such problems do not exist during the changeover period.
“We’re going to look at what’s happening at Los Alamos. The lab as well as the university have been preparing for this transition … so it doesn’t impact the mission, work and employees of the laboratory,” Harrington said.
And with the contract beginning months from now, Dynes expressed eagerness for the beginning of “a new chapter in the rich history of Livermore Laboratory.”
“While change does bring challenges, it also brings great opportunity. This is a moment of excitement and optimism for the future of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory,” Dynes said.
With reports from Bruin wire services.