LLF is delighted to connect with the Valley Study Group (VSG). Founded in the late 70’s, VSG is a Tri-Valley group (many VSG members are LLNL and Sandia Lab retirees) that improves communications between the Lab, local residents, and the community; and studies important issues affecting the Tri-Valley, the state of California, and the nation. VSG hosts ten dinner meetings a year in Livermore, each with an invited guest speaker.
For their June 2018 dinner meeting, VSG selected LLF President and Founder Dona Crawford, a retired LLNL and Sandia employee, as the guest speaker. Buck Koonce, LLF Board Member and LLNL employee, joined her. Ms. Crawford spoke to VSG membership about the two-year-old Livermore Lab Foundation’s beginnings and its work thus far — emphasizing the high value of scientific research and STEM education, federal R&D funding, and the importance of philanthropic support. Mr. Koonce discussed LLF’s latest projects in partnership with LLNL — four STEM-related activities – including support for (a) six local high school students, two each from Livermore’s three high schools; (b) a Grad Student and a Postdoc from Florida A&M University; (c) one CSUEB student ; and (d) approximately 30 LLNL Student Poster Symposium winners.
The LLF is pleased to focus its first projects on STEM education, an important element of the scientific enterprise. In the longer run, LLF would like to leverage Lab S&T priorities to advance scientific knowledge and create transformative technologies. Imagine how organ and tissue donation will change if we 3D-print human tissue, or how doctors might proceed with an Alzheimer’s patient if we accelerate a cure for neurodegenerative disorders, or how a small village would change if we help develop a treatment system to provide reliable clean water.
Want to support projects like these? LLF provides opportunities for philanthropic support of scientific research, technology development, and education at LLNL. LLF can direct donations to specific projects based on the goals of the donor.
LLF is excited about the potential ways we could work with VSG members to promote our shared interests in expanding scientific research and promoting educational opportunities in the areas of science, tech, engineering, and math.